Discussion- Off Center Struck Coins

I keep any I find that are even a little off center, since it's only pocket change, (most are really just misaligned (obverse to reverse or slightly broadstruck rather than off centered, but the 5% off centered is generally considered the minimum to collect. A fun way to collect is to go after a clock set, getting them in off center at or around the same percentage of off centeredness and at the various clock positions. 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, etc. I've seen some custom Capitol Plastic holders made for these in a circle with a clock movement put on the back so the display actually is a clock. Really neat looking.

to the CCF!

If it's not too late, put down the loop(e) and walk away from the coin shop. I've been hooked on errors for 50 years now and can't get enough! If it IS too late, enjoy the hunt and start saving up some normal (centered) cash. You may need it.

Most error collectors look for missing design details before the coin demands a premium.

I love the MisAligned Die MAD strikes, as mentioned by Dearborn. I've seen a few with almost half the design shifted off the planchet and then weak or missing strike details on the opposite side. I have permanent a "wish list" on Heritage Auctions for this type of error. I get emails with each auction's offerings.

I have found some that are slightly favored in one direction or the other. But based off what I'm hewring so far, I think they are more DDD's and/or misaligned.

Honestly I am so new that I am waiting for my loop to arrive in the mail from Amazon. It was supposed to be here yesterday but there was a hang up in Omaha. So I spent the night sorting sorting more pennies from 60s, 70s, and 80s, and there's a few wheat pennies in the mix. Getting myself ready for UPS to bring my package.

I do have this one but the pictures aren't great. I will get some better ones this afternoon. There looks to be some Cuds (maybe) by the eye and mouth. I didn't get pictures of the back. Not to worry, I plan on investing in a better magnifying/camera setup. Just not quite there yet.

MAD coins:

Note the obverse on this one. Only the obverse is affected. It is called a MAD (Miss - Aligned - Die) because of the setup of the machine was not centered with the anvil die. The dies are adjustable, in the past the anvil die was stationary. Thus the hammer die needed to be centered over the anvil die.

If this is out of alignment, the above coin can happen. These are collectable if the devices fall over the edge of the coin, the reverse will also show weakness as this setup doesn't give the full strike on these devices:


If the devices don't fall over the edge, it is still a MAD coin, but the value is nil as the ones affected the most are the valuable ones.

Over the edge:


The second type of off center coins occur when the color was not in place and they coin is struck with out the collar:


These can be off center in varying degrees:


Mild:


This one was off center because it was not in the collar, but a partial collar strike was seen on the outside edge of this coin:

Broadstruck means the collar was not in place, but the full design was struck on both sides of the coin:




These are mint errors, as they only occur once most of the time. A lot of new collectors lump all issues they find in circulation as erorors, but that is not the case, there are different terms for varieties, die events, Mint errors and damaged coins. So learn which is which. Which ones are valuable, which ones are not. Errors, to s broad term. We are more specific here.


So depending on what you have, when images appear we will be able to help you more then.

CoopHome: What is the difference between a MAD coin and an Off center coin?

but on your coin it looks like a plating bubble by Lincoln's mouth and eye or maybe a die chip.

There is a slight misunderstanding here made by lots of new collectors. Cuds are in contact with the rim of the coin.

When an area on the surface of the die falls away, chips, or spalls and it happens on the interior portion of a coin it is considered a die chip or Interior Die Break. The approximate size of the area involved will determine which to call it.

(So much to learn and process but you're getting there.)

Well if you need questions you've not even thought of, check out the link that will give you these answers. (Which this page if also including) It is CoopHome: Note it turned blue? That means there is a link to so far the 16 pages of discussion with a lot of questions asked and the answers posted there. Give it a try. Thousands of images to help train our thinking on various subjects.