U.S. Coin Information Home
- Half Cents
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- Draped Bust Half Cents (1800-1808)
- Classic Head Half Cents (1809-1836)
- Coronet Half Cents (1840-1857)
- Large Cents
- Flowing Hair/Chain Reverse Large Cents (1793)
- Flowing Hair/Wreath Reverse Large Cents (1793)
- Liberty Cap Large Cents (1793 - 1796)
- Draped Bust Large Cents (1796 - 1807)
- Classic Head Large Cents (1808 - 1814)
- Coronet Large Cents (Matron Head) (1816 - 1835)
- Coronet Large Cents (Young Head) (1835 - 1857)
- Small Cents
- Flying Eagle Cents (1856-1858)
- Indian Head Cents (1859-1909)
- Lincoln Cents, Memorial or Wheat Ear Reverse (1909-Present)
- Two Cent Pieces
- Shield Two Cent Pieces (1864 - 1873)
- Three Cent Pieces
- Silver Three Cent Pieces (1851-1873)
- Nickel Three Cent Pieces (1865 - 1889)
- Nickels
- Shield Nickels (1866 - 1883)
- Liberty Head Nickels (1883 - 1912)
- Buffalo Nickels (1913 - 1938)
- Jefferson Nickels (1938 - Present)
- Half Dimes
- Flowing Hair Half Dimes (1794 - 1795)
- Draped Bust Half Dimes (1796 - 1805)
- Capped Bust Half Dimes (1829 - 1837)
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- Dimes
- Draped Bust Dimes (1796 - 1807)
- Capped Bust Dimes (1809 - 1837)
- Liberty Seated Dimes (1837 - 1891)
- Barber Dimes (1892 - 1916)
- Winged Liberty ("Mercury") Dimes (1916 - 1945)
- Roosevelt Dimes (1946 - Present)
- Twenty Cent Pieces
- Liberty Seated Twenty Cent Pieces (1875 - 1878)
- Quarter Dollars
- Half Dollars
- Silver Dollars (1794-1935)
- Clad Dollars (1971-1999)
- Eisenhower Dollar (1971 - 1978)
- Anthony Dollar (1979 - 1999)
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- Error Coins
- Classification of Mint Errors
- 1918 Over 17d Buffalo Nickel
- 3-legged Buffalo Nickel
- Obsolete & Unusual Coinage
- Interesting Facts About the U.S. Mint & It's Coinage
- The Minting Process
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- Investing in Rare Coins
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U.S. Coin Library
Error Coinage
Information
Error coin collecting, once considered a sideline to the collecting of regular issue coins, is emerging as an exciting numismatic category all it own. Billions of coins are produced by the United States each year. With such high rates of production it is natural that a few abnormal pieces escape inspection at the mint. Consequently, these coins are inadvertently released for circulation, usually in original mint bags or rolls. These are not considered regular issues, since they were not manufactured intentionally.
Nearly every error coin is unique in some respect, and prices will vary depending on the type of error and the denomination of the coin. In general, these pieces are valued according to the scarcity of each kind of error for each type of coin.
Error coins are important for the information they provide about the various stages of the minting process. This can lead to a better understanding of United States minting techniques. Classification of mint errors is a way to organize error coins according to how they are created and at which stage of the minting process the error occurs.
It is important not to confuse coins described in this section with others that have been damaged or otherwise mutilated after leaving the mint. Those pieces are altered coins and have no numismatic value.
Recommended Reference Books
Error Coin Reference Books on our New Website
All Reference Books on our New Website