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What is a Minting Error? Uncovering the Mystery of the Minting Degenerate Double Images on U.S. and Canadian Coins!
Double Degeneration (DDD) is a common minting error found on many coins in the United States and Canada that results from the deterioration of the dies used to strike the coins. Due to improper preparation and handling of the dies, combined with excessive use and wear, nearly every recent coin series has been struck with degraded double images. Certain coins are more sensitive to this due to various factors, but it can be observed in most coin series.
Causes
Annealing Error
There are two main types of errors that can occur during the annealing process in mold making that will result in a poor mold condition. These false positives require expensive and time-consuming testing, which results in a weaker cast and faster degradation. First, the decarburization phenomenon mentioned by metal metallurgists will occur in this process. If there is not enough carbon in the environment in the annealing furnace, the steel will give up some of its carbon and become too soft. The result is a thin metal surface whose chemical composition is altered and substandard.
Another, less obvious error occurs during the heating process. After the mold is removed from the annealing furnace, it must be cooled for 24 to 36 hours. It is usually placed in an oil bath to speed up the cooling process, but it still takes several hours. If the molds are not properly stored while cooling or not allowed to cool completely before being used, the result will be that the molds become even softer.
Excessive use of molds
In a modern die-casting machine, one die can strike about 120 coins per minute. While this may seem like a large number, it is clear that the molds cannot last forever. However, the wear process of the casting mold is accelerated by the metallic material, especially hard metals such as nickel which wear rapidly. Over time, the details of the coin will gradually fade, eventually resulting in the result of mint degradation double shadow.
Identification of Casting Degradation Double Shadow
The features of a Forged Degenerate Twin are often confused with those of a Nexus Twin, but the two twins are very different in appearance.
Mint degradation double images most often appear near the die mark and date because they are located in the center of the coin's base image. When the affected features are examined closely, it can be observed that the double shadows present irregular shapes and lack clear outlines.
Types of Casting Degenerate Double Shadows
There are actually two different types of casting degradation twins: internal worn mold twins and external worn mold twins. The two types show up in different ways and for different reasons, with internal wear casting doubles more often on the edges of details, while external wear appears on the high points of the cast.
Impact on Collectors
Many beginners mistakenly purchase coins struck as degenerate doubles because they believe they are worth a lot of money, but in fact they are often worth only slightly more than their face value. This common mistake has caused many people to believe it and miss out on the chance to find real treasures. The 1955 "Poor Man's Double" is a classic example of a coin that produced a large number of such errors due to technical problems, which further demonstrates the confusion in the market.
In this case, the manufacturer's craftsmanship and the diversity of coins in circulation, in turn, affect the market value. Knowledge is essential to avoid falling into this trap, and continuous learning by doing will be of great help to collectors in correctly identifying these coins.
So, are you ready to learn more about these perplexing minting errors and advance your coin collecting knowledge?
