nizo's Journal: New dollar coin error scam: edge print can't be upside down

There are several different errors circulating with the new dollar coins, however the claims that on some of the coins the text on the edge was accidentally printed upside-down are bogus:

Due to the minting process used on the circulating and "uncirculated" quality coins, the edge-incused inscription positions will vary with each coin.

The Presidential $1 Coins are inscribed on the edge without regard to their "heads" or "tails" orientation. In addition, the location of the inscriptions around the circumference of the coin with relation to the obverse and reverse designs will vary as well. This is because the United States Mint incuses these inscriptions on the edge of each coin at the second step of a two-step coining process.

In the first step, the blanks are fed into a coining machine which strikes the obverse and reverse designs onto the coins, and dispenses the coins into a large bin. In the second step, the bin is transported to the edge-incusing machine, into which the coins are fed at random, without regard to their "heads" or "tails" orientation.

Therefore, statistically, approximately one-half of the coins produced will have edge-lettering oriented toward the "heads" side (obverse), and approximately one-half of the coins will have the edge-incused inscriptions oriented toward the "tails" side (reverse).

Edge Printing

[HTH NE1]

Yeah, I suspected something like that when I noticed it in my roll. But then I also wondered if this could be a good source for statistical analysis to see if the distribution is in fact even for both heads vs. tails and circumferential positioning.

The Wiki page [wikipedia.org] should probably be updated.

Re:

[nizo]

I ordered two online before I went to the mint website, but I only paid $2.98 (including shipping) per coin, so I don't feel too bad since I would probably have waited in line at the bank for an hour to get them anyway :-D So the extra $2/per coin was worth it just to not have to stand in line. And yeah updating the wiki page is a great idea.

All my dollar coins are Loonies

[WillAffleckUW]

After all, if you want a dollar coin, you want the best.

Don't bet on it

[plover]

Therefore, statistically, approximately one-half of the coins produced will have edge-lettering oriented toward the "heads" side (obverse), and approximately one-half of the coins will have the edge-incused inscriptions oriented toward the "tails" side (reverse).

I'm not sure where they got that last line from, but I wouldn't bet on it being a statistical 50/50 split. Manufacturing processes are usually quite repetitive, especially over statistically significant durations.

Imagine a series of coins being fed off the end of a conveyor belt. They're all heads-up on the belt. They each have very similar momentum and mass, and if they drop the same distance to a surface, they'll likely flip the same number of times, bounce in a similar fashion, and mostly land wi

Huh what?

[dave-tx]

What rock have I been living under that this is the first I've heard of a new dollar coin?

Re:

[nizo]

Don't worry, it is guaranteed to be as popular as the susan b anthony and sackajawheezer dollar!

Re:

[Kymermosst]

Heh, that was exactly my first thought.