1946 Florin – Partial Reverse Brockage

This coin has been struck through an elliptically clipped fragment of another coin resulting in the typical indented area on the host coin. The indent covers about 40% of the surface area of the obverse of the coin. The fragment of the other coin had already been struck and either failed to exit the coining chamber correctly or perhaps contaminated the florin blank supply. Because the fragment was already struck a superb reverse brockage impression is visible in the indented area of the coin.

Reverse Brockage Detail

Striking the florin blank against the other coin fragment resulted in a localised area of extreme high pressure forcing metal from the coin blank between the reverse die and the collar die resulting in a much thicker area of edge reeding for about 40% of the circumference of the coin. Normally this would be called “finning” but on this coin it is extreme on both the reverse and obverse of the coin and we’ve never seen it to this extent on other indented error coins.

High Rim Detail

The coin saw some circulation which has resulted in a rim bruise of the reverse under the ST of AUSTRALIA and other larger bruise on the extended reeding on the obverse from about 10 o’clock to 12 o’clock. There is also a small section on the reverse which surrounds the 19 of the date which is struck through some oil or grease which was on the die.

The coin grades VF / aEF and is a fine example of the type. Indented partial brockages are not uncommon on predecimal pennies and half pennies but quite scarce on florins. The amount of indented area is usually much smaller than this coin though making this a premium example of the type.

Australia 1952 Shilling Off Centre Error

Struck 4mm off centre this shilling has engaged with the collar die in a very small area of the circumference around IDE of FIDEI of the obverse. Even there the collar engagement was only slight. The flan is quite flat perhaps indicating a lower striking pressure and the coin has not taken on the “baseball cap” appearance sometimes seen with this type of error. 1952 shillings are often seen struck off center and we’ve seen them ranging from just a millimeter or two off center right up to 50% off center or more. This example does not appear to have circulated and the lustre is excellent and as such it is a superior example of the type. However, as is often seen the exposed side of the coin is hair-lined while the reverse is pristine. The coin grades as UNCIRCULATED with obverse hairlines.

Figure -1 1969 50c Double Obverse

Ex Noble Sale 83, Lot 66 (2006) a dodecagonal 1969 50 cent coin struck with two obverse (Machin QE2 portrait) dies in regular medal alignment. It is unusual that it is struck without a 180 degree rotation as double obverse or reverse error coins are always struck in coin alignment if genuine. The coin is about 0.8 of a millimeter over size measuring 32.3mm from flat to flat. The coin weighs 14.6 grams which is almost a full gram under specification. It is suggested that the coin be tested on an XRF to determine if it is an underweight copper nickel planchet or a different material. Examination of both sides of the coin shows extensive fish-tailing suggesting the entire coin was struck out of collar. Metal flow lines are visible on both sides of the coin so we are confident it was struck and not cast.

The two obverses, while the same design are different sizes. We will call the larger obverse “Side 1” and the smaller obverse “Side 2”. The design of Side 1 is larger in all aspects than the other side, with the portrait larger and the legends larger and closer to the outside of the coin. Side 1 shows a general flatness of design with particular weakness through the back of the crown and through the hair curls. In addition there are numerous flaws in relief visible (see Figure 2), including above the Queen’s head, on her jaw line, and immediately above the back pearl of the Queen’s crown. As these flaws are in relief they were on the die that struck Side 1. It is suggested the transfer method used to create the obverse design was crude which has led to the general mushiness of the design. In addition the hub pattern used to create the die was damaged which explains the various flaws visible in relief.

Figure 2 – Die Markers

The smaller obverse (Side 2) appears to have been struck using the standard 1969 50 cent design (see Figures 3 and 4). Immediately inside the rim of the coin there is an area of visible ramping leading from the flat fields to the rim. The edge of this ramping corresponds reasonably well with the size of a standard 1969 50 cent suggesting either a standard 50 cent die or a slightly modified oversize die was used to strike Side 2.

