Among the most fascinating niches in the coin collecting world are so-called “error” coins–those specimens that had a manufacturing defect that the Mint failed to notice. Usually these coins are pulled from the mint run and immediately destroyed. But every now and then a few actually make it into general circulation–and that’s great news for error coin collectors.
Consider the Presidential Dollar error coins: while many people focus on what are known as “godless dollars” (the Presidential Dollars that are missing the edge lettering, and therefore have plain edges) what may be far more fascinating are those coins that actually got two sets of edge lettering!
In particular, certain Adams Presidential Dollars went through the Schuler edge lettering machine at the Philadelphia Mint twice. Some specimens got the edge lettering applied in the same direction both times, and some got the edge lettering in different directions each time.
Incredibly enough, both types of coins were found by the same collectors–Alfred and Sarah Figureid of Pensacola, Florida, from among the first 5 rolls they searched from their local bank. Eventually the Figureids found hundreds of specimens, most of which were sold on eBay for $150 to $200 per coin. That was back in 2007–now these coins are commanding even higher prices due to their rarity. It’s estimated that only 8,000-10,000 such coins are in existence.
Mis-Handling Coins
Among the most fascinating niches in the coin collecting world are so-called “error” coins–those specimens that had a manufacturing defect that the Mint failed to notice. Usually these coins are pulled from the mint run and immediately destroyed. But every now and then a few actually make it into general circulation–and that’s great news for error coin collectors.
Consider the Presidential Dollar error coins: while many people focus on what are known as “godless dollars” (the Presidential Dollars that are missing the edge lettering, and therefore have plain edges) what may be far more fascinating are those coins that actually got two sets of edge lettering!
In particular, certain Adams Presidential Dollars went through the Schuler edge lettering machine at the Philadelphia Mint twice. Some specimens got the edge lettering applied in the same direction both times, and some got the edge lettering in different directions each time.
Incredibly enough, both types of coins were found by the same collectors–Alfred and Sarah Figureid of Pensacola, Florida, from among the first 5 rolls they searched from their local bank. Eventually the Figureids found hundreds of specimens, most of which were sold on eBay for $150 to $200 per coin. That was back in 2007–now these coins are commanding even higher prices due to their rarity. It’s estimated that only 8,000-10,000 such coins are in existence.