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.
Rolled In And Retained Steel Wire Mint Error Coins
Rolled in and retained steel wire mint error coins are one of my favorite misidentified mint errors. The third party grading companies slab these as struck in retained wire error coins. These are not struck in since the rolled in error was already in the blank planchet before it was struck by the mint dies. These are two completely different types of mint errors. I have also included an example of a correctly identified struck in retained wire error coin for comparison.
Clad coin stock is made by sandwiching a thick copper core between two nickel layers. Bonding occurs when heated layers are passed through steel rollers under high pressure. The bonded metal passes multiple times through the rollers. With each pass, it thins and widens until the desired thickness is reached. If a steel bristle or wire is rolled into the coin stock, it cuts through the nickel layer and into the copper core. As the coin stock is pressed and thinned, the rolled in area expands and the copper core bleeds out as clearly seen in the photos. Then blank planchets are punched out of the coin stock and the rolled in error is already in the planchet as stated before.
I have seen examples where the rolled in metal fell out after being struck by the coin dies. The rolled in error diagnostic is easy to see by the copper bleed anomaly. These errors are easily explained and quite interesting. An example of a rolled in and retained steel wire error would make a great addition to any error coin collection as each one is rare and unique.
1972 PCGS MS62 Rolled In And Retained Wire Ike Dollar Mint Error
Below is an excellent example of a rolled in and retained wire mint error. I have included a close up of the rolled in area showing the copper bleed from the copper core and a photo of the misidentified slab.
1971-D ANACS MS64 Struck Thru Retained Wire Ike Dollar Mint Error
Here is a example of a correctly identified struck in a retained wire mint error. Notice that there is no copper bleed.
2007 PCGS MS64 Rolled In Retained Steel Bristle Washington State Quarter Mint Error
Here is a visually cool rolled in and retained steel bristle mint error.
2007-D ANACS MS64 Rolled In And Retained Wire Washington Quarter Mint Error
Here is another example of a Washington State Quarter with a rolled in mint error. This coin has two rolled in errors with one retained wire and the other where the wire fell out after striking.