Figure 3 – Portrait Size Comparison

Figure 4 – Portrait Size Comparison

The origins of the coin can only be uncertain. What is certain is it is a deliberately manufactured item, most likely produced on machinery at the Royal Australian Mint. One can postulate that it was made to compare different obverse sizes for the proposed new dodecagonal 50 cent with the larger Side 1 die manufactured quickly and crudely to produce a trial piece. Referring to “Heads I Win” (Watson 1986) it cannot be ruled out that the coin escaped the Mint in the pockets of David Gee either stolen or given to him by then Mint Controller J.M. Henderson.
Regardless, further information as to the origins of the coin may be gleaned by talking to Canberra coin dealer Tony Byrne, who was the numismatist at the RAM around the period that new 50 cent was designed and introduced.

1959 “Pancake” Florin Error

Struck completely out of collar and almost perfectly centered. As the coin was not constrained by the collar die as it was struck the metal has flowed radially in all directions resulting in the typical “pancake” like appearance that well centered out of collar strikes take on. Interestingly the diameter of the coin (29mm) is only slightly higher than a normal florin suggesting that the spreading of the coin while visually spectacular was not particularly great. This is supported by examination of the obverse legends which show some minimal fishtailing but not the amount you see in more grossly deformed coins. The coin is a fabulous grade, grading CHOICE UNCIRCULATED to GEM with just a few obverse hairlines detracting. The coin is probably the finest example of a centered out of collar (pancake) florin we’re aware of as often these coins jam in the coin press and are damaged by operators removing them.

Australia 1975 50 Cent Off Centre Error

We posted this error coin up on the Coin Blog’s Facebook page and had a massive response reaching almost 4,000 of our readers so we thought pertinent to include it here as it’s a really stunning and obvious mint error coin.

Struck completely out of collar this Australian 50 cent error has been minted 6 millimeters off-center which has completely decapitated the kangaroo and emu! The top half of the star and the kangaroo and emu’s heads are missing on the reverse and the Queen is missing the top of her head and those top legends on the obverse are gone. As well as the missing design elements this coin has been well kept since it was first found if I may postulate perhaps it was found in a mint roll as it is of exceptionally high grade of choice uncirculated. Struck in 1975 at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra when the RAM sent just over 19 million 50 cent coins into circulation, this coin is a very rare and possibly unique coin of this year and denomination. This coin now resides in a PCGS slab graded MS62. Now for those of you gaping with awe pick your lip up off the ground and get back to work!

Australia 1966P 2c – Broadstrike Error

As no design elements of the coin design are missing this coin which failed to engage with the collar die correctly must be classified as an uncentered broadstrike. It appears to be a Perth minted coin which is a scarce coin in itself and the error and grade of the coin make it even more so. The attribution as a Perth minted coin should be taken with some caution as metal flow in the feet of the Devlin lizard design make identifying which (if any) claw is blunted troublesome. Metal flow has also caused impressive fishtailing on the legends of this coin, see the image below. The coin is toned glossy brown with remnants of mint red. It shows indications of improper storage in PVC at some point but this hasn’t damaged the coin in any appreciable way. There are four gouges at the bottom of the reverse side of the coin which while detracting are not uncommon on this type of error. It is theorised that these marks are placed there by press operators un-jamming a stuck coin press. The coin grades a lovely glossy brown UNCIRCULATED.

Detail of Fishtailing

1966L 20 Cent – Reverse Planchet Flaw

This London minted 1966 20 cent has a detached planchet flaw. The flaw was certainly there when the coin was struck as there is no indication of the design of the coin “flowing” into the missing part of the design. Furthermore the edge of the flaw is crisp and the recessed area has the typical rough texture associated with split planchets and detached planchet flaws. In contrast, coins that are struck after flaws have detached typically show smoother edges to the flaw and the recesses can show signs of the coin design. The coin grades to about Extremely Fine.

