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Malaysian Assisted Errors; 2005 – 2007

Part V: Planchet Errors:

Wrong planchet and off-metal errors:

Struck on larger planchet or coin, Malaysian

“assisted errors” 2005-2007

Definition: Assisted errors are undoubtedly a major headache for mint management teams. Simply put, these errors are created by enterprising mint employees and smuggled out of the facility. Despite the intentional nature of these errors, they are highly sought after and quite collectible.

The Malaysian mint accounts for a great variety of assisted errors during the years 2005 to 2007.

A 2005 Malaysian 10 sen struck on larger 20 sen planchet.

A 2006 Malaysian 20 sen struck on larger 50 sen planchet.

Same denomination, different year. A 2005 die-struck Malaysian 50 sen over-struck by 2007 50 sen dies.

Double denomination. Die-struck Malaysian 50 sen over-struck by 20 sen dies.

A 2005 Malaysian 10 sen obverse die muled with 1 sen reverse die. A mis-match of obverse and reverse dies of different denominations.

Flip-over, triple-strike with three full dates on a Malaysian 10 sen coin. Given the near perfect symmetry of this triple-strike and three full dates, (one on each of the three separate strikes), it would seem to have required some help. Likely, it is an assisted error.

Master Die Doubling

Part II. Die Varieties:

Master Die Doubling

Master die doubling resembles a minor doubled die (hub doubling), but instead of being restricted to a single working die, it appears on many working dies. The wide distribution of identical doubling can be traced to hub doubling affecting the master die. The master die is the template from which many working dies are generated.

When the master hub is pressed into the presumptive master die, several squeezes are required to fully transfer the images. Any shift in position between the master hub and the master die can result in doubling. The shift can occur between hubbings or even during a single squeeze.

This form of raised doubling is subtle and characterizes all coins produced in a particular year, and sometimes over many years. It is produced in the initial stages of die preparation, as a large bias relief model of the design is transferred to a master hub by use of a Janvier Reduction Lathe. This device works in basically the same way as an artist’s pantograph. Vibration during the prolonged transfer process can result in slight duplication along the edge of the design.

Master die doubling occurred in the W of WE in 1918 on the Lincoln cent master die. This doubling created a notch on the upper left vertical of the W which lasted until 1960 (the 1960 small date Lincoln cent) when that motto was re-engraved into the master die.

The image to the left shows the word WE as seen in the year 1917 and the image to the right shows the WE as seen in the year 1918.

Another example of master die doubling was seen on the 1955 Lincoln cent. This doubling was located to the bottom left of the letters TY in LIBERTY.

The image above shows the doubling (extra vertical bars) and is indicated by white arrows.

Another great example of master die doubling occurred in 2006 with the reverse die of the Canadian nickel. The images below show the 2005 reverse die to the left and the 2006 reverse die to the right. Notice the doubling of the claws indicated by the white arrows. Since this is master die doubling, all 2006 Canadian nickels will show this doubling to some extent. The clarity of the doubling is dependent on the age/wear of the master die, working hub, or working die.

Mated Pairs

PART VI. Striking Errors:

Mated Pairs

Definition: Coins that are struck together are usually separated during sorting and bagging. If they end up in the same mint-sewn bag or ballistic bag, and if they are recovered and reunited, the two coins constitute a mated pair.

Sometimes more than two coins or planchets end up in the same striking chamber. As a result, it is possible to assemble mated trios, mated quartets, and so forth, but these groupings are quite rare.

A mated pair should not be confused with a matched pair. A matched pair is nothing more than two error coins that roughly fit together but were certainly not struck together in the same striking chamber.

A mated pair is shown below. The 1999-P Jefferson nickel at top left was converted into an obverse die cap. The top right image shows the working (reverse) face of the die cap. This die cap struck a planchet (shown at bottom) producing a generic capped die strike with a featureless obverse face.

All images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Median Bisecting Split Die

PART IV. Die Errors:

Split Die:

Median (bisecting) split die

Definition: A split die develops when a rim-to-rim die crack extends deep into the die neck and die shank (shaft). The width of the split is proportional to its depth of penetration. Split dies usually divide the die face into two sub-equal parts. These may be termed “median”, “bisecting”, or “symmetrical” split dies. A width of .5 MM is the determination point which differentiates a rim to rim bisecting die crack from a split die.

1973-D nickel that shows a relatively narrow median split die on the reverse face. The split is straddled by a retained interior die break. An island of metal sank into surrounding softer steel, leaving part of Monticello sitting on a pedestal.

