Non-Mint Errors, Damaged, and Supposed Mint Error Coins
(Your guide to identify a coin that's not a mint error)

Click on a coin or it's link to see example coins
Some photographs are posted under the Fair Use doctrine of Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 107 for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
These are example of coins that obtained damage after they where struck by a coin die, or coins which where damaged during the minting process. A true mint error coin is a planchet that strikes a coin with details that where not intended for that particular coin series.

In example, the famous 1955 Double Die, Lincoln Cent was created when the working die had a double image of the coins intended design. This doubling was passed on to the copper planchet as doubled features, on several coin, until the mint workers discovered the mistake and stop using the die.

Any other action against a coin during or after the strike is considered mint damage. However, if the damage is dramatic like fold over strikes, multiple strikes, die adjustment strikes, etc. then they are usually classified as mint errors. In this writers mind, it's a controversy that might never be resolved.

But die damage is still damage, no matter if accidental or not. If a coin get's jammed in the feeder and is struck several times and looks like something out of Frankenstein movie, doesn't make it any more a mint error than Strike Doubling where the die had a "loose bolt" and as it struck the planchet, jarred, thus creating coins like a Poor Man's Double Die which is actually machine "damage", and not considered a mint error.

However, for now, we will stick with what's most popular to ensure that the reader is not confused on the issue of what makes a mint error and what doesn't. Let us suffice to say, that a coin with details other than intended for the series or something happened to the coin during the minting process, and this "difference" can be verified that it happened at the mint, then it can be considered collectible. The more dramatic the mint error or mint damage the higher the market value.

See pictures of real Mint Errors
CoinHELP!
Have numismatic question click here
Ads By Ebay

Liberty Cap Half Cent
Draped Bust Half Cent
Classic Head Half Cent
Braided hair Half Cent

Flowing Hair Large Cent
Draped Bust Large Cent
Classic Head Large Cent
Coronet Head Large Cent
Braided Hair Large Cent

Flying Eagle Small Cent
Indian Head Small Cent
Lincoln Wheat Small Cent
Lincoln Memorial Small Cent

Two Cent Shield

3 Cents Nickel
3 Cents Silver

Shield Nickel
Liberty V Nickel
Buffalo Nickel
Jefferson Nickel

Flowing Hair Half Dime
Draped Bust Half Dime
Capped Bust Half Dime
Seated Liberty Half Dime

Draped Bust Dime
Capped Bust Dime
Seated Liberty Dime
Barber Head Dime
Mercury Head Dime
Silver Roosevelt Dime

Seated Twenty Cent

Draped Bust Quarter
Capped Bust Quarter
Seated Liberty Quarter
Barber Head Quater
Standing Liberty Quarter
Silver Washington Quarter
State Washington Quarter

Flowing Hair Half Dollar
Draped Bust Half Dollar
Capped Bust Half Dollar
Seated Liberty Half Dollar
Barber Head Half Dollar
Walking Liberty Half Dollar
Franklin Head Half Dollar
Silver Kennedy Half Dollar

Flowing Hair Dollar
Draped Bust Dollar
Seated Liberty Dollar
Trade Dollar Dollar
Morgan Head Dollar
Peace Dollar
Eisenhower Dollar

Susan B. Anthony Dollar
Sacagawea Dollar
Presidential Dollar

US Mint Sets
US Proof Sets
Mint Error Coin
Coin Rolls
Collections / Lots
US Commemorative
US Colonial Coins

Buy Gold Coins

Liberty Type 1 $1 Gold
Indian Type 2 $1 Gold
Indian Type 3 $1 Gold

Classic Head $2.50 Gold
Liberty Head $2.50 Gold
Indian Head $2.50 Gold

Indian Princess $3 Gold

Classic Head $5 Gold
Liberty Head $5 Gold
Indian Head $5 Gold

Liberty Head $10 Gold
Indian Head $10 Gold

Liberty No Motto $20 Gold
Liberty Motto $20 Gold
Saint Gaudens $20 Gold