ERROR COINS OF INDIA

When any item is mass produced in any machine, it is quite natural to find some of the items
produced, to contain some error / defective samples in it. Minting of coins is no exceptions to
this. As coins are minted in huge numbers, we find some error specimens coming out of the
production line.
These error coins can be grouped under five major types:
A.) Striking Errors
B.) Planchet Errors
C.) Die Errors
D.) Coins with multiple types of errors
E.) Other Errors (Errors not coming under any of the 4 types described above)

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A.)Striking Errors
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Die Adjustment Strikes / Extremely weak strikes

Die adjustment strikes are also known as die trials. This error occurs when a coin is struck
from the press with very little pressure. When the press is being set up and adjusted,
extremely weak strikes occur as the strike pressure reaches its optimum level. These die
trials are destroyed after being struck and are rarely found in circulation.
Alternatively these weak strikes may have been made when the coining press is stopped
after a days work is over. When the coining press is switched off, some last pieces of coins
minted, may have received a very weak strike from the coining press.

OFF CENTER STRIKES:

Here only part of the coin blank is struck on its both sides.

How it occurs:
When coins are being struck, the lower die (reverse die) is surrounded by a collar. This collar
floats on springs, which prevents damage to the coinage press, if there is a malfunction.
When a planchet is fed into the coinage press, it should rest inside the collar on the reverse
die (lower die).
If the planchet does not rest completely inside the collar, you will have an Off Center struck
coin. Only part of the coin will show the design. Since the collar floats beside the die, it is
pushed down if the planchet is resting on the collar during the striking process.
Note: To be an Off Center struck coin, both the obverse and the reverse must be equally off
center and part of the design elements must be missing. If only one side of the coin is off
center, it is a MAD (Mis-Aligned Die).

MAD (Mis-Aligned Die) STRIKE:

The coin shown is a MAD Strike coin.

Mis Aligned Die Error

Here the obverse side of the coin is well centered, but the reverse side is slightly off center.

BROAD STRIKES:
Normally, when any coin is struck in the minting press, a collar surrounds the metal disk as
the dies come together, and the coin metal is squeezed against it. Naturally, the resulting
coin will have almost exactly the same diameter as the inside of the collar. So all coins of a
particular denomination are of uniform size.
When some dirt or debris lodge between the collar and the lower die, it inhibits the free
movement of the collar. When the collar is not there (is out of position), the coin metal is
unrestrained and an over-sized coin results. These types of coins are called broad strikes.

5 Rupees Ni Br, Broad Strike

2 Rupees Mudra FSS, Broad Strike

Note: If the entire design is visible on the off center error coin, it is considered as a
broadstrike. If, however, any part of the design is missing due to the coin not being centered
under the die, then it's considered to be an off center error.

DOUBLE STRIKE:
When a coin is first struck as a well-centered coin, but is struck again before the coin could
leave the coining chamber, a Double Strike coin is created.
Double strikes are of two main types:
i) Double strikes with the second strike OFF CENTER.
In this type of error coin, both sides of the coin show a normal strike and an off-center double
impression.

The above specimens are 2 rupees National integration off center double struck coins.
How it occurs:
In this type of error coins, a coin is first struck as a well-centered coin, but is struck again
after the coins moves some distance, covering part of the die.
ii) Double strikes with the second strike ON - CENTER.
In this type of error coin, one side of the coin shows a normal strike and the other side shows
an on-center double impression. Here in the error coin shown below, the reverse side is
normal but the obverse side is struck double.

Obverse side is double struck on - center

The specimen shown below is another double strike on - center.

How it occurs:
Here the coin is first struck as a well-centered coin, but a loose obverse die twists slightly and
strikes again.

FLIPPED DOUBLE STRIKES:

Flipped Double Strikes are first struck normally, then turned up-side-down (and perhaps
rotated) and struck again.

5 Rupees CN - Flipped double Strike

How it occurs:
The planchet is fed into the coinage press and rest inside the collar on the anvil die (Reverse
die). After being struck, the anvil die moves upward, raising the coin. Now the coin is
supposed to exit the coinage press and go to a collecting area.
If the coin does not eject properly and spins, it falls back inside the collar. The second strike
is totally at random. It is possible for the coin to settle back inside the collar and be struck the
second time with opposite dies. Though this is very rare, it does occur at times.

