Coin News » Error Coins

2000 Sacagawea Mule Coin Tops US Mint Errors

Justin Duane, Editor of Coinzine — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:53:59 +0000

2000 Sacagawea Mule Coin (Photo credit: Fred Weinberg)

In commemoration of the new book, the 100 Greatest U.S. Error Coins by David Camire, Nicholas Brown and legendary error dealer Fred Weinberg, we’ve decided to discuss the greatest error in United States history… the 2000 Sacagawea Mule.

Debuting in May of 2000, this slip up was destined to make history. At the time, it was the only known "mule" coin in United States history.

For those who are not professional numismatists, a mule is a pairing of two different coin designs on one coin — in this case, a State Quarter and the brand new Sacagawea dollar. [...]
Read the rest of 2000 Sacagawea Mule Coin Tops US Mint Errors (344 words)

PNG Members Recover Coins from 2001 Theft

Professional Numismatists Guild — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:53:33 +0000

A dozen of the 44 U.S. error coins stolen from an Indiana motel room in 2001 have been recovered and returned to their delighted owner through the joint efforts of three Professional Numismatists Guild members. At the time of the theft eight years ago these coins were to be the foundation of a planned book about off-metal errors.

The recovered coins belong to collector and researcher Mark Lighterman of Sanford, Florida. They include what is believed to be the only known Walking Liberty half dollar struck on a planchet intended for five-cent pieces; one of three known Standing Liberty quarter dollars struck on a one-cent planchet; a unique 1858 Flying Eagle cent on a silver half-dime planchet; and a double denomination Indian cent on a previously-struck Barber dime. There is also a transitional error 1944-dated Washington quarter on a zinc planchet intended for 1943 cents. [...]
Read the rest of PNG Members Recover Coins from 2001 Theft (707 words)

UK 20p Undated Error Coins Commanding Huge Premiums

CoinNews.net — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:27:41 +0000

News of an error in UK’s Royal Mint 20 pence coin (20p) blasted through the media this week, creating an intensified fervor in collectors trying to find and buy the coins.

Prices for the coin, which have a face value of about 33 cents US, have shot up with auction bidding reaching as high as several hundred dollars. (See current eBay auctions.)

According to reports, the Mint issued tens of thousands "year-less" 20p coins toward the end of 2008. [...]
Read the rest of UK 20p Undated Error Coins Commanding Huge Premiums (167 words)

Numismatic News: DC Quarter Double Die, Minting Fewer Coins, Fake Metal Detecting

CoinNews.net — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:43:49 +0000

May 12: Four numismatic news or coin blog articles are referenced on CoinNews every Tuesday and Thursday. These articles are not authored by us, but we recommend coin collectors read them for their unusual or interesting content. Here are today’s coin articles:

Mint To Press Fewer Coins As Economy Slows
Jeff Brady | NPR

The Federal Reserve was busy last year pumping $700 billion into the U.S. economy — expanding the country’s money supply by nearly 10 percent. But that doesn’t mean there are a lot more dollar bills circulating. In fact production statistics at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing have remained stable. And coin production has dropped precipitously…

Go to story »

[...]
Read the rest of Numismatic News: DC Quarter Double Die, Minting Fewer Coins, Fake Metal Detecting (240 words)

Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #25 Published

Mike Unser — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:12:19 +0000

Mike Byers has published the newest quarterly edition of Mint Error News Magazine. Issue #25 brings the very latest in mint error and variety coin news and information.

As always, the magazine offers excellent photos that direct the reader right to the substance of coin errors. And the included error coin price guides compiled by Al Levy (alscoins.com) is a must have reference that provides a comprehensive listing of recent eBay closing prices with descriptions, grades and notes.

The cover story for Issue #25 provides high resolution photos of the the latest known proof U.S. coin struck on an elliptical planchet — only three are now known to exist. The most recent is a NGC certified John Q. Adams Presidential $1 Coin. The second discovered was a Proof Jefferson Presidential $1 coin, which Byers showcased in Issue #23, and the first was a proof Utah quarter.

