1971d one side only o/c???

[ken]

Came across this today from my nearly full 5 gallon jug I was looking thru.Only one side of the coin is off center struck.How can this happen?Rare??Thank you to all for your input.

[Bob P]

I believe in this case, it would be considered a misaligned die (MAD). Off center strikes would indeed affect both sides of the coin. Either way, it is one of the strongest misalignment's I have ever seen.

[ken]

Thank you Bob for your reply!!How rare is it and approx value/Not that I am going to sell it.Just curious.Thank you,Ken

[mikediamond]

They come a lot bigger than this. This is certainly collectable, though, and is probably worth $10 - $15.

[wavysteps2003]

While speaking of MAD, is it possible for the reverse to be offcenter, while the obverse is centered?

If you think about it the answer is simple, if you can figure it out. Think third!

BJ Neff

[mikediamond]

Yes, I've written two articles about such errors in Errorscope. The easiest way for this to happen is when the reverse die functions as the hammer die. This started in the Denver Mint at least as far back as 1992 and there was a gradual changeover over the next 10 years. By the middle of 2003, all coins were being struck with this die setup.

It's also possible for the anvil die to be misaligned. This can happen if the collar breaks apart, freeing the die to move laterally. There's a 1984 cent that documents this circumstance. It can also happen if the entire die assembly -- the die plus the collar -- shifts laterally. This has been documented in a large number of Virginia quarters.

[wavysteps2003]

Okay Mike, you spoiled the fun, however, your answer is absolutely correct.

Many people neglect to think of the collar, or third "die", and in this case it is the instrumental piece that centers one of the dies. As you pointed out, in most cases, the hammer die is the die that is more likely to be offset, while the anvil die is the centered die.

BJ Neff

[mikediamond]

Oops, sorry. I didn't scroll down far enough to see that it was a test. I'll be more careful next time.

[Dick]

BJ, if this situation had npt been put in place, you would be researching the "wavy hair", instead of the wavy step, and the "bars", that frequently show on columns 6, and 7.. Correct?
Dick

[wavysteps2003]

Actually Dick, trails and wavy steps are die related. The area that is being discussed in the topic is strike related.

I have seen MAD struck coins with trail and wavy step dies and MAD does nothing to affect that effect.

BJ