DOUBLE DENOMINATION:
Here one coin is struck on a previously struck coin. This is deliberately made in some
countries, in which when a ruler is changed; new coins showing his effigy and his name are
minted on previously circulating coins, instead of minting those on fresh new blanks. It is also
done by mistake in some countries like USA where a half dollar struck on struck dime, a cent
struck on struck dime etc are reported.
But this type of error is very unusual in case of Indian coins. In the coin photo given below,
you will find that a 1 rupee ear of corn design coin of 2004 was first minted on the blank.
Again a 1 rupee cross design coin of 2005 was struck on that previously struck 1 rupee ear of
corn design coin of 2004.

Obv. of 2005 on rev of 2004, 1 rupee

rev of 2005 on obv. of 2004, 1 rupee

Note: You can find faint impressions of "Rupaye" in Hindi and year of issue 2004 of the
previously struck 1 rupee "ear of corn" design rupee coin, on the obverse side of the 1 rupee
cross coin. Again you can find a part of the Lion capitol on the cross on the reverse side.
BROCKAGES: (Lakhi Coins)
Brockages are specimens of coins; those are found with normal design on one side and a
part of the same design or the same design in full, incused or stamped on the other side also.
These are also called as Lakhi coins.
Two types of Brockages are generally found:
i) A Full Brockage: (Mirror Brockage)
A Full Brockage will have the same picture and wording on both sides of the coin, but on one
of those sides, everything is backwards. Also, everything is 'set in' to the coin surface,
instead of raised. It results when one of the Coining Dies is completely covered by a
previously struck coin.
Full Brockages are of two types.

a) Obverse Full Brockage:

Here on both sides of the coin the obverse image is found.

1 Rupee Cupro-Nickel - Full Obverse Brockage

a) Reverse Full Brockage:
Here on both sides of the coin the reverse image is found.

1 Rupee Cupro-Nickel - Full Reverse Brockage

Note: This, Reverse Brockage error shown above, is very rare to find
.
How full brockage occurs?
This happens when the coin last struck in the chain gets lodged in the die and then another
blank comes into position and is struck. The new blank gets the normal impression on one
side. The coin, still stuck in the die, acts as a die and the other side of the blank receives an
incused impression from the face of the previous lodged coin.
ii) A Partial Brockage:
In a coin with Partial Brockage, we find normal design on one side and a part of the same
design is found incused or stamped on the other side.
How partial brockage occurs?
This type of brockage is formed when a coin, after being minted, is not ejected from the press
and remains covering only a small part of one die, while another planchet is struck. The
result is that, the portion of the first coin covering part of one die, acts as a die for the second
coin blank and makes an incuse impression of the exposed face.

Types of Partial Brockage:

Two types of partial brockage are generally found.
a) Partial brockage caused when the first coin is a full minted Normal coin:

Subhas Bose- Partial Brockage

Here some incused text in reverse is found on the obverse face of the coin.

1 Rupee FSS- Partial Brockage

In the above coin, a part of the lion capitol, a part of "Satyameva Jayate" is found incused on the reverse side.

b) Partial brockage caused when the first coin is an off center error coin:

DIE CAP:
At times, a coin will stick to a die and be struck several times with a die. The more
times the coin is struck, the more the metal from the coin moves up and around the
die. Some of them can resemble a bottle cap, thus the term DIE CAP.

Die Cap Error

Die Cap Error

INDENTS:
An indent error occurs when two blanks are fed inadvertently into the same collar, with one
blank partly overlaying on top of the other. When the hammer die strikes this combination,
the upper blank will be forced into the lower blank, creating a depression on the lower blank,
which is shaped similar to the upper blank. The upper blank gets a shifted image on its upper
side, and its lower side having no image at all, thus creating an UNIFACE strike.

Indent Error

UNIFACE STRIKES:
A coin having no design on one of its faces is called a Uniface coin. We find many types of
UNIFACE coins.

Full design on one side and other side blank:

It occurs when there have been two blank planchets in the press at the same time, the upper
blank fully covering the lower coin blank. The upper blank will obstruct the upper die from
having the upper design on the lower blank, and the lower blank will obstruct the lower die
from having the lower design on the upper blank. So both the blanks become uniface coins.

50 Paise - Uniface coin

Shifted strike on one side and other side blank:

It occurs, when there have been two blank planchets in the press at the same time, the upper
blank partially covering the lower blank. In this situation, the upper blank will partially obstruct
the upper die from having the complete upper design on the lower blank, and the lower blank
gets an indent error. As the lower blank completely obstructs the lower die, the upper blank
gets no design on its lower side and only gets a shifted strike on its upper side.

