I decided to apply the box of twenty concept to my error coin inventory, which is also my collection. When I decide to sell out of my business inventory, I am thinking about keeping a box of twenty of my favorite error coins. The criteria would be based on eye appeal, rarity, error type, and my personal preference for the underlining coin and its design. I will explain each of my choices with a detailed explanation of each coin.
A box of twenty coins is a concept of owning only twenty special coins. Some long time collectors get there by selling all of their coins except their favorite 20. A newer and possibly more astute collector may make their goal a box of 20. They would keep 20 coins and sell their least favorite of the set when they buy another coin they like more.
I thought it would fun to apply that concept to major error coinage. I have around 800 mint error coins so I thought this would be easy. Choosing my favorite 20 was harder than I thought. I ended up leaving out many of my favorite error coins. The coins in this article are in no particular order.
Because of the length of this article, we decided to break it into two parts. Look to the next issue of Mint Error News for part 2 of this article.
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NGC MS64 35% Off Center Buffalo Nickel Mint Error
This eye appealing coin has it all with a large visible error, rarity, and one of the best designs put out by the US Mint. The profile is perfectly centered with a strong strike. This is a fantastic example of an off center error on one of coin collectors favorite designs. The sheer beauty of this coin gets it added to the box of twenty.
2021 PCGS MS68 "Winged Liberty" Struck Thru
Gold Eagle Type 2 $50 Mint Error
This is an excellent example of when a struck thru error changes the design of the coin. The design now looks like Liberty is an angel with a wing. This may also be one the largest struck thru errors on the newly designed one ounce gold eagle. The look of this error on such a large gold coin is so cool. I just had to put this on into the box of twenty.
2000 NGC MS65 Multistruck Aluminum Finger Feeder
Massachusetts Quarter Error
How could I not include this amazing example of a statehood quarter multistruck on an aluminum finger feeder? This is one of the nicest, if not the nicest, finger feeder errors out there. The large size of this piece also makes it extremely rare. Two clear dates adds to the amazing eye appeal of this year 2000 Massachusetts Quarter. A perfect error type to go into the box of twenty.
2007-D PCGS MS66 Massive Multi Struck Die Cap
Dime Mint Error Amazing Eye Appeal
I have handled many 2007 D Die Cap Dimes and this is by far the nicest one. I have always tried to acquire major error coins struck in the year 2007 as it is my son's birth year. Somehow a large batch of major error coinage got out of the Denver mint in the year 2007. I find error coins from this date to be fascinating and that is why this coin goes into the box of twenty.
PCGS MS63 Kennedy Half Dollar
Struck On A Dime Planchet Mint Error
I love half dollar error coins and this one is off the charts. Perfectly centered for Kennedy's profile on this small off metal error. It has very strong eye appeal for a half dollar struck on a dime planchet making it a must for the box of twenty.
2000-P PCGS MS66 Off Center Double Struck
Sacagawea Dollar Mint Error
When I first started collecting error coins one of my goals was to collect a "Type Set" of different types of error coins in all denominations from the year 2000. The mint had huge production runs and had looser rules about mint error coins getting out in the year 2000. Thus a huge number of error coins and error types got out. I had over 400 different error types from the year 2000 at one point. The highlight of such a collection could certainly be a double struck, double dated, double profile, high grade Sacagawea Dollar. This is probably the best example of a double struck Sacagawea Dollar so it goes into the box of twenty.
2020 NGC MS63 Off Center 20% Straight Clip
Weir Farm Quarter Mint Error Unique
It is very rare to find a major error coin in the American the Beautiful Quarter series. The Weir Farm has the extremely rare and eye appealing off center on straight clip error. Add the rare and cool date of 2020. The quarter itself is art while carrying the inscription "A National Park For Art." I consider myself an artist so this one is a must have for the box of twenty.
(2006-22) PCGS MS61 Struck On Bowtie Scrap Webbing
Nickel Mint Error
This could be the rarest modern nickel error coin of all. Somehow a bowtie piece of scrap got struck by the mint with modern nickel dies. Nickel bow tie scrap error coins are very rare and this may just be the only one struck with the modern nickel design. It is just so cool I just had to add this one to the box of twenty.
1994 ANACS MS63 Bonded Clad Layer
Quarter Mint Error 3 Clad Layers Only Known
If you only saw the obverse of this coin you would think this is a great example of a huge broadstruck quarter error. Turn the coin over and you can see that this coin was struck and bonded with a thin clad layer making this an extremely rare error type. The really nice eye appeal plus the extreme rarity gets this one into the box of twenty.
1935 PCGS MS64 1st Strike Brockage
Aluminum San Diego California
Pacific International Exposition Medal Mint Error
This is probably the least expensive coin (token) I would add to the box. Sometimes value doesn't matter to the collector. This coin is special to me because I was born in San Diego as were my kids. It is a perfect 1st Strike brockage error which has a super strong design transfer. My family has also taken the tour that goes into the upper stories of the building on the coin. I bought this out of Fred Weinberg's personal collection and would go into my personal box of twenty.
