By Mike Byers for Mint Error News ……
This is the only known obverse die cap struck in gold from any country. It was certified