Uniface strike due to a die cap:

When a die cap remains adhered to a die for a long time, the design on the exposed face of
the die cap, becomes indistinct and coins minted at that time are found to be uniface.

Note: A very indistinct image of a Rhino is found on the reverse side.

MATED PAIR:
A planchet fall inside the collar and a previously struck coin fall on the collar, partially
covering the coin blank. If the two are struck with the dies, you can have a mated pair. Each
coin of a mated pair is each struck at least twice. Some may be struck several times. The
odds of finding them are very rare.

Upper coin of a mated Pair

Note: Its partner is not yet found.

Struck through error:

This type of error occurs when a foreign object lies on top of the planchet and leaves an
impression of itself when struck into the coin. A wide variety of objects, such as a string, a
piece of cloth, a metal wire, hair, plastic articles or staples. etc, have been reported causing
this error.

In the error coin shown above a metal wire lying on the planchet has left a curved incused
line on the surface of the obverse side of the minted coin.

BLANK PLANCHET:
These are of two types: one which has been freshly cut in the blanking press (Type One), and one
which has slightly raised rims after going through a softening process (Type Two). They simply slipped by the
striking presses.

Blank Planchet for 5 Rupees Nickel - Brass coin

Blank Planchet with rim in 5 Rupees CN coin ( From album of Tejas H Shah)

Blank Planchet for 50 Paise FSS coin

EDGE ERRORS:
Security Edge Missing:
Normally high value coins are produced with a 'Security edge'. This is done to check
counterfeiting of coins. Coins having 'security edge' are first struck with the usual upright
milling, at the time the obverse and reverse designs are impressed upon them. These are
next passed through a second press, where the security mark is put on the edge, under
pressure.
But, while being fed into the second machine, if a few coins accidentally skip the press, these
may go to circulation with normal upright milling. Thus we find another type of error in coin
specimens with upright milling which should have a 'security edge'.

A 5 rupees Cupro- Nickel coin with a milled edge.

Plain edge in place of Milled edge:

To lower the production cost, in later parts of 1990, Government of India instructed mints to
put milled edge on 1 rupee coins from 1991. But some 1 rupee Fss coins minted during 1992
to 1996 are with plain edge in place of milled edge.

DIE CLASH / GHOSTING ERROR:

When the upper die moves downwards to strike a coin when no coin blank is there in
between, both the dies strike each other. At this high pressure of the strike, some designs of
the obverse die is left on the reverse die in relief and some designs of the reverse die is left
on the obverse die in relief. When any fresh blank is minted by those dies, an incused image
of some text or design of the obverse die is found on the reverse side of the coin and vice
versa also occurs. This type of error is called Die clash error / Ghosting error.
GHOST ERRORS

Indira Gandhi
National Integration
Cellular Jail
Note: This error is very common in case of 2 rupees National integration Cupro-Nickel coins.

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B.)Planchet Errors
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COIN STRUCK ON A WRONG SIZE BLANK:
When a coin is struck on a wrong planchet, this means that a coin was struck on the blank (planchet) that was
made for another denomination. Some examples would be a 50 Paise planchet struck with rupee dies, a rupee
planchet struck with 2 rupees dies. Coins struck on the wrong planchets are rare.
i) 1 Rupee minted on 50 Paise blank:

1 Rupee Normal coin

1 Rupee on 50 Paise blank

i) 2 Rupees minted on 1 rupee blank:

2 Rupees Normal coin

2 Rupees on 1 rupee blank

How this error occurs?

The bins, that are used to transport the planchets from the blanking machine to the coinage
press, have seams inside the bin. Sometimes a planchet will stick in the seam and not be
release when the bin is emptied. Then the bin is filled with other denomination planchets but
this time when the bin is emptied, all the planchet is released from the bin.
Thus a 50 Paise planchet can be emptied into the rupee coinage press with thousands of
rupee planchets.

CLIPPED COIN:
In some minted coins we find a portion of the coin is clipped. These types of error are called
a clipped coin error. 4 types of clipped error coins are generally found.
1) Coins with a straight clip.
2) Coins with a curved clip.
3) Coins with a multiple clips.
4) Coins with a ragged clip.
How is a clipped coin made?
A clipped coin is made long before it becomes a coin. It starts its life as a clipped planchet.
This is the blank before the dies in the coinage press strike it.
A punching-cutting machine is used to make the planchets. Long rolled sheets of metal are
automatically feed into the machine. The punching-cutting machine goes up and down,
cutting circular planchets out of the thin metal strips.

