PART VI. Striking Errors:

Saddle Strike:

Head-to-Base Orientation

Definition: A saddle strike occurs when a planchet or coin receives two simultaneous off-center strikes by two adjacent die pairs.

While most saddle strikes show a head-to-head orientation of the two obverse designs, other orientations have been observed.  A head-to-base orientation is common in the early to mid-1970s, but does occur sporadically in other years.

This triple-strike is in the form of a flipover saddle strike on a previously struck, off-center cent.  The saddle strike shows a head-to-base orientation.