sourcing major mint errors like off-center and other types

[coppersleuth]

I have always been curious as to how dealers get the major error coins they have, especially the more modern mint errors. The major off-center strikes, fold-overs, wrong planchet, etc....

These obviously occur at the mint, and if the mint discovers them, I always assumed the mint and its employees simply destroy the coins.

Is it likley there is a lucrative underground trade where mint employees somehow get these into the hands of major dealers with whom they have relationships?

I also heard that there are government sub-contractors that handle some of the processing and packaging of coins for general circulation to bank, etc. Are these "finds" going from the subs to the dealers?

Just curious, as the average collector obviously does not have access to these sources. Seems like an uneven playing field, but I understand the wheels of commerce and relationships, so more power to them, I guess.

Perhaps Uncle Sam is losing out on some "jing" but not having their own public auctions of error coins. Shhhhhhhhh.....let's not tell 'em, though!

[eagames]

On modern ones they come from the mint in huge unrolled boxes by weight. I suspect the contractors that roll them and box them find the errors like off centers that won't fit in a roll. Some minor off centers get rolled and often you can see them through to roll bulging or even cutting the roll but the major ones must get found as they roll them.

[coop]

But I have heard that the people that wrap the coins now must return all errors back to the mint to be destroyed. If they are caught keeping the errors from the bags, they lose their contract with the mint. So few errors will be found now as they will be returned. Well, that is what I heard.