Mint Error Coin Chronicles: Strike-through Errors

Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) is the world’s leading authority on mint errors, a popular segment of numismatics. In Mint Error Coin Chronicles, we take an in-depth look at a specific kind of mint error. This month’s topic is the Strike-through Error.

Ideally, when a coin's dies strike a blank planchet to impart the design on both sides, the planchet should be perfectly centered and nothing should come between the dies and the planchet. Occasionally, an object does come between one of the dies and the planchet. If the object is substantial enough, it can leave an impression on the surface of the coin itself.

This South Africa 1980 Krugerrand has a Strike-through Error on the left side of the obverse. This particular coin, graded NGC Mint Error MS 66, is part of an April 2024 Heritage Auctions sale. To learn more, click here.

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Another example is this Silver Washington Quarter, which has both a Wrong Planchet Error (it was struck on a 10-cent blank) and Strike-through Error near the top of the reverse. As a result of the smaller planchet, much of the design is cut off, including most of the date, though the 'D' mintmark of Denver is discernible at the bottom of the reverse. This coin is part of a Heritage Auctions sale in June 2024.

Click images to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified coins sold through Heritage Auctions with this error include:

• an 1813 $5 graded NGC Mint Error MS 64 - Reverse Struck Through that realized $30,000 in April 2020
• an 1851-O $20 graded NGC Mint Error AU 55 - Reverse Struck Through that realized $12,650 in May 2009
• an 1856 Flying Eagle Cent graded NGC Mint Error PF 63 - Reverse Struck Through that realized $10,575 in June 2016
• an 1863 $3 Gold graded NGC Mint Error MS 64 - Obverse Struck Through that realized $9,000 in January 2019
• an 1890-CC $5 graded NGC Mint Error MS 63 - Reverse Struck Through that realized $4,846 in January 2013
• an 1854 Arrows Half Dollar graded NGC Mint Error MS 66 - Obverse Struck Through that realized $3,760 in July 2015
• a 1995-W Silver Eagle graded NGC Mint Error PF 69 Ultra Cameo - Obverse Struck Through that realized $3,001 in January 2024
• a 1928 $20 graded NGC Mint Error MS 66 - Obverse Struck Through that realized $3,000 in August 2022
• an 1879-CC Morgan Dollar graded NGC Mint Error XF 45 - Reverse Struck Through that realized $1,200 in September 2018
• an 1864 Large Motto 2 Cents graded NGC Mint Error MS 65 RD - Obverse and Reverse Struck Throughs that realized $587 in January 2017

Other Mint Error Coin Chronicles Articles:

• Broadstrikes
• Brockage
• Partial Collars
• Rotated Dies Error
• Transitional Errors