News Feeds
Coin Collecting News
Bootstrap Error Lincoln Cents In Circulation
By Richard Giedroyc of HCC, Inc. www.hcc-coin.com
There are many minor error coins that can be found in circulation, but there are few error coins on which the error is both graphically visible and available in significant enough quantities to grab the interest of collectors as being a major variety.
There may be such a major variety now appearing in circulation, this being a 2009-P Bootstrap Lincoln cent. This appears to be a major variety of the Formative Years Lincoln cent, the second of four circulating commemorative cents to be issued during the year. Significant numbers of cents with a prominent die crack graphically visible without magnification extending from Lincoln’s left boot through the second U in PLURIBUS at six o’clock on the reverse of the Formative Years cent recently appeared at random in 2009-P Uncirculated cent rolls. The die crack is similar to a bootstrap, thus gaining the nickname for the variety.
The die crack error was first discovered in a roll of Lincoln cents examined by Jason Rodgers of HCC Inc., a rare coin company based in Holland, Ohio (a suburb of Toledo). Rodgers wasn’t particularly impressed by the first example discovered, but when several Bootstrap cents began appearing sporadically within other rolls Rodgers began to pay closer attention.
Rodgers said his sample of more than 300 error coins was too small to conclude if the die crack is not progressive or not, although the die crack does not appear to become worse on later strike coins from the Bootstrap die. A progressive die crack would indicate the coins are late die state coinage originating from a deteriorating die. Error coins that as a group do not show a die progression suggest the coins originated from a die produced with a crack that was in the die when the die was first used.
This could put this error in league with the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln cent and the 1937-D Three Legged Buffalo nickel, each of which are error coins produced from a single faulty die the mint failed to detect prior to commencing production with that die rather than from a deteriorating die or from a faulty hub.
No guess of the number produced will be available for some time, but considering the die crack is consistent and appears to come from a single reverse die the life expectancy of that working die can be estimated.
Related posts:
- Someone Has To Call Tails – New Lincoln Cents
- Buffalo Nickels And Lincoln Cents Lead Heritage Long Beach Rare Coin Auction
- Bowers and Merena to Auction Leading PCGS Registry Set of Lincoln Cents in August
- Legend Numismatics Pays $2 Million Dollars For 3 Lincoln Cents!
- Finest Lincoln Cents & Registry Rarities Star In Heritage’s $11 Million Houston Coin Auction
- Coin Rarities & Related Topics: 1793 Half Cents, Chain Cents, Wreath Cents, 1808 Quarter Eagles — one-year type coins in general
- United States Mint Launches First Redesigned Lincoln One-Cent Coin in 50 Years at Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace
- The Extra Beard Penny Error
- Greatest All-Time Collection of Middle Date Large Cents (Part 4): Review of the Naftzger 2 Auction — Cents of the 1820s
- MILLIONS OF NEW THOMAS JEFFERSON $1 COINS ROLL INTO CIRCULATION
About the Author
Mr. Giedroyc is a prolific numismatic writer whose work as appeared in numerous numismatic publication. He works for HCC Rare Coins in Holland, Ohio (suburb of Toledo). Hcc was founded by Howard C. Cook, Jr in 1991 and is a highly respected Rare Coin form with 11 full time employees, 7 of whom are Numismatists. http://www.hcc-coin.com
Bob Wagenhofferbob | Jul 2, 2009 | Reply
Have not seen a bootstrap but did come across a minor die crack in a 2009-P at approx the
8 o’clock position that runs from the edge to the center knob in the mallet.
Don Turner | Jul 15, 2009 | Reply
Have you ever seen a 1941 penny with the 1 slanting on a 45 degree angle? I have had two and on the one I have now, you can see where it was pushed somehow when stamped.I saw info on it in an old book in a military library on errors a long time ago but cannot find info now.Thanks
Randy | Jul 31, 2009 | Reply
I found one of the the bootstrap error 2009-P formative years Lincoln cents as pictured in this article after searching more than 3oo rolls.
Aisha | Nov 24, 2009 | Reply
I too have the die crack on the 2009 Lincoln cent on both reverse & obverse along with the, “extra thumb” all on the same coin.
I also have a 1977 D Lincoln cent with a partial full circled rim on the obverse.
Joe D'Agostino | Mar 11, 2010 | Reply
To compare a diecrack like the “bootstrap” to a
real important error like a 1955 double die cent is
laughable! Even if the crack turned into a major die cud, it would not achieve this lofty status, although then it would become interesting and collectable. As it is now, it is nothing more than a minor cracked die error, of little lasting interest or VALUE! Caveat Emptor! Beware of hype!
Efrain | Sep 6, 2010 | Reply
I have a different 2009 p Lincoln bootstrap error cent. this one the crack start from the edge going through the R of PLURIBUS turn a bit up and right going through Lincoln left boot horizontally from left to right.
Jason Rodgers | Oct 5, 2010 | Reply
I agree, too bad I wasn’t the one who wrote the article . I was just the 1st to find the die crack.
Jim | Jan 16, 2011 | Reply
I have found 2 interesting 2009 Lincoln Professional Life cents. I found them a couple of months apart. On the obverse there is a definite separation between the top of his head and the hair. Add to this 3 distinctive sets of parallel “dots” , six in each set, on his neck. The coins are identical, leading me to believe they were struck by the same die. Anybody seen anything like these ?
Also I have an 82 that appears to be All zinc, no copper .