When you find a coin that looks like it could be an error, the first question you must ask is whether the error occurred at the mint, or after the coin left the mint. Coins with errors at the mint are valuable.
The minting of coins in today's world has evolved into a complex and technologically advanced process. However, as its core, the process remains relatively simple. A blank metal piece, known as planchet, is placed between two hammers with reverse engraved images of the coin, called dies, on their ends. When pressure is applied to both sides of the planchet through hammers, the design from the dies transfers onto the metal, transforming it into a coin.
In the realm of minting processes, even with the utilization of sophisticated technologies and rigorous quality control measures, errors can still manifest, which can range from die errors, planchet errors to striking errors.
A Die Cap occurs when a coin that has been struck sticks to the upper hammer die during the minting process. Once the coin is stuck to the die face, the reverse side of the coin that was struck becomes the new die face for the next coin to be minted.
As the next blank is fed into the collar and the strike takes place, the reverse design of the previously adhered coin is transferred onto the new blank, resulting in what is known as a Brockage strike.
The coin that adhered to the upper die and caused the initial die cap is referred to as a die cap, and this process continues as more coins are minted using the same die cap. With each subsequent strike, the cap metal is pushed further around the upper die shaft, and over time, the cap breaks away from the die in the shape of a thimble.
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