John Adams Presidential Dollar Errors
Saturday May 19, 2007
It should come as no surprise to coin collectors that some mint errors are being found among the John Adams Presidential Dollars, which were officially placed on sale this past Thursday, May 17. I've had a scattering of reports, most of them minor, and some of them recurring on the reverse in the same fashion as they are known for the Washington Presidential Dollars. However, I have one report of a major error on the Adams Dollar: A double set of edge lettering! Judging by the photos I have seen, (which I hope to have permission to post here later today,) the coin went through the edge lettering machine twice, with the lettering oriented in the same direction each time.
At least five specimens are known of the double edge lettering on the Washington Dollar, which makes this error exceedingly rare considering that the mintage was around 300,000,000 coins. Now, already, in the first three days of the Adams coin having been released, we have one person near Pensacola, Florida, who says he has found at least two Adams Dollars with double edge lettering! The finder tells me he has another specimen with the edge lettering going in opposite directions. Could this be the tip of another error coin party for the folks in Florida? Stay tuned...
In the meantime, below is a list of the Adams Presidential Dollar errors that have been reported to me (showing clear photos) or that I have seen or heard from other reputable sources. So far, no reports of plain edge dollars (missing edge lettering) yet!
If you have any Adams Dollar errors that are not noted here, please let me know! Send your reports to coins.guide@about.com.
Check out some of the fabulous error coins depicted in the Washington Presidential Dollar error photo gallery.
At least five specimens are known of the double edge lettering on the Washington Dollar, which makes this error exceedingly rare considering that the mintage was around 300,000,000 coins. Now, already, in the first three days of the Adams coin having been released, we have one person near Pensacola, Florida, who says he has found at least two Adams Dollars with double edge lettering! The finder tells me he has another specimen with the edge lettering going in opposite directions. Could this be the tip of another error coin party for the folks in Florida? Stay tuned...
In the meantime, below is a list of the Adams Presidential Dollar errors that have been reported to me (showing clear photos) or that I have seen or heard from other reputable sources. So far, no reports of plain edge dollars (missing edge lettering) yet!
Adams Dollar Errors Listing (Obverse):
- Die clash - Traces of reverse show on obverse
- Over-abraded die - lost detail (probably to repair die clashes)
- Over-abraded die - "Severed Head," right side of Adams' neck
- Struck through grease filled die - lost numbers & words in lower legend
- Struck through grease filled die - random spots & smears
- Small die chips - "Warts" and "Infected President" types
Adams Dollar Errors Listing (Reverse)
- Die clash - Traces of obverse show on reverse
- Over-abraded die - "Severed Head," left side of Liberty's neck
- Over-abraded die (New Type!) - "Blinded Liberty" shows Liberty's right eye polished flat
- Struck through grease filled die - random spots & smears
- Die crack in torch (New Type!) - "Broken Torch" type has moderate die crack
- Minor die break - "Filled S" type (One or the other S in STATES, both reported)
- Minor die break - "Extra Curl" has small die break in Liberty's hair between curls
Adams Dollar Edge Errors & Whole Coin Errors
- Unburnished planchet - Planchet missed polishing & brightening step
- Double edge lettering - Coin went through edge lettering machine twice
- Shifted edge lettering - Edge lettering doesn't line up properly with other coins
- Embossed letters - Improperly called "dropped letters" - appearing on edge and surfaces
If you have any Adams Dollar errors that are not noted here, please let me know! Send your reports to coins.guide@about.com.
Check out some of the fabulous error coins depicted in the Washington Presidential Dollar error photo gallery.
Comments
I have an adams dollar where the edge lettering des not line up with the other ones it is like 180 degrees off.
140-150 rotated die Adams $ in my possetion. Also, another type.. I found 22 myself with a cud above the ‘c’ in america (reverse) that looks like a little elf’s boot. The die has a chip.
Sorry I meant I have a SINGLE ADAMS $ with a 140-150 degree rotated die in my posession. I’ve gathered there are at least 7 more with the same rotation, and one at 50 degrees.
I have found what looks like it might be a third eye on an Adams
I’m a newbie to the world of coins and wondered, do the above mentioned errors on coins generally increase value? Should I consider buying Presidential dollars advertised in the papers lately? Any advice appreciated!
i have one adams coin with the double stamping but it is struck once face up and once face down … have you seen this one yet?
I`VE FOUND A TOMAS JEFFERSON
THAT SEEMS LIKE AN EXTRA SPIKE BUT THAY ERASE IT MAKING THE LIBERTY`S NECK DISSAPEAR
I have an Adams Proof Coin that has a die crack torch error (reverse side). Is this very scarce and how can I found out about the value?
I have a coin with edge lettering twice once both ways. What would you say it might be worth
Does anybody have any info about the Adams dollars haveing a missing dot after the date and mint mark on the edge lettering
I have 2 John Adams with what appears to br blobs on the top of his head just below the “A” in Adams. One is very visible and the other is slightly less. Both can be seen plainly with the naked eye.
Has anyone else reported these?
What kind of value would you assign to this type of error?
I have an Adams $1 coin which has nearly unidentifiable edge lettering (the date and mint marks). Is it normal for the lettering to wear off, or was it missing at production?
I have two Adams $ 1 is held heads up to read edge and the other is held tails up to read edge. Is this an error? If so what would be a good value for it?
Michael, upside-down edge lettering is not an error on normal circulating Presidential Dollars (for any president.) Here’s a page that explains more:
Is upside-down edge lettering an error?
Susan Headley
About.com Guide to Coins
I have a circulated Adams dollar with a large cud on his shirt coller. I have another prez dollar, not sure which prez it is now. That has a spiked head. So far no mention any where about spiked heads on prez coins.
coiny