PART VI. Striking Errors:

Indents:

Indented by a smaller planchet

Definition: Two planchets, one larger than the other, are simultaneously fed between dies designed to strike the larger planchet. The smaller planchet rests between the obverse or the reverse die and the larger planchet. The smaller planchet is then struck into the larger planchet leaving a circular indentation (“indent”).

This 1998P Washington quarter was indented by a cent planchet.

Images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

A similar incident occurred with this 1976 Bi-centennial quarter. This time it was a dime planchet that was injected into the striking chamber along with a quarter planchet.