Hello All, Not sure what this is: http://cgi.ebay.com/VERY-DEEP-CANAD...goryZ524QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem What is this thing.. Looks like a bottlecap with a cent wedged inside. Is there any machine part of the minting process that looks like this? Does ot look like any die I have seen. It is a positive not a negative mold I see in the picture... Any input would be great.. Thank You, Andrew
Andrew: Is is as described, a die cap. A coin got stuck to (in this instance) the reverse die) and contniued to strike coins while attached. Gradually it expanded and became thinner as it stuck to the die. Excellent example, I believe. But............Mike will tell us for sure.
Capped die errors are COOL! These anomolies are created when a planchet sticks to a die and continue to be pounded into planchets as those planchets enter the coining chamber. The capped die error will be blank on the face that strikes the (blank) planchets and will receive a strong strike on the face facing the die. With every strike the metal being squeezed between the hammer die and the other planchet gets thinner and thinner and the metal starts to move around the die - capping it. Planchets that are struck by a capped die are indistinct on the side struck by the capped die and have a strong strike on the other side. From US Minting Errors and Varieties by James Wiles: Here is a pic of another Canadian Capped Die Cent. Both Capped Die Errors are from the side with the date and maple leaf. Is that the hammer die for Canadian cents?