The 1973-D cent pictured above was struck by a split, capped die. In other words, the coin was struck by a die that
had a wide median split and that was also covered by a late-stage die cap. Split die errors often co-occur with capped die strikes. It seems that when a planchet is struck, coin metal wedges itself into the split, causing the coin to stick to the die face. This coin is courtesy of Don Wenger.

1980-P nickel that shows a very wide median split die on the obverse face.

Narrow median split die spans the obverse face of this Italian 1943 20 cent.

Mid And Late Stage Brockages

PART VI. Striking Errors:

Brockages:

Mid-stage and Late-stage Brockages

Definition: The raised design on the working face of a die cap that has been striking brockages becomes progressively more expanded and distorted. As a result, the brockages that it leaves on the planchets fed in beneath it become progressively more expanded. A brockage that shows a moderate degree of expansion is called a mid-stage brockage. A brockage that shows massive expansion is called a late-stage brockage.

This undated Liberty Head (Indian Head) cent shows a mid-stage brockage of the reverse design on its obverse face.

Images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

This undated Liberty nickel shows a late-stage brockage of the reverse design on its obverse face.

Images are courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Minor Temporal Mis-matches

PART III. Die Installation Errors:

Transitional Reverses (Minor Temporal Mis-

matches)

Through the years both the obverse and reverse of existing coinages has been modified or changed altogether numerous times. These changes may be new designs altogether, such as the change on the Lincoln cent from the wheat reverse (1909-1958) to that of the memorial reverse in 1959. Although more often, changes are simple and only include subtle modifications and there will be no notification to the collector or the public such a change has occurred. Modifications are usually slight changes to fonts, letter placement or the modification of a simple design element.

During a given circumstance, when the switch from one design to another happens from one year to another, if by
chance, or by purposeful intent, one die (usually the obverse die) is paired with the next year’s new opposing die (typically the reverse), a “Transitional Reverse,” or “Mini Mule” has been created. Such a case might be a test of the new dies or a mix up of one sort or another; one can never ascertain the reasons as no evidence exists as to one.

A good recent example that was not identified until many years later is that of the 1988 Denver and Philadelphia Lincoln cents obverses being matched with one of several reverse dies meant for, and ultimately used in, 1989. Below a detailed an example of the two known reverses on the 1988 cents and the changed style of the designer’s initials (FG):

Minor Design Change Modifications

Part I. Die Subtypes:

Mid-year Design Modification:

Small Date/Large Date Varieties

The first Lincoln cent produced in 1960 is referred to as the “small date”. It appears that the date, LIBERTY, and IN GOD WE TRUST were ground off the master hub and a new master die was prepared that was missing these design elements.

The master die was then engraved with the date, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. This, in turn, was used to fabricate
a new master hub which was then employed in making a new master die for the year.

In the later part of April or the beginning of May, the U.S. Mint introduced a new obverse design for the 1960 Lincoln cent that incorporated some changes in the design elements. The digits of the date were thinned and numerals 6 and 0 were enlarged. The Mint stated that there was a recurring problem with the last two digits of the date chipping out. The word LIBERTY seemed to revert to the style found on the 1959 Lincoln cent. While the words IN GOD WE saw no changes, the word TRUST did have some minor changes made, most notably in the R of TRUST.

At first, the director of the Mint denied that a change had taken place and only later, when evidence appeared that contradicted his statement, did the story change. But the belated, official explanation for the design change has been disputed. There may be much more to this story than has been admitted. For an in depth look at what may have happened CLICK HERE

For some obscure reason, the date on the 1970-S Lincoln cent shows two different styles (see photos below). Labeled “large date” and “small date”, the differences chiefly affect numerals 9 and 7. In the large date, the tip of the upper curl of the 9 points downward at an angle of 45°, while that of the small date points in a horizontal direction. Numeral 7 of the large date appears to be lower in relation to the other digits, while numeral 7 of the small date appears to be even with the other digits.

LARGE DATE SMALL DATE

Through the 1970s, a steadily rising demand for Lincoln cents meant that more working dies had to be produced. This meant that more working hubs had to be made from the same master die. This increased use caused the bust
of Lincoln to expand on the master die, which in turn pushed the peripheral design elements towards the rim. In 1974, just about halfway through the production of the year’s supply of working hubs, the mint re-positioned the date, the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” and LIBERTY away from the rim. In the course of this redesign, the date was also slightly modified and was christened the “small date” variant.

The images below show the position of LIBERTY. Note the position of the L relative to the design rim in the “large date” and “small date” varieties. Also shown is the relative position of TRUST in the “large date” and “small date”.

