Madoc's Place - Sacagawea Errors

Last revised: April 9, 2002 - Page no longer updated

Have a comment or question? Use the message board link or E-mail me!

News:

4-9-2002:

Just wanted to let everyone know, I will not be updating this section any longer, nor am I accepting information to be posted regarding past, present or future Sacagawea errors. Oddly enough, I have not seen a single one of these coins "in the wild" since Wal-Mart stopped giving them out as change. It looks as though the Sacky has gone the way of the Susan B. Anthony. Please stop by my other pages using the links at the bottom of this document.

3-14-00 12:15 EST:

I'd like to expand this page to show all manner of Sacagawea errors, but I need your help to do it! If you would like to contribute some information about Sacagawea errors you've found, please e-mail me with your name, publishable e-mail address, a detailed description of the error, the date and place you received the error coin, and of course a picture of the error coin. Please send the picture as a Microsoft Bitmap (.BMP) file or as a HIGH QUALITY Jpeg (.JPG) file. If you do not want your name or email address published, I will respect your wishes.

I would also appreciate any feedback you may have, so feel free to use the Message Board and share your thoughts!

Finally, I've added links to the rest of the site, no more getting dumped off here with no way to return to the other sections of the site.

2-27-00 12:15 EST:

Welcome back! I've added a few new pictures showcasing the possible error found on some of the 2000P Sacagawea dollars. I now have a total of one roll and 14 loose coins that exhibit this oddity. I took a couple to my local coin dealer today, who said the mark could be caused by a) the rolling process causing a high point on the obverse to wear down the reverse or b) the die being polished down too far on that point. He also told me neither explanation would qualify my example as an error coin.

Well, explanation a) doesn't sit well with me, you'd think if a portion of the coin's obverse would reach down to the lowest point on the reverse (keeping in mind also this coin's high rims) it would also cause substantial damage to higher portions of the coin. I suppose explanation b) is plausible, but I'd really like some other educated opinions on what could have cause these marks. Please examine the pictures and post your thoughts on the message board! I'll post the correct answer/best guess on r.c.c.

Madoc Owain's Message Board

Featured (clock-wise from top): Row of 14 "spotted" Sackys, 4 coins at 2x magnification, 2 coins at 4x magnification, 1 coin at 8x magnification, same area at 16x magnification.

As you can see, there is a pronounced "spot" just above the eagle's neck, and below and to the right of the "M" in UNUM. It's difficult to scan properly, but there is nothing but some fine scratches in the "spot". It appears to be more polished than the rest of the coin. 12 out of 25 coins in one roll exhibited this mark, as did both ends of a mint-wrapped roll purchased from Wal-Mart.

So, what do YOU think? Use the message board link above and make yourself heard! I'll post the best onto this page and r.c.c.

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