Bringing the latest mint error news to the collector. Also featuring Die Trials, Patterns, Test Pieces, Numismatic Rarities, Currency Errors and Discoveries from the U.S. Mint.
Unique Proof Kennedy Half Bonded Pair With Struck In Copper Planchet
This bonded pair of a Proof Kennedy Half and a 1.6 gram Copper planchet is unique and visually breathtaking. A Kennedy Half planchet and a Copper planchet were both intentionally placed in the collar at the same time and were struck by Kennedy Half proof dies. The placement of the Copper planchet was perfectly positioned in the center of Kennedy's portrait.
This unique Kennedy Half bonded pair was sitting in an old-time collection for decades. It was very recently authenticated and certified by NGC. It is in superb proof condition which is unusual since copper tends to oxidize and/or deteriorate. As far as I know, this is the only known proof Kennedy Half bonded pair where another planchet, whether U.S. or foreign, was struck into either the obverse or reverse.
Proof coins are struck by technicians who hand feed the blanks into special presses. They are produced, examined and packaged using extreme quality control. It is very unusual to find major proof errors. A few broadstrikes, off-centers, double strikes (in collar) and off-metals have been known to be found in sealed proof sets. Proof errors are aggressively sought after by many error collectors.
I recently sold a similar Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair:
1973-S Proof Ike Dollar Mated Pair Ike Dollar Struck on a 1¢ Planchet
mated with an
Ike Dollar Indented by a 1¢ Planchet
PCGS PR67 & PR67RB
AMAZING UNIQUE DISCOVERY
Exotic and Intentional U.S. Error Coins In The Marketplace
One of the most controversial categories of U.S. coins are mint errors. Many dealers and collectors, as well as coin auction houses, buy, sell, trade and auction many rare, exotic and unique major mint errors. Obviously, some of these defy logic and were intentionally created and taken out of the Mint.
In the early 2000's, a group of several hundred U.S. error coins were found in a safe-deposit box. Fred Weinberg purchased this group which included coins struck for proof sets and also coins struck for circulation. This group was auctioned by the California State Controller's Office of Unclaimed Property. The U.S. Secret Service inspected and released this collection to the State of California determining that it was legal to own. The State of California then auctioned the collection and the rest is history.
Another example of U.S. error coins escaping the Mint occurred in the 1970's. A hoard of proof error coins were smuggled out of the San Francisco Mint inside the oil pans of forklifts that were being serviced outside of the Mint. This topic was discussed in the June 6, 2022 Issue of Coin World, which covered Fred Weinberg's account of this story. The Coin World Managing Editor concluded:
Obviously, the marketplace accepts these coins, and some collectors are happy paying thousands of dollars for coins that show every indication of having been created through illegal means.
In Episode 11 of the PCGS video series Slab Lab, Seth Chandler interviews Fred Weinberg. In part 2 of the interview, Fred explains in detail why mint errors that are decades old are not recovered by the U.S. Mint. Fred's recollection of conversations in his office with the Chief of the U.S. Mint Police are extremely insightful and explain why the Mint doesn't attempt to recover error coins from decades ago.
