By Charles Morgan for CoinWeek …..
Final month, coin collector and CoinWeek reader Johnny Bowen emailed me to ask my opinion about an uncommon Lincoln Memorial Cent error coin. The coin was a 1980-S Lincoln Cent Proof, one in every of 3,554,806 bought that yr as a part of the 1980 United States Proof Set. Bowen bought the set instantly from the United States Mint 44 years in the past and realized then that the Lincoln Cent had an uncommon characteristic not discovered on most cash.
In accordance with Bowen, the set’s 1980-S Lincoln Cent Proof was struck utilizing dramatically misaligned dies, and he needed to know if the coin had any worth past the everyday greenback it would in any other case be price if it have been bought individually.
I requested him to ship me clear pictures of either side of the Proof Set in order that I might measure the die orientation. As soon as I confirmed that the coin was a Mint Error, I gave Johnny submission info for the three main coin grading companies and stated that after the coin returned from grading, I might assist him find a seller who may be keen on it.
Bowen opted to submit his coin to CACG, which graded the error coin CAC PR67RD CAM, and famous that the coin was struck with dies rotated clockwise by 140 levels. The Proof 67 grade is typical for Lincoln Cent Proofs of the period. I consider that the coin didn’t earn CAC’s Deep Cameo designation because of the slight softness of the frost on the lettering of STATES and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
What Is a Rotated Die Error?
Cash produced by the U.S. Mint are made to actual specs. Beneath regular circumstances, when dies are mounted in a coin press, the coin’s obverse (the heads aspect) is mounted right-side up, whereas the coin’s reverse (tails) is mounted the wrong way up. This orientation or alignment, additionally referred to as a “coin flip,” implies that once you flip a coin on its vertical axis, the reverse picture shall be oriented right-side up.
Within the case of a rotated die error, the reverse die will not be mounted on the right orientation and is rotated off of its correct alignment. Essentially the most dramatic misalignment for a United States coin is 180 levels. Within the case of Bowen’s 1980-S Lincoln Cent Proof error, the reverse die was rotated 140 levels clockwise.
Proof Error Cash Should Evade the Mint’s Strict High quality Management
Regardless of producing extra cash than some other mint worldwide, the US Mint has a stellar monitor file for making high-quality United States cash for circulation. That customary for high quality is much more strict relating to Proof cash which can be struck for numismatic collectors.
Proof cash are struck individually and dealt with with nice care in order that the coin’s mirrored surfaces don’t are available contact with different cash or human palms. They have to additionally move strict high quality management checks earlier than being despatched off for packaging. Cash that fail this inspection are put aside for destruction.
The dies that produced Bowen’s rotated reverse coin would have possible struck different cash, so it’s price checking your 1980 United States Proof Units to see if an identical occasion occurred along with your Lincoln Cent.
What Did He Do with the Coin?
After discussing the coin with quite a lot of nationally recognized sellers, I recommended that Johnny would possibly wish to supply it to 1 who specialised in mint errors. I put him involved with Jon Sullivan of Sullivan Numismatics in Land O’ Lakes, Florida.
Sullivan spoke with CoinWeek about the kind of error, saying:
“Proof rotated dies will be discovered on a handful of years for many sequence of Proof cash, however they’re all the time scarce. Most are price $150-$500. Among the rarest items will be as excessive as round $1,000. This coin was present in a Proof Set and is an thrilling piece for collectors of Proof rotated dies!”
As all the time, completely satisfied searching!
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