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.
Liberty Nickel Off-Metal Mint Errors Featured in the April 2020 Central States Heritage Auction
When we talk about a "nickel," we are usually speaking of a 5-cent coin made from a copper-nickel alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. You might have one in your change purse right now.
However, Heritage will be auctioning a few nickels that are only copper and contain no nickel at all--they were accidentally struck on a blank meant for a penny! These mint errors were created in 1892, 1899, 1901, 1907, and 1910 when a penny planchet accidentally found its way into production with a set of nickel dies. The Liberty Nickel design did not fit perfectly on this smaller size (pennies at the time had a smaller diameter than nickels as well as a different thickness), so not only the color but also the overall size and appearance were affected in each of these cases.
Images Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
1892 Liberty Nickel -- Struck on a Cent Planchet -- MS63 Brown NGC
1899 Liberty Nickel -- Struck on a Cent Planchet -- AU58 PCGS
1901 Liberty Nickel -- Struck on a Cent Planchet -- AU58 PCGS
1907 Liberty Nickel -- Struck on a Cent Planchet -- AU58 PCGS
1910 Liberty Nickel -- Struck on a Cent Planchet -- AU58 PCGS