Straight clip:
If the metal sheet is not lined up properly with the punch-cutting machine, straight clips can
be formed. This is because the metal is feed into the machine to far to the right or left. The
punching-cutting machine will cut circles out of the sides of the sheets, which do not fill the
area cut by the punch. This leaves one side of the planchet straight. This creates a straight
clip.

Curved clip:
If the metal is not feed into the punch-cutting machine at a steady speed, the movement of
the metal does not keep up with the punching operation. When this happens, the machine is
cutting circular planchets out of an area in the metal that has already been cut to get a single
planchet. This creates a curved clip.

Multiple clips:
When the punch-cutting machine is cutting circular planchets, out of an area in the metal that
has already been cut to get more than 1 planchets, a multiple clip is created.

Multiple Clips ( 3 curved clips)

The coin shown above has 3 curved clips.
Another coin with multiple clips:

This clipped coin shown above is with 3 curved clips.

Ragged clip:
If the roll of metal over feeds the punch-cutting machine, the punching machine cuts the ends
of the roll. This creates a ragged clip.

COIN STRUCK ON A DIFFERENT METAL BLANK (OMS COINS):

i) Half Rupee coin struck on Brass blank in place of Nickel blank:

George VI - Half Rupee Struck on Brass

Here, the shown specimen is a George VI half rupee brass coin, which is supposed to be
minted in Nickel. Perhaps this occurred by mistake as the minting of the half rupee was done
with planchet prepared from brass sheets, which was used for minting of brass Anna or 1
Anna or 2 Anna coins.
This coin may be forgery, made for circulation during that period.
ii) Two Rupees coin struck on Nickel blank in place of Cupro-Nickel blank:

Magnetic 2 Rupees National Integration coin

The coin shown above is issued by Kolkata mint in the year 1998. It is a regular issue on the
theme "National Integration". Normally all the hen-decagonal shaped National Integration
coins were issued in India during 1992 to 2004 in Cupro-Nickel alloy and are non magnetic.
But this coin was wrongly minted using pure Nickel and is magnetic.

ii) Five Rupees Saheed Bhagat Singh coin struck on Nickel-Brass blank in place of FSS
blank:

Bhagat Singh OMS

The coin shown above is issued by Hyderabad mint in the year 2012. It is a commemorative
issue on "SAHEED BHAGAT SINGH". Normally Bhagat Singh coins were issued in India in
FSS alloy and are magnetic. But this coin was wrongly minted using Nickel-Brass blanks and
is non-magnetic.

CRACKED / CHIPPED COIN BLANK:

Some specimens of minted coins show some cracks or a chipped surface. This happens when a CRACKED /
CHIPPED coin blank is fed to the coining press.

Cracked Coin Blank

Cracked from side

Obverse chipped

Reverse chipped

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C.) Die Errors
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DIE CRACK ERROR:
At times, during the minting process, a die develops cracks. Coins minted with that cracked
die are known as die crack error coins. The crack may be a single crack or multiple cracks.
a) Die with a single crack:
i) Both portions of the cracked die are in the same level:
When a coin blank is minted using such a die , a raised hair line is seen on the coin face.

Coin minted with a die having a single crack

ii) The small cracked portions of the die are in a higher level than the rest:
In this case a smaller portion of the coins remains in lower level than the rest.

iii) The small cracked portions of the die are in a lower level than the rest:
In this case a smaller portion of the coin remains in raised level than the rest.

b) Die with multiple cracks:

When coins are minted using a die with multiple cracks, they show a portion of the coin
design in an area, lower / higher to the coin surface.

DIE BREAKS (CUDS):

At times, a part of a die breaks and falls off. When a coin blank is minted with this broken die,
the missing portion of the die allows the metal of the planchet to fill this broken area, making
a raised blank area. This type of error is called a CUD error.

