A double denomination is a denomination struck OVER a different denomination. An example: a struck cent struck over a struck dime, this is known by numismatic slang as an 11 cent piece. The reasoning behind this is: adding the cent to the dime... an eleven cent piece...

Double denominations have a long journey throughout the minting process in order to become this type of Mint Error. First a coin such as a dime is struck by the normal process at the U.S. Mint. Then these normally struck dimes are placed in huge containers which transport these struck coins to be counted and bagged. This huge transportation container has a trap door on the bottom where these coins exit. Occasionally a struck dime will get caught in this trap door and remain. Then this container will get refilled with another load of planchets for a different denomination, like cents. When these cents are fed into the feeding mechanism for the cent press, those left over struck dimes are fed into the same cent press. The struck dime being smaller in size (very important) than the cent just tags along for the ride and eventually is re-struck by cent dies. Wham! A double denomination...

Now you have to admit that this a pretty rare set of circumstances for one of these to be made! Double denominations come in many forms. Some possibilities include a cent on a struck dime (11c), a Nickel on a struck cent (6c), a Nickel on struck dime (15c), a Quarter on a struck Cent (26c), or nickel (30c) or dime (35c) - all are very rare. Occasionally a double denomination occurs with larger denominations such as a Half dollar struck on a struck cent, nickel, dime, quarter (almost non existent). Dollars struck on any smaller denomination or on another dollar (such as a Sacagawea dollar struck on a SBA dollar) are unique if they exist. Remember that the smaller the denomination the HIGHER the production and mintage numbers, therefore making the odds better for this type of error to occur!

Hopefully, you now have some small insight on what it takes for this scarce error to occur. Since these are a rare type of Mint Error, it's hard to imagine that some of these are still able to be purchased for under $700. That sounds pretty cheap to me! They are under priced and very popular and a great buying opportunity if you can find any.

Double denominations come in a variety of ways: flip over (where the obverse is stuck over the reverse of the other design) and single or double dates. Rarely, a double denomination with two different dates will occur such as a 2000 cent struck over a 1999 dime.

While I'm on the topic, one of the most exciting and rarest of all double denominations known is a certain 26c piece. It is a 1941 Washington Quarter struck OVER a struck "wheat ears" Lincoln Cent. It is the earliest known double denomination on a U.S. Quarter and is in gem mint state condition. It is currently housed in an ANACS MS 64 holder and is being offered for $10,000. A truly remarkable mint error.

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All content in this newsletter is the opinion of the author and should not be taken as sound investment advice.