Error Coins and Variety Coins
Error coins and variety coins are coins that came out of the Mint different from the normal design. An error coin is a one-time production mistake, such as a clipped planchet, an off-center strike or a coin struck on the wrong metal. A variety coin comes from a die that was made or changed differently, so every coin struck by that die shows the same difference, like the famous 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent.
These are some of the most sought-after coins in the hobby, and they are where people who do not collect coins most often run into it. Almost everyone has heard that certain mistakes are valuable, so when a coin in your change looks “not normal,” it is natural to wonder whether it is your lucky day. We are asked more questions about error coins and variety coins than about any other kind of coin.
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Why Mint Mistakes Are Rare
Largely to stop counterfeiting, the U.S. Mint works hard to make every coin detailed and consistent. Coins are punched from metal strips as blanks, rimmed into planchets and struck between two dies inside a collar, as the Mint explains in its coin production overview. Coins are inspected, and batches that fail are sent off to be destroyed. When something still goes wrong and a coin escapes, an error coin or variety coin is born. Because these coins are much scarcer than normal ones, collectors who want the rarest examples will often pay far more for them.
What Does Not Count: Mint Tolerance and Damage
A coin is not considered an error or variety when the difference falls within what is called mint tolerance. This includes machine (mechanical) doubling, weak strikes, small die chips and cracks, and minor off-center strikes or rotations. They are so slight that they do not matter for anti-counterfeiting, and the grading services do not designate them as errors either; NGC explains this in Variety vs. Mint Error.
Whether it is an error or a variety, it must have happened at the Mint, before the coin was released. Anything that happens to a coin afterward, such as scrapes, dents, plating, acid or a coin squeezed in a vise, is damage and does not create an error or variety. Our guide Is It a Valuable Error Coin or Just Damage? shows how to tell them apart.
Telling an error coin from a normal coin with ordinary circulation wear can be hard even for an experienced collector, so it is best to have the coin examined. American Rarities offers a free, no-obligation appraisal, along with free in-house grading without encapsulation. We use XRF metal analysis and digital microscopy to check metal content, doubling and surfaces. Learn more about our error coin and variety coin grading and coin authentication. In general, values are lower for modern coins and higher for errors found in older series.
Be aware that some coins sold as errors are actually fakes or coins altered after leaving the Mint. Our fake and altered coin pictures show real examples we have examined.
Error Coins
Error coins happen one at a time or in small batches. They are unintentional mistakes made while the blank was prepared or the coin was struck, caused by human or mechanical error. The Mint tries to catch and destroy these coins, but some reach circulation. A single coin can even show more than one error, because once one thing goes wrong in the press, others often follow. For a deeper look, see our collector’s guide to error coins and die varieties.
Types of Coin Errors
Errors are grouped into three major categories: planchet errors, die errors and strike errors. NGC’s Learn Grading: What Is a Mint Error? series and Wikipedia’s mint-made errors article describe each type in more detail.
Planchet Errors
Problems with the metal blank (planchet) before it is struck.
- Clipped planchet: part of the coin is missing because the blank was punched from an overlapping part of the metal strip, leaving a curved or straight clip on the edge.
- Blank planchet: a blank that left the Mint without ever being struck.
- Lamination error: a defect in the metal causes a layer of the surface to crack or peel away.
- Wrong planchet: a coin struck on a blank meant for another denomination or made of the wrong metal, such as the 1943 bronze cent struck on a leftover bronze blank instead of steel.
Die Errors
The cud (circled): a raised, featureless lump of metal on the rim above Jefferson’s head, where part of the die broke away.Problems caused by a damaged or mismatched die.
- Defective die: the die used to strike the coin is cracked, chipped or otherwise damaged, leaving raised lines or lumps on the coins.
- Cud: a piece of the die breaks away at the rim, so a raised, featureless blob of metal appears on the coin’s edge.
- Mule: a coin struck with two dies that were never meant to be paired, such as a 2000 Sacagawea dollar struck with a Washington quarter obverse. See mule (coin).
Strike Errors
Problems that happen in the coin press itself.
- Off-center strike: the planchet was not centered between the dies, so part of the design is missing and a crescent of blank metal shows.
- Multiple strike: a coin struck more than once, often with a second, off-center image. Our guide What’s My “Double Stamped” Coin Worth? explains these.
- Broadstrike: a coin struck without its retaining collar, so the metal spreads out wider than normal.
- Brockage: a coin that stuck to a die and pressed a mirror image of its design into the next coin. See brockage.
- Die cap: a coin that stays stuck to the die and is pressed into following planchets until it forms a cap shape.
Variety Coins
Variety coins generally occur in batches. They are caused by intentional or unintentional changes to a die before coins are struck. Because the difference is on the die itself, every coin struck by that die shows it. Common types include doubled dies, repunched and over mint marks, and overdates.
Unlike one-off errors, varieties can be cataloged and collected. A collector of Mercury dimes, for example, may want a 1942/1 overdate to round out the series. Specialist references and attribution programs list known varieties: the error and variety club CONECA catalogs them, and NGC explains what counts as a variety. If you think you have a doubled die, our guide to doubled die vs. mechanical doubling will help.
Some Famous Variety Coins
- 1955 doubled die Lincoln cent (also see Wikipedia)
- 1969-S doubled die obverse Lincoln cent
- 1982-D small date copper Lincoln cent
- 1995 doubled die obverse Lincoln cent
- 1942/1 and 1942/1-D overdate Mercury dimes
- 1937-D three-legged Buffalo nickel
For typical values of regular-issue coins, see our coin and paper money price guide or try the coin value finder.
Error and Variety Coins: Quick Answers
Error vs variety: what’s the difference?
An error is a one-time production mistake on a single coin or small batch. A variety comes from the die itself and repeats on every coin that die struck.
How much are error coins worth?
Most minor modern errors bring a modest premium, while major errors and famous varieties can be worth hundreds to many thousands of dollars.
How do I know if my coin is an error?
A genuine error happened at the Mint and shows crisp detail that matches known examples. Flat, shelf-like doubling, scrapes and plating are usually damage after release.
Selling a collection? We also offer home visits, fully insured mail-in service with no deductible, free or discounted shipping on selected collections, auction partnerships for rare pieces, and IRS-compliant appraisals for estates. Start with our free online coin appraisal.
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