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.
1980-D Lincoln Cent, MS64
Struck on a 90% Silver Dime Planchet
Unusual Obsolete Planchet Mint Error
1980-D Lincoln Memorial Cent -- Struck on a 90% Silver Dime Blank -- MS64 NGC. 2.5 grams. Satiny luster enjoys slight russet overtoning, with boldly struck design elements and few marks. The smaller dime planchet is aligned with the left edge of the collar, providing a full rim on that border while the right-hand border lacks a rim entirely. Some distortion of the border legends is caused as a result. The curious nature of this piece transcends a typical wrong planchet error, since the silver dime planchet on which the coin was struck should not have existed at the Denver Mint after about 1965. Still, at least three 1980-D cents struck on 2.5-gram coin-silver planchets (consistent with a dime) exist. Perhaps a mint employee slipped the planchets into the hopper -- or between the dies -- to stir up a numismatic discovery for eagle-eyed collectors. We sold one of the other pieces in our recent 2025 ANA Signature, graded MS64 NGC, which realized $18,000.
