Expert: Ronald Fern - 10/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: My cousin supposedly picked this up off the ground. I wish I could get a picture, but he knows I desire it badly and refuses to let me see it again. Though I think he just misplaced it.

But as I said, its a dime planchet stamped with both a penny and dime on both sides. Not exactly sure of the year, but it was in near perfect condition so it was probably newer like 2008 or something. Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Kyle:

I'm guessing what you may have is a double denomination error, a cent struck over a struck dime. It's tough to tell without actually seeing the coin or a photo. This effect could be attempted by pressing a cent and dime together in a vise, but the cent's image would be incuse, or struck inwards and reversed. The coin would likely be a little out of round where it was not in the die chamber.

Your coin should weigh the same as a dime. If real, the cent image should be stronger than the dime, where it was struck over the dime. This is the only way it can happen, as a cent coin can not fit in a dime die chamber for striking where it is larger.

Your coin should be authenticated professionally. The value of your error, if real, could be would have a retail value of about $500 to $1500, depending on date, condition, and strike. You may want to check the eBay error listings under US coins to get an idea of what these are going for.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He allowed me to get pictures of the coin for you to look at. I attached a picture of one side. Here I uploaded the other side:

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/7973/dimepenny2.jpg

Answer
Hi Again Kyle:

I didn't see the attached photo, but I was able to copy the site you listed and open it. Your coin "looks good" from the photo. Under magnification, it appears to be a 1990D cent. It is a double denomination coin, where the cent was struck over the a struck dime, where the reverse of the dime was facing up in the die chamber. You need to look at the other side to try and see the date of the dime. If it is a different date (has to be earlier than 1990), then it could be worth more than the $500 range.

The date indicates it to be a clad dime planchet. The condition, from your photo, appears to be about an AU, or almost uncirculated. That of course depends on if there is no damage on the other side. It would be worth less if it was scratched or gouged.

Again, you should get the coin authenticated professionally. IGC, NGC, and PCGS slab and grade errors. You would get a better price for the coin in a large auction. Dealers would likely pay no more than $100 to $250 for the coin to resell it.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.