Planchet Flaw Detail

Rotated Double Strike Error – 1964Y Half Penny

Above you can see a very interesting coin error, a double struck half penny of Queen Elizabeth II. This double strike is a bit different in that both strikes occurred while the coin was completely retained within the collar die of the coin press. In addition, the coin itself rotated between strikes leading to the precise classification of the error as a rotated double strike error. This is distinct from the more often seen double strike where the coin has moved laterally between strikes and one (or more) of the subsequent strikes are out of collar.

How do we know the coin rotated between strikes?

A characteristic of multiple struck coin errors we’ve seen is that the second (and subsequent) strikes obscure the evidence of the earlier strikes but almost never obliterate the evidence completely. If a coin moved laterally between strikes then the evidence of the two strikes is obvious. However, if a coin simply rotates the evidence can be harder to spot, especially if the degree of rotation is small. Fortunately in the case of this coin the rotation is about 45 degrees and the evidence of the two strikes is quite clear. We’ve decided to pick two obvious features that show the two strikes, but there are many more on this coin which is what makes it as interesting as it is.

Two Queen Faces

Above you can see the portrait area of the obverse. The face of Her Majesty from the second strike is oriented correctly and is quite obvious. The portrait rendered by the first strike is visible and rotated about 45 degrees counter clockwise with the chin from the first strike apparent immediately behind the eye of the second strike. Move your gaze up and to the left of the chin and you can easily see a nose in the wreath and then a forehead in the hair above the wreath.

First strike HALF (left), second strike HALF (right)

Often the most easily spotted evidence of a multiple struck coin is in the legends. This coin shows such evidence around the legends on both sides. Rather than look at all of them we’ve picked the HALF from the reverse which you can see above. On the left of the image you can see the HALF from the original strike. It is flattened but the outline is quite obvious. On the right of the image you can see the HALF of the second strike. You’ll note that the lettering has various raised areas that correspond with the remnants of the underlying PENNY from the original strike. These raised areas are very typical of rotated multiple struck coins and often result in a bumpy and spidery appearance of the legends.

Can we date the coin more accurately?

The last two digits in the date of this coin are completely absent and it appears at first glance that dating the coin is not possible. However, if we focus on the date remnants from the original coin strike then we can actually date the coin.

Identification of Date. First strike date (TOP), Highlighting date (MIDDLE), normal 1964Y date (BOTTOM)

The image above shows a close up of the date area from the original strike of the coin. If you look closely (and perhaps squint and stand on one leg) you can probably see the remnants of a 1 and 9 on the left, so the coin was struck in the 20th century…..well of course it was we didn’t need to see the numerals to know that! More interestingly if you look to the right of the remnants of the 9 you can just make out the faint remains of two more numerals. We’ve highlighted the relevant parts in red in the middle of the image. Comparing them with the date area of a normal 1964Y half penny it’s clear that our double struck coin is a 1964 dated coin.

How do Rotated Double Strikes occur?

There are two theories as to how rotated double strikes occur.

1. The coin is struck as normal and when the dies retract the coin fails to eject correctly but actually moves slightly and then falls back into the collar die, the press cycles again and the coin is struck a second time. The movement the coin experiences as it fails to eject correctly causes it to rotate slightly.
2. A coin is struck normally and ejected from the press normally. Somehow it ends up dropping out of the normal manufacturing process, perhaps falling off of a conveyor, or being dropped on the ground when being transferred to a storage container. When mint workers are cleaning up their workspace they sweep up the coin and it is carelessly placed back into a coin blank hopper or drum and the coin is put through the manufacturing process again where it is struck a second time.

Personally we lean toward the second theory. A very similar method is thought to be behind wrong or foreign planchet errors, basically the wrong planchets end up contaminating the blank supply for some other coin. If it can happen for blanks then it’s quite feasible for it to happen with already struck coins.

Conclusions

Rotated double strikes are much rarer in the Australian coin series than the more often seen double strikes were the coin moves laterally between strikes. It is helpful to understand the characteristics of rotated double strike coins as we’ve pointed out in this blog post so that you, the collector, can correctly identify a rotated double struck error. It’s also useful to be able to examine such errors minutely to date them as we’ve demonstrated here.