Cud Error in 1 Rupee Coins

Cud Error in 5 Rupee & 50 Paise Coins

Cud Error in 10 p, 25 p and 2 rupees coins

DIE AXIS ROTATION:

While minting a coin, both the dies are kept in such a position, that the top most
design of the obverse and reverse coin exactly face each other. This type of error occurs,
when one of the dies is rotated with respect to the other die. In this type of error, the Obverse
/ Reverse Die is rotated, anywhere from 5-180 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.
This rotational error is also described by some people as different hours of the clock.
For example a clockwise rotation of 90 degree, is called as 3 Oclock rotation error. Similarly
a 180 degree rotation, is called as 6 Oclock rotation error and a 90 degree counter clockwise
rotation, is called as 9 Oclock rotation error.

6 O'clock Rotation

MULES:
The coins minted with the obverse die of one coin and reverse die of another coin, are known
as Mule Coins. Mules are sometimes accidentally produced at the time of re-striking coins of
earlier periods. Unless the obverse and reverse dies are properly paired at the time of
restriking, the coins struck may have the wrong obverse or wrong reverse.

Indira - 50 Paise - Mule

How this occurs?
The above picture shows a Mule Indira Gandhi, 50p coin. On the normal Indira Gandhi, 50p
coins, a dotted circle is present on both the obverse and reverse sides. In 1986 another 50p
coin was issued on the theme Fisheries and there was no dotted circle on either sides of that
coin. By mistake, on some day in the year 1986, the reverse die of Indira Gandhi, 50 p coin,
was paired with the obverse die of Fisheries, 50p coin, for minting of Indira Gandhi, 50 p
coin, and this resulted this mule coin.
Note: To see the other Mule coins issued in India, please visit the page, Mule coins of India.

*******************************************************************************

D.) Coins with multiple Types of Errors

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UNIFACE + BROCKAGE ON THE SAME COIN:

How this error might have created:

The sequence of events of its creation may be like this. First a blank enters the coining press and it is
normally minted. Then it adheres to the Obv die and not ejected from the press. Next due to some
technical errors, 2 blanks are fed to the coining chamber and the minting process continued. In this
situation, the blank facing the reverse die will get the reverse impression on one side and uniface on
the other side. The middle blank will be uniface on one side and get the brockage impression from the
previously minted coin adhering to the Obv die.
MIILLED EDGE + CLIPPED PLANCHET ON THE SAME COIN:

Obverse

Reverse

Edge

DETAILS OF ERROR PRESENT:

The coin shown above is minted from a clipped planchet. More over though all the 5 rupees CuproNickel Regular coins issued india have a security edge, this 5 rupees CN coin issued by Kolkata mint
has a milled edge, an error.

**********************************************************
E.) Other Errors
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PRE ISSUE:
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born in the year 1897. So, 1997 is the centenary year of
his birth. But due to mistakes, the Kolkata mint issued a commemorative coin in his honour in
the year 1996. This coin was withdrawn due to protest from all circles and re issued in 1997.

2 Rs - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose -1996

Note: This is one of the RARE coins of Republic India.

WRONG NAME OF THE COUNTRY ON THE COIN:

10 Paise coins in FSS were issues from the year 1988. But inadvertently, some coins issued
by Kolkata mint in 1988 and 1989, shows the name of the country as Marat in Hindi, in
place of Bharat

Note: This is one of the SCARCE coins of Republic India.

ADDITION OF JEE IN HINDI, IN 5 RUPEES BAL GANGADHAR TILAK

COMMEMORATIVE CUPRO-NICKEL COIN:
A 5 rupees commemorative coin was issued in 2007 in commemoration of 150 years of birth
anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Inadvertently, in Hindi his name was written
as Tilakji in place of Tilak. Due to protests from various sectors, this coin was withdrawn, a
fresh die was prepared with Tilak, and new coins were minted and issued.

Tilak Ji coin
Note: This is one of the RARE coins of Republic India.

CRACKED SURFACE ERROR:

The coin shown below shows multiple cracks on its both faces, resembling a drought affected
land. The cause of this error is not known to me.

Multiple Crack Lines on both Obverse and Reverse sides

===========================================================

Acknowledgement:
I have taken the help of the following web-site for preparation of this page.
i) http://www.bakercoins.net/learn/error.ed/index.html
ii) http://littlemistakes.com/WorldErrors/misstrikes/misstrikes.html
Made By:-

B. K. Kar
Birthday - July 13, 1949
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I worked as a teacher in Secondary schools in Orissa for long 38 years. Retired in 2007.
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9. Writing articles on different coin websites
10. Writing books. The list of books written by me are:
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