SMALL DATE LARGE DATE

The same gradual expansion of the master die that occurred in 1974 occurred again in 1982. This prompted the mint to change the position of the peripheral design elements midway through the production cycle. Also during this year, the 95% copper planchet was replaced with a planchet of copper-plated zinc. Between the Philadelphia and Denver Mints, these combined changes resulted in a total of seven different business strike cents.

Again, note the change in position of TRUST from the large date to the small date. The small date, produced later in the year, shows a wider gap between letters and rim.”

SMALL DATE LARGE DATE

Mismatch Bus. / Proof $5 & $10 Gold Eagles

PART III. Die Installation Errors:

Mismatched business/proof dies:

1999 $5 and $10 gold eagles struck with unfinished

proof dies (W-mintmark)

Definition: Subtle differences in design details often differentiate dies intended for business strikes and those intended for proof strikes. The accidental preparation of a business strike die as a proof die is a well-known phenomenon. Examples include the 1998-S and 1999-S proof cents with the “close AM” reverse. Proof dies sometimes avoid final polishing and are mistakenly used as business strike dies. The most dramatic recent examples are the 1999 $5 and $10 gold eagles with the W-mintmark.

Shown below is a 1999 $5 gold eagle with the W-mintmark struck with unfinished proof dies. Normally the W-mintmark (West Point Mint) is only used on proof issues.

Mismatch Bus / Proof 1956 to 63 Halves

PART III. Die Installation Errors:

Mismatched business / proof dies:

1956 -1963 half dollars with “Type 2” proof reverse

Between 1956 and 1963, business-strike Franklin halves and the 1956 proof issue can be found struck with mismatched dies. Type 1 was typically used on business strikes, while Type 2 was normally used on proofs starting in 1956. All years between 1956 and 1963 are known to have either reverse. Very few 1956 proofs show a Type 1 reverse and very few 1956 business strikes show a Type 2 reverse. The most noticeable difference in the design is seen on the eagle and the number of wing feathers.

Type 1: Displays a low-relief eagle. On the viewer’s left side (or the eagle’s right side), it has 4 wing feathers west of the perch. The opposite wing shows a 5th feather tip below the perch.

Type 2: Displays a more robust, well-defined eagle. On the left side, it has 3 wing feathers west of the perch. The opposite wing only has 4 feather tips on the right side.

Mismatch Bus / Proof 1998 & 00 Wams

PART III. Die Installation Errors:

Mismatched business / proof dies: 1998, 1999 and

2000 Lincoln cent business strikes with proof

reverses (Wide AM) and 1998 and 1999 Lincoln cent

proofs 1998 & 1999 with business strike reverses

(Close AM)

For unknown reasons, reverse dies (RDV-006) meant for proof coinage ended up paired with business strike obverses: 1998(P), 1999(P) & 2000(P) (all called Wide AMs or WAMs in reference to the wide AM). In two cases, the opposite situation occurred with proofs. Business strike reverses (RDV-007) were matched with proof obverses, as seen on the 1998-S and 1999-S ”Close AMs” or “CAMs”). Only a small number of the 1998-S CAM proofs have been discovered. Both the 1999-S CAM as well as the 1999 WAM are considered rare. The 1998 WAM and 2000 WAM have been found in large enough numbers to keep premiums relatively low in comparison to the other varieties mentioned. It is possible that other, as yet undiscovered, examples of mismatched proof and business strike dies exist in the years 1993 – 2000. Collectors are advised to be on the lookout for them as the potential, while small, does certainly exist.

The changes in design are hard to detect in full. They all involve either a modification in the font used in the designer’s initials (FG) or the spacing between the AM in AMERICA. If searching with just a loupe, be advised that a cheap pocket scope would be a good idea; these can be purchased at most electronics stores. Also be forewarned that there are numerous forces associated with the minting process and circulation that can alter these details in such a way as to produce a resemblance to the real thing. Intentional die abrasion can widen the gap between the A and M. Die deterioration can narrow the gap between the A and the M. Various forms of post-strike damage (PSD) can also create confusion. Always inspect both the FG and AM and always keep an example of each reverse handy for comparison purposes.

The FG on a WAM is the same as the reverse of 1989 — bold, raised well above the field, and with a horizontal hook on the G. Of course, there is that extra space between the A and the M. The CAM (or normal business issue reverse) has a flatter, wider G with no hook and a closer A and M.

The first illustration shows business strike diagnostics for 1998, 1999 & 2000 WAMs:

The second illustration shows proof diagnostics for the 1998 & 1999 CAMs: