The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 11, March 18, 2007, Article 11

AND NOW, THE FACELESS DOLLAR

Another Associated Press story about errors on the new U.S. 
Presidential Dollar popped up on March 18:

"Mary and Ray Smith can't make heads or tails of a new presidential 
dollar coin they found last week. It doesn't have either.

"A week after the revelation that some of the coins slipped out of the 
U.S. Mint without 'In God We Trust' stamped on the edge, the Smiths 
said Tuesday they found one with nothing stamped on either flat side.

"It does have 'In God We Trust' on the edge. What's missing is the 
image of George Washington on the front and the Statue of Liberty on 
the back. Instead, the Smiths' coin is just smooth, shiny metal.

"'Mint spokesman Michael White said officials had not confirmed the 
Smiths' find. But Ron Guth, a coin authenticator with Professional 
Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, Calif., said after examining 
it he is certain the coin is authentic.

"'It's really pretty rare,' Guth said. 'It somehow slipped through 
'several steps and inspections.'"

To read the complete story, see: Full Story

[Mint errors have been around as long as the Mint itself, but it seems 
to me that only in recent years have errors found their way into the 
popular press. While there are many articles to be found in newspapers 
of the 1800s and 1900s about public reaction to new coins, I don't 
recall ever seeing an article about an error coin. Can anyone cite one? 

In today's world of the Internet and eBay marketing, word spreads fast, 
and apparently there is a very receptive market for these oddities. 
It's also true that in years past the numismatic hobby didn't have a 
Donn Perlman working the phones to stir up interest among journalists. 
I suspected Donn's handiwork in this story, as well. When contacted, 
he 'fessed up. Great work, Donn! -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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