#27


by Ken Potter—NLG



Are They Strike-Thru Errors?

Photos courtesy of Audie Higareda
 Broadstrikes (with no reeding)?

Photos courtesy of Audie Higareda
 Broadstrikes (with no reeding)?

March 11, 2004 / Installment #27—Obviously, it doesn’t take much to figure out these items are not what they might appear to be at first glance — or they wouldn’t be in this column.  So just what are they?   The answer is really simple, yet coins like these frequently puzzle folks when they are encountered in circulation or rolls.  They are what we call “Vegas Dollars” or “Vegas Halves,” etc., (depending on which denomination is found), — though they could have come from a casino in any city or state.

By now you’ve probably guessed it.  Yes, these are coins that have seen heavy use in the slot machines in gambling casinos.  They are coins that have rolled down the slots so many times that the reeding has worn off them completely on many.   They will also be so heavily beat up from falling upon each other down into the containers that hold them, that at first glance, they appear to have been struck through “Mint-goop” (a mixture of grease, oil, dirt, metal filings, etc.) that occasionally works its way from around a press, down into the dies where the coins are struck.

While there are distinct similarities in the look between the two effects, there are also distinct differences.  The most obvious is in the metal movement of a beat-up, damaged coin, vs. a strike-thru error.  These are differences that the seasoned errorist will take note of immediately!  For example, Mint-goop does not slash or smash letters or portions of designs away from their original location or flair them out leaving them with the “hammered-look” you’ll see on the “Vegas coins.”  However, struck-thru “Mint-goop” does often bring small metal filings with it that gets struck into the coin. A close examination will often reveal a few specks of retained filing that may or may not exhibit themselves as copper specks.  The best way to learn the difference is to study your coins closely — you find good quantities of both damaged and strike-thru type errors in your travels and you’ll pick up on the differences fast if you’re looking for them.

“Vegas coins” like those shown here are often encountered in circulation as single pieces but they can also be found in groups of several pieces together in rolls — or even as solid rolls of such pieces.  The several reports that came in to me of groups being found all came in from the Las Vegas area.   I’ve also seen a number of reports on single “Vegas coins” found as far north as Canada (on Canadian 25-cent pieces).  Learn what they are and don’t get fooled into buying them as error coins!

I’d like to thank Audie Higareda for sending the images of the coins featured here to share with our readers!