Misdated Presidential Dollar Excites Error Collectors

NGC has certified a Zachary Taylor Presidential $1 coin that bears the date 2010 D. The Zachary Taylor coin was the fourth Presidential dollar released in 2009 and should correctly bear the date 2009, not 2010. This is the first time that the wrong date has been reported on an edge-lettered US dollar.

The date on each Presidential $1 coin appears on its edge and is applied by an edge lettering die after the obverse and reverse are struck with a blank collar. Because edge lettering is an additional and subsequent step, it has been the source of several types of novel mint error coins. Most common among these errors is partial edge lettering, which occurs when a coin gets hung up in the edge lettering machine and part of the edge lettering is not impressed. Another error is missing edge lettering; that error occurs when a coin misses the edge lettering step entirely. A third error type that has been encountered is doubled edge lettering, which is created when a coin passes through the edge lettering machine twice.

While there are many possible explanations for how this incorrect date error may have occurred, its story is seemingly revealed by the coins that accompanied it. This error coin was included in a roll of 2010 D Native American $1 Coins that were purchased using the US Mint’s Direct Ship Program. Since only this lone Zachary Taylor $1 was found in the roll, one can speculate that the same machinery was used to strike 2010 D Native American dollars after completing a run of 2009 D Zachary Taylor dollars. A coin was left behind somewhere between striking and edge lettering became mixed with Native American dollars headed for the edge lettering process, and was thus inscribed with the wrong date.

Because of where this coin was found, it does not suggest that a large run of error coins were made and, therefore, this type of error coin may remain a significant rarity.

The authentication process was overseen by NGC special consultant and mint error expert, David J. Camire, who comments on the significance of this discovery: "The error coins that result from a cross pollination of Presidential dollars and Sacagawea or Native American dollars are unquestionably some of the most exciting error coins coming out of any mint today. Not only do they provide unique insight into the production process of the Mint, but they emerge in unexpected ways and in incredible discoveries. We had long speculated that an incorrect date error might be found, and we’ve been waiting three years for it!"

	2010-dated Zachary Taylor $1 coin in its NGC holder. It has been encapsulated so that the errant date shows at the 12:00 position in the holder. Click to enlarge.

	2010-dated Zachary Taylor $1 coin, showing obverse with exploded view of the complete edge lettering. Click to enlarge.

	A close-up view of the 2010-dated Zachary Taylor $1. Click to enlarge.

	Side-by-side comparison of the 2010-dated Zachary Taylor $1 with a 2009-dated example. Click to enlarge.