Striking Error Discovered on 2022 Silver Eagles

Figure 1: Graders at ICG have discovered an unusual strike-through error on 2022 American silver Eagle coins. (All images courtesy ICG.)

Recently, graders at Independent Coin Graders (ICG) certified several unusual 2022 silver American Eagles that had a shiny, incuse ring near the rim around part of the coin. No one at ICG has seen something to this extent on silver Eagles before.

We’ve called this characteristic an “Incomplete Strike Ring.” We believe this anomaly resulted from a strike-through error where the substance prevented a normal strike.

Figure 1 (above) shows the error in a slab. Figure 2 is a micrograph of the area. Note that the mark has two different surface colorations. Examining the field of one of these coins from its center to the rim, you’ll find the normal frosty field changes to a dull color on both sides of a shiny, scrape-like surface. This indicates a substance was pushed into the planchet when it was struck. Then as it was spread out becoming thin, the surface was changed at its borders.

Figure 2: A micrograph gives a close-up view of the striking error.

We have learned that entire rolls of these are being found. Another major third-party grading service has also slabbed these strike-through errors. While they may be an interesting Mint error to look for, most collectors would probably want a more perfect coin.

F. Michael FazzariAuthor