[...]
Read the rest of Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #25 Published (331 words)

Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #24 is Published

CoinNews.net — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:14:35 +0000

The newest edition of Mint Error News Magazine, issue #24, is now available for free viewing and download. The quarterly magazine is published by Mike Byers and is an excellent tool for collectors who want to know the very latest mint error and variety coin news.

The magazine is packed with outstanding coin photos, in addition to mint error information and the error coin price guide compiled by Al Levy of alscoins.com. Levy uses eBay to compile pages upon pages of recent error coin closing prices.

The coin photos, as often described here, are like guides in themselves. They’re superb in identifying coin errors and deepening error and variety coin knowledge.

Issue #24′s cover story discusses the unique and rare Walking Liberty Half Dollar mint error that was double stuck 50% off-center, and on a silver quarter planchet. The photos are amazing.

[...]
Read the rest of Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #24 is Published (311 words)

Previously Unaccounted 1943-S Bronze Cent Acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers

Rare Coin Wholesalers — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:43:48 +0000

(Dana Point, California) — A previously unrecorded 1943-S Lincoln cent, erroneously struck on a bronze planchet and found in circulation by a teenaged collector over a half century ago, has been acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California.

The discovery coin now is certified as AU-53 by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

"The coin was found in 1944 by Kenneth S. Wing Jr. of Long Beach, California who was assembling a set of Lincoln cents at the time," said Steven L. Contursi, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers (www.RCW1.com).

Wing became a prominent Southern California architect who co-designed the Long Beach Arena in the late 1950s. He passed away in 1996.

[...]
Read the rest of Previously Unaccounted 1943-S Bronze Cent Acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers (1,081 words)

Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #23 is Now Available

Mike Unser — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:47:14 +0000

Like clockwork the latest edition of Mint Error News Magazine, issue #23, is now available. The free quarterly magazine is published by Mike Byers and is an absolute excellent resource for collectors who would like to know more or read about the very latest in minted error coins.

On top of the informative value of the magazine, it also contains an excellent mint error coin price guide compiled by Al Levy of alscoins.com. Levy uses eBay as a resource and lists pages upon pages of recent closing prices for various types of error coins.

While the content is first rate and the price guide valuable, what really places these free magazines over the top is the exceptionally high quality coin photos. The photos are like guides in themselves and are outstanding tools in identifying coin errors and building knowledge.

[...]
Read the rest of Mint Error News Magazine, Issue #23 is Now Available (349 words)

Not a 500 Year Old Gold Coin in Choppington – Just Another Fake

CoinNews.net — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:01:14 +0000

The coin carried a look of age and a lure of value. But instead, it was a replica and comparable piece of junk.

The story retold by the News Post Leader relays how a treasure-hunter discovered what he hoped to be an old gold coin in Choppington, an England village in Northumberland.

There was no such luck for him, however. The coin was analyzed by an expert and determined to be a fake. The outside was covered in gold resin to give an old, golden appearance.

It also wasn’t of sufficient weight and, to top it all off, it was marked in traditional replica fashion.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t completely stop there. Before the coin was declared fake, a frenzied treasure-hunt of sorts erupted across the local farming land.

The farmers couldn’t be too happy about the disruptions or their land getting "walked over".

Alpine Skiing Coin Error Confirmed by Royal Canadian Mint

CoinNews.net — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:12:23 +0000

Two days ago, on October 24, the Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) released 25-cent alpine skiing coins to the public. These coins commemorate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Today, the RCM has confirmed reports that some coins made for collectors have a 2008 date on the obverse (heads) side instead of the correct 2007 date.

The error coins were limited to the Alpine Skiing Coin Sport Cards sold only through "Petro-Canada outlets and a small quantity of Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games coin collections."

The coins are specially painted versions and sell for $7.95.

The Royal Canadian Mint has said they’re investigating the cause and will lock down measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Although Mints dislike producing errors, they’ve proven to be extremely popular with coin collectors and, depending on the rarity of the error, they can sharply increase a coin’s value.

It’s unlikely few in the public will be upset with the Mint, given the rarity of such errors. More interesting will be finding out how they actually happened.