Collecting Brockage Error Coins
At a Glance:
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- Brockage error coins are made when a coin sticks to a die during the minting process.
- Coins with brockage errors will often feature a mirror image of their design on one side.
- Brockages can be worth anywhere from $100 to thousands of dollars, depending on a few factors.
What is a Brockage Error Coin?
A brockage refers to a rare mint-made error that appears on some U.S. coins. Brockages are particularly popular among rare coin collectors, since these errors look unique and are often easy to spot. A brockage error coin is created when another coin accidentally sticks to the die during the striking process. Coins struck with that die afterwards are stamped with a mirror image of that stuck coin’s design.
This unique phenomenon is part of what makes brockage coins so fascinating – they look unlike any other type of coin.
Some brockage coins are very valuable, so it’s important that new coin collectors understand how to identify and appraise this popular error variety. On this page, you’ll will learn what causes a brockage coin, how to identify one, and which brockages are worth a lot of money.
Identifying a Brockage Error
Unlike some other errors, brockages are usually easy to spot. Most brockage error coins only feature the brockage effect on one side – the other side typically looks normal. The brockage effect is often very obvious, and the effected face of a brockage coin should feature at least the faint mirror imprint of the coin’s design.
The best way to identify a brockage error coin is to examine it closely under a special coin magnifying glass called a loupe. Pay careful attention to both sides of the coin. On a genuine brockage error, you’ll be able to see at least a faint mirror image of the coin’s design. Most of the time, a brockage error will also result in the coin appearing strange. Usually, brockage error coins will be missing most of their design aside from the mirror image imprint.
Most brockage coins can be identified with the naked eye. When in doubt, pull out the magnifying glass and take a closer look!
What Causes a Brockage Error?
Like all other mint-made errors, brockages are caused by a mistake during the minting process. Brockages can happen during the striking process, the step in minting a coin where coins are struck by a die to give them their designs. A brockage error occurs when one coin gets stuck to the die used to strike coins. Very rarely, coins will become stuck to this metal die. If a coin sticks to the die, it will continue to strike other coins until it falls loose or is spotted and removed by a worker.
A single die-stuck coin can cause brockage errors on hundreds of coins if it isn’t caught by a worker in time. When a stuck coin strikes another coin blank, it leaves a mirror image of the stuck object’s design on the newly minted coin. That’s why brockage coins look like they have more than one design – it’s because they do!
Are Brockage Error Coins Rare?
Most brockage coins are very rare, especially if they were minted in the 21st century. The United States Mint has come a long way over the course of its 225+ year history. Today, the mint is more effective than ever at spotting and eliminating error coins before they enter circulation. Brockage error coins are especially rare because of how infrequently coins become stuck in the U.S. Mint’s dies.
Some brockage error coins are rarer than others, though. Brockages minted in early U.S. history or from low mintage series are worth far more than brockages on common coins like the United States cent. The U.S. Mint produces billions of pennies per year, so it’s no surprise that at least some of these coins would feature a brockage error.
Lower mintages make for fewer opportunities for minting errors, so some old brockage error coins can be quite rare – and valuable.
Common Misconceptions About Brockage Errors
Brockage errors can be confused for a few other types of mint-made error coins.
The telltale sign of a brockage error is the presence of a mirrored image of the coin’s design on one side. Brockages very rarely affect both sides of a coin. The placement of the brockage effect on a brockage error coin can vary based on the location of the coin relative to the center of the die it becomes stuck to. Some very rare brockage coins even feature a perfect mirror image of the obverse design on their reverses!
Some collectors believe that all brockages in a given series look alike. In reality, brockages can vary considerably from one coin to another. Some brockages are relatively subtle, some are double struck, and some brockages make the coin’s obverse design almost impossible to clearly identify.
Are Brockage Error Coins Valuable?
Certain brockage error coins are very valuable. The value of a brockage error depends on three main factors:
- Rarity. Brockage coins are less common on 21st century coins and coins with low mintages. The fewer specimens of a given error there are on the market, the more valuable that error coin is.
- Spectacularness. Error coins are usually more valuable when their error is obvious and easy to spot. Brockage coins with a very obvious error effect and coins where the second design is clearly visible are usually more valuable than subtle brockage error coins.
- Condition. Condition always plays the role in coin appraisal. Brockage error coins kept in excellent condition are more valuable than low-grade brockage coins.
Error coin value guides can help you get a better idea of how much your coin is worth. The most valuable brockage error coins are worth thousands of dollars, and some of the most affordable brockage coins sell for $100 or less. Take a look at an online value guide, and be sure to reach out to an expert for a more personalized appraisal.
Brockage Coins – Spectacularly Collectable Errors
There’s a reason why brockage errors are so popular among rare coin collectors. Brockage errors themselves are extremely rare, especially in the 21st century, given the attention-to-detail that the United States Mint has developed over the past two centuries. On low mintage coins, brockage errors can be even rarer. Brockages for certain circulating coins are so rare that collectors have only ever seen one surviving specimen.
Rarity aside, brockage coins offer a spectacularness that very few U.S. error coins can provide. Most seasoned coin collectors can spot a brockage error from a mile away, and these spectacular, crazy, unique coins have become a staple of many modern coin collections.
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About The Author
Michael Roets
Michael Roets is a writer and journalist for Hero Bullion. His work explores precious metals news, guides, and commentary.