Thousands of dollars in your pocket change?…

By Jim Porter

The excitement of the treasure hunt has arrived in the form of a new U.S. error coin, namely the District of Columbia U.S. Territorial quarter.  This coin features famous African-American jazz great Duke Ellington at his piano on the reverse side, which has the error.

2009 (Denver Mint) District of Columbia Quarter

Above is the normal coin, without the doubling error that is referred to now as “Type I”.  The Type I error coin, which depending upon its rarity may be worth thousands of dollars,  looks like this:

The 2009-D Type I DC Error Quarter Dollar

Three or more different types of doubling exist on the District of Columbia quarter dollar, but the one above that’s caused all the excitement shows strong doubling of the “ELL” in Duke Ellington’s last name, which appears above his piano keyboard.  EBAY hasn’t had any of this rare type for sale yet, but has had coins for sale that show a lesser degree of “doubling” in other areas. Until more examples of the above Type I error are found, the value is speculative.   I have found one of the Type II doubling errors, and although not as noticeable or exciting as the Type I, several have appeared and sold on EBAY for less than $20.  Here’s what the Type II error looks like:

 

Errors are not new to the United States and Territorial quarters series.  There’s also a “Six Toe” Bear error on the Alaska State Quarter.  There’s been some debate as to whether a scratch or ding in the die created this error, but nevertheless, it is recognized as a bonafide error, and several have sold on EBAY for less than $20. 

 

You may have seen the Wisconsin State Quarter with an “extra leaf ” under the lower left leaves on the ear of corn.  Versions of this error from 2003 have sold for up to $300.00 on EBAY.  Some believe that this error was purposely created by a U.S. Mint employee.

Normal Wisconsin State Quarter

Above is the “High Leaf” and below is the “Low Leaf” errors on the Wisconsin 2003 State Quarter.

There are four new reverses scheduled to be released on the Lincoln Penny in 2009.  This being Abe’s 200th birthday, it is appropriate to honor him again.  The second release, called “The Formative Years” or “Rail Splitter” reverse, has a variety of “errors” on them.  At this time, none of the coin grading services acknowledge this issue as a “doubled die error”, but collector’s do by their obvious interest and purchasing of the coins.  The most visible is the “extra finger” variety, which appears as an extra imprint of Lincoln’s left forefinger, on the left hand which is holding a book.

The Most Visible 2009 P Penny Reverse Error

The many other diverse varieties of the 2009 P Lincon Cent reverse errors are subtly different, and take a good loupe to be able to see them.   All varieties seem to be recognized by a widespread base of people buying and selling them on EBAY.  Perhaps they will grow or shrink in popular acceptance as error coins, but their apparent availability suggests that they are not  as rare as other error coins past and present.  (One dealer sells a “potential” roll for $39.99)

Variety of Errors on 2009 P Lincoln Cent Reverse

There are many, many more “errors” on the “Formative Years” Lincoln Bicentennial Commemorative 1 cent coin, and its really getting out of hand with all the different slight variations selling for ridiculously high prices on EBAY.  When all the smoke settles, perhaps they will be valued by their true rarity, if that can ever be determined.  In the meantime, I asked Abe what he thinks of the frenzy to find one of these error coins, and here is his response…

He's spinning in his grave!

 

The 1995 One Cent coin from Philadelphia (no mint mark below the date) also had a “Doubled Die” version, worth about $50.00 in mint state.

The '95 Doubled Die shows some slight doubling in the word "LIBERTY".

 A valuable error was minted in 1972 on the Lincoln cent obverse.  This “doubled die” is far more apparent than any since 1955.  It is valued in the $300 range for Mint State specimens.

1972 Doubled Die Obverse "LIBERTY"

 

This strongly doubled 1972 obverse is worth the most, there are varieties doubled to a lesser degree which are worth far less.  Some unscrupulous dealers try to pass off the less valuable ones as the rarer variety.  Its best to research thoroughly before purchasing ANY error coin. 

The most famous error coin is probably the 1955 Doubled Die One Cent coin, in terms of both notoriety and value.  Uncirculated versions of this coin bring upwards of $3,000.00.   The year it was issued, the coin was almost immediately discovered, and it started a nationwide “treasure hunt” for bags and rolls of 1955 P (Philadelphia, no mint mark) pennies.  Some lucky people found a roll of uncirculated coins then, other ver lucky ones found bags with many hundreds of uncirculated specimens.  Since then, they have apparently dissipated into the hands of worldwide error collectors and investors, as its value has increased at better than bank interest rates.

Of course, there are those who would take advantage of folks who do not know by representing a lesser value “Poorman’s Double Die” as the real ’55 Doubled Die Cent shown above, but the “Poorman’s” coin is quite common and only worth a few bucks in Mint State.  Shown below, the “Poorman’s DD” shows only minor “doubling”, of the last 5 of the date 1955.

"Poorman's Double Die" is not a true "doubling".

Minor, less noticeable errors exist in U.S. coinage which attract niche collector groups.  The 1922 “No D” one cent piece was caused by the use of extremely worn dies at the Denver Mint.  Pennies without any mintmark were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, but none were struck there in 1922, which makes the mintmark-free coin an obvious error.  This version of the 1922 “Weak D” penny also  has a weaker reverse, and is worth less than the strong reverse variety with an entirely missing mintmark.

1922 "No-D" Cent

Errors have always held a curious attraction to collectors, because they continually keep sufacing each year, even ones from the past which might seem unattainable to the average person.  In 1943, a few copper blanks (planchets) found their way into the production line at the Philadelphia Mint and were released along with all the other normal pennies that year.  Because of a copper shortage, the “normal” pennies minted in 1943 were made from zinc plated steel blanks, and the copper 1943 dated penny is worth about a quarter million dollars!  Before you get excited about the copper 1943 penny in your collection, the magnet test rules out copper plated fakes which are abundant, and no doubt the source of much fun and ridicule of those who have run about the house screaming, “I FOUND ONE!”