A little education please

Doug · Advanced Member

I'll first admit that I have little to no insight on the error aspect of our hobby but something caught my eye in the latest Numismatic News (1-13-04) on pg. 34 that has me bewildered as usual. The article states " Len's Coins & Stamps, of Madison, Wi. is offering a 1964-D cent struck on a 1951-D cent, with both sides showing, in it's mail bid sale #L-85 that closes Jan. 31. The cent error, graded AU-58 by NGC, is valued at $17,500." My question is how in the world did that "legally occur/ happen" at the mint with dies 13 years apart? Sounds strange especially @ $17,500!!!

coppercoins · Site Admin

You've got me...no clue how something like that could happen. I think many of the mint errors that sell for the big bucks are purposefully made experiments that escape the mint through unknown means.

coinnut4 · Member

Hi all,
I can only guess as to something like this but I would say that in this instance with so many years separating the two coins it almost has to be suspect....I guess the scenario is that a coined cent was stuck in a basket or cart for all those years??
Or perhaps a tourist in one of the tours threw a cent into the works somehow??? Last but definitly not least it could be intentionally done from a mint employee or inadvertantly I suppose if a cleaning crew came in a found a 51 on the floor that had been there a while and sent it back thru....
There has always been some coins defy explanation and since this one has been certified by NGC, we can assume that is indeed genuine... but the price reflects that there may not be too many available....Hmmm, might want to get your mailbid in early!!!
Coin Nut 4

Robert · Senior Member

I would agree that it sounds strange.

Remember all those "spectacular" Sacagawea dollar mules in 2000? I suspected those were intentional and I think most have proved to be intentional.

Frankly I just don't buy (no pun intended) the idea that a coin can survive 13 years in the Mint like that.

coop · Expert Member

Possibly when the planchets were being plated a coin got tossed into the bin of planchets before getting back to the mint? Rolling Eyes

I think the mint employees wear a uniform that has no pockets so that nothing can be carried by them. (Well that is what I've heard.)

coppercoins · Site Admin

when the planchets were being plated

Plated with what? We are talking about a time when cents were a solid alloy and the blanks were made from strips at the mint.

coop · Expert Member

It would be a coin to see and not own. Both Wheat and Memorial reverses showing. or the Memorial on one side and wheat on the other. Which ever way it is. Like I said I would like to see it, but never own it.