1994 cent error

[ddorpm]

Hello All,

While searching circulated cent rolls this morning I came across a 1994 that puzzled me for a couple of minutes. Comparing with another cent it finally dawned on me this 1994 cent has a 180 degree rotated reverse. When flipping the coin side-to-side the reverse is in its exact correct orientation.

I'm not much into errors but rather die varieties. Is this common for modern-day Lincoln cents? I know this type of error is well known in the hobby and I understand it's usually located on older coins in varying degrees of rotation. However -- is this 1994 rotated reverse a known error or been published? Any background info sincerely appreciated.

Interestingly -- if one is not paying attention, this could have easily slipped by me in a split second! Coin is Gem BU/Red to boot!

Everybody have a great day ...

Regards,
Billy G. Crawford (ddorpm)

[Bob P]

Hi Billy,
The rotated reverse does happen frequently in older coins as the keyways/alignment pins were ground off or worn. Most of the rotated reverses are not much than a degree or two. However, a 180 degree rotation can be worth a substantial premium for those who collect them. I don't know for sure if there is a one-source book that lists any of them, but I do know there is a market for them...especially an older date with an AU or better surface.
As far as whether or not it happens now....very infrequently, but it has happened recently on statehood quarters. It could be worth something to you.

[ddorpm]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info. I did some web searching on rotated dies with locating one web site that provided a census of what this collector had acquired in information over the years on rotated dies. As you mentioned Bob, on older coins this type of error happened due to less quality control while modern-day coinage this type of error is much rarer in frequency. Noted were some Penn. state quarters, Conn. and a few others states quarters with varying rotated dies. Interestingly, the discoverer of the Penn. state quarter 180 rotated reverses lives about 5 miles from me and is the president of our Low Country Coin Club. He sold the ones he had for around $500 each. Also, the web site did list a 1994 cent with a 105 degree rotated reverse with an R7 (4-7 known) factor along with pics of the coin in an NGC MS-64/Red slab. However, the one I came across appears to me to be much more than 105 degrees of rotation. The scan below of the coin I came across is pretty close to the rotation +/- a couple of degrees.



I know this isn't a whopping error type but finding it while searching circulated rolls still was exciting to me. It's the first rotated die I have ever come across and I hate to admit, but I was a hairs breath away from missing it myself and tossing the coin in the roll back up pile.

I showed the coin to the photo lab that processes my negatives and he must have flipped the coin back a forth for 10 minutes and couldn't figure out what was wrong with the coin. When I let him flip a normal cent he finally figured it out and was simply amazed! At least it's an interesting conversation piece and one I will never sell. I plan to show the coin to my bank tellers since they always enjoy seeing weird stuff. I have given them all 1998 and 2000 1c Type-II reverses that I have accumulated during my years of searching which they have gotten a kick out of. I quickly learned in this hobby to keep your bank tellers happy since they provide me with coins to search. One teller even calls me at home to let me know when some special coins and/or wheats have been brought in to the bank.

Anyway -- thanks again and have a great day.

Regards,
Billy G. Crawford

[Bob P]

That's a great story Billy. I wonder how many I have actually tossed away over the years. I too have managed to find a few, and have held on to them. I found 4 in a 1972D BU roll, and all are the same die, rotated about 300 degrees, a 1944S rotated about 320 degrees, and a 1989 rotated about 45 degrees. The more valuable coins from what I understand are in the 180 degree range, By the looks of your pictures, I would say yours sits at about 140 degrees. Can you imagine if that one was either of the two big doubled die reverses for that year?
Anyway, I agree that keeping it and showing it off is the best way to deal with these wonderful errors. I also agree that keeping the bank tellers happy is a plus, which is probably why I am dating one occasionally Enjoy your find! With someone who searches as many coins as you do, it is surprising you haven't found more, but as you stated, you may have had them babies in your hands, only to discard them into the big coin pile in the sky. I tend to not want to look back on what could have been

[ddorpm]

Bob,

I think I may have figured out an additional mystery on my 1994 1c rotated reverse. Let me run this by you Bob and let me know what you come up with.

The below photo depicts a key obverse die marker on my 1994 1c rotated coin. Note the prominent die gouge protruding at the upper right curving edge of the letter "D" of GOD.



Below is a link to a scan of a 1994 Lincoln cent with a 105 degree rotated reverse illustrated on a web site devoted to rotated dies information from a personal collection:

http://www.rotateddies.com/94-1cb.jpg

Note in this scan it appears that there is a white dot at the EXACT same location on the letter "D" of GOD on the obverse of his coin. If I am not mistaken -- that's the same die gouge that is on my coin that you can see in the above attached photo. Therefore, being the same die gouge, he and I have the same pair of dies with varying degrees of rotation (mine is MUCH more than 105 degrees).

If it is the same die gouge on both coins, one can now conclude that the rotated die is loose in the press and is continually moving around. It could at one point rotate back into the correct orientation position with the dies now striking normal cents and then continue rotating around the other direction.

Another interesting aspect of this story is Jose' Cortez mentioned to me he seems to remember an article that was published back in '94 in Coin World magazine illustrating a 1994 Lincoln cent exhibiting a 180 degree rotated reverse. Though we don't know (at least for the time being without examining that particular coin) -- but it could be that 1994 cent published in CW is of the same die pair as this guys web site coin and my coin in that at the time of its striking it had moved into the 180 degree position.

Your thoughts?

Regards,
Billy G. Crawford

[Bob P]

Ahhh...the plot thickens! I tried to blow up that photo you linked to to find out if it was indeed the same die gouge, but the resolution was too poor and inconclusive. I do however agree that there is a good possibility that it is indeed the same coin. If the alignment pins had worn or been ground off to the point where the die continually rotated when going through the striking process, there could be hundreds of different variations of the same rotated die. It would also be advantageous to be able to collect a series of these dies to verify it, but I guess that wouldn't be too easy.
I assume you checked for any additional markers, although I know it would be difficult at best. I do see what appears to be a die chip on the right cornice on his pics, and maybe a die dot at the rim to the southeast of the 4 of the date. Does your coin have any of these? I don't see them on your pics, but they could be anything from different die states to stuff on the coin.
One thing that puzzles me a bit is that I would assume there would be some sort of strike doubling if a die was loose enough to be rotating...but I might be way off base there. I also wonder if the 4-7 known coins of that die are indeed the exact same rotation, or maybe a degree or two different. It seems this could result in more questions asked than answered.
I like stuff like this. It makes you think about the whole process and wonder what could have happened. I am going to see if I can also find out any info on these 1994 rotated reverses, and see if we can't find out something conclusive. It would be great if we were able to prove it one way or another. Great research Billy! Let's see where we can take this next!

[ddorpm]

Bob,

I put my coin under the scope and there is a die crack extending southward into the steps starting from the very bottom of the 9th Memorial column. I looked at the web site scan and I can see that die crack on his coin. My coin also has a die gouge (medium dot) on the middle left side of the vertical bar of the letter "E" of STATES. In his scan, it appers to me I see that die gouge as well.

It appears to me, at least 99.999% (obviously one can't be 100% without actually examining his coin) that my coin and his coin are of the same die pair and therefore we have a loose die rotating.

Another interesting aspect, at least of my coin since I can examine it, is the obverse in my opinion is between EDS to MDS leaning a little towards early die state. The reverse on my coin is definately late die state with extensive metal flow especially getting nearer to the rims. From what I can see in his scan of the reverse -- it looks to be a late die state of his coin as well.

I noticed on his web site a listing (of which covers all denominations) of a bunch of 1973-D cent rotated reverses. Though there is no way for us to know without examining coins, but it could be those many different listings (as well as others on his list) could also be of the same die pair with a loose die rotating giving the impression there was a bunch of different rotated dies for that give year but actually is maybe only one or two die pair(s). Granted, that's not conclusive -- but interesting thoughts to ponder.

I've e-mailed the guy of the web site but have not heard back from him. I don't know who this person is or if he is still active in research. Might be out of town or something.

Bob, I couldn't agree with you more that I too enjoy researching things like this. After all -- if you really get down to it, we variety collectors are involved in, "attention to detail." That's what we do. If you will, sort of a "forensics" of the hobby.

I am working up a story on this coin for an upcoming publication in Numismatic News weekly magazine. I appreciate your help with this interesting coin and will include you and coppercoins.com in the story if that is OK with you and Chuck. If not -- please let me know.

Regards,
Billy

[Bob P]

I'll tell you what Billy...If I were a betting man, and you said you were 99.99999999999999999999% sure it was the same die, I would tend to believe they were the same die as well.
It is turning out to be a fascinating research project. Keep me informed about any more info you find out on it, and if I find out anything else, I will do the same.
As far as mentioning coppercoins.com in your article, it is definitely OK by me. Every bit of advertising helps the site in the long run.
By the way, if you could send me your email address, I will send any info I get directly to you. You can email me at bobp@coppercoins.com, or mustbebob1@earthlink.net.

[coppercoins]

Not like this really needs it, but I give permission for you to do whatever you like in mentioning the site in your articles, Billy. You're a respected member here - whatever you think will help everyone out I am for.

Regarding the subject at hand, I cannot offer much other than to say that this sort of dialogue helps educate all of us, and I am happy you posted it here. Unfortunately I don't know anything about rotated reverses other than to say if there's one, there are likely others where the one came from - sounds like you found a coin that has a mate.