August 27, 2010
1946 Shilling Double StruckCompared with how many coins are minted in a production run, the rate of error is quite small. We've spoken about double errors before and they are very rare coins to have in your collection.
The coin shown is a very interesting example. On first glance it looks like it may have been tampered with to produce the features that is has such as a wide flat flan and distorted lettering.
On closer inspection this however is not the case. This 1946 shilling was struck as any coin would be. The coin failed to exit the press but was pushed up out of the collar. It was struck again, this time out of the collar. Now it was this second strike that did the damage and left the clues to how this coin was made. There is edge milling present indicating it was once struck within the collar as normal. The rim beads show evidence of being smeared outwards when the coin was struck out of the collar which has resulted in the pancake like flan typical of an out of collar strike.
The ram and portrait are well struck with no damage further disagreeing with with any post mint damage scenario. The legends are however a different story. The reverse shows clear doubling of the letters indicating the second strike at a very slight rotation. The obverse shows distortion to the lettering this time making them thinner, the second strike obliterated the width to the letters because of the slight rotation. This is a common indicator of a double struck coin.
Reverse letter doubling, doubling on top of horn and star distortion due to the second strike
Obverse letter distortion and rim beads smeared outwards during the second out of collar strikePosted by harrisk at August 27, 2010 10:35 AM
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