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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

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