Expert: PAPAJACK - 8/5/2008

Question
The print on the quarter is not center and there are no ridges. What would be the dollar value of this type of misprint?

Answer
Hello Dan,                          

What you describe could be an OUT-OF-COLLAR strike.
I have seen Broad-strike errors sell for around $10 at coin shows. An error Coin Collector may pay more.

I must tell you I am not an error coin collector. I did an error you describe listed in my catalogs. This type of error called OUT OF COLLAR strike would have to be seen in person. A photograph of the coin does not really let you see the finer points.

Error collecting is a branch outside of coins collecting. There is no fixed price list for these error coins published and each one would have to be seen to be evaluated.

Only if the mint produced many coins with the exact same defect would a die error be suspect. And only a coin made with the defective die, (where many coins would have the same defect) would be valuable. An error like this may not be as rare as people think however since many go un-noticed and are not all found by collectors.

It is possible that two coin blanks were in the machine at once or the collar did not close properly on the coin blank, or it may have been altered after leaving the mint. You must look at all the features on the coin, check carefully with a magnifier and a good lighting source.

It may only have a small premium only with error collectors but is not very valuable since it was not a die error but a single mishap in fabrication of the coin.

For more information on errors look for the "The ERROR COIN ENCYCLOPEDIA" by Arnold Margolis

I also want to mention COMBINED ORGANIZATION of NUMISMATIC ERROR COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION; they are the ultimate experts in the error coin field.  
CONECA is a national numismatic organization devoted to the education of error and variety coin collectors. CONECA focuses on many error and variety specialties, including doubled dies, Re-punched mint marks, multiple errors, clips, double strikes, off-metals and off-centers just to name a few.

If you need to locate a coin shop in your area write me back, give me the nearest large Cities, some postal zip codes and telephone area codes. I will refer you to an expert in your area.

I hope this information helps.

Good Luck

PapaJack