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.
Incredible 1904 Double Eagle Uncentered Broadstrike Featured in Upcoming ANA Heritage Auction
Images Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com
This incredible broadstruck 1904 $20 Liberty is featured in the upcoming August 2024 ANA US Coins Signature® Auction #1376.
From the Heritage auction listing:
1904 $20 -- Broadstruck -- MS64 NGC. Considering the large numbers of Liberty double eagles struck, it is a wonder that mint errors in this series are so rare. Of particular note is the rarity of broadstrikes -- coins struck without a collar, leaving the coin with a plain edge and an expanded planchet diameter. A 1906-D double eagle certified AU58 NGC was long heralded as the only known Liberty double eagle broadstrike, gaining quite a bit of fame as such. We handled that coin in our May 2003 Central States Signature, and it was later listed as unique in Mike Byers' World's Greatest Mint Errors. However, the current coin is every bit as intriguing as that piece, if not more so, and to our knowledge has not previously appeared publicly. This broadstruck 1904 double eagle is struck uncentered toward 12 o'clock, which serves to distinguish it from the 1906-D broadstruck coin, which is centered -- the coin offered here is therefore one of two documented Liberty double eagle broadstrikes, and the only uncentered broadstrike.
Sharp definition encompasses the details throughout this coin, complementing vibrant cartwheel luster and bright yellow-gold color. There are strikingly few abrasions for the grade, which further boosts the eye appeal. This coin is as beautiful and well preserved as it is rare as a broadstruck Liberty double eagle.
Here is the Mint Error News article on the first known broadstruck $20 Liberty that Mike Byers handled which is mentioned in the Heritage listing:
Unique Broadstruck 1906-D $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle
This is the only known United States $20 Gold Piece that was broadstruck out of the collar. It expanded in size and has a plain edge. There are 5-7 known partial collar $20 gold pieces.
In 1905, the Denver Mint was testing the new presses and equipment and would only strike gold coins in 1906 and 1907. The press was setup to strike uniface bronze medals which were the diameter of $20 Liberty gold pieces. The design read DENVER 1905 on the obverse. These medals were struck as part of a ceremony celebrating the opening of the U.S. Mint in Denver.
Major Mint Errors on United State Gold Coins are extremely rare. Gold coins were examined and highly scrutinized before being put into U.S. Mint bags for circulation. It is exciting that this unique broadstruck $20 Liberty was accidentally struck and unintentionally released from Denver Mint.
$20 Liberty gold pieces were only struck at the Denver Mint in 1906 and 1907. This is the only known broadstruck $20 Liberty gold piece from ANY U.S. Mint. It is possible that there was an issue properly setting up the dies and collar to correctly strike these gold coins since it was the first year of striking, creating this unique broadstruck mint error.
This Unique Gold Broadstruck $20 is plated in Chapter 2 of the NLG award winning book, World's Greatest Mint Errors:
Here is a September 2, 1904 article from the Rocky Mountain News on the dedication of the Denver Mint and details on striking only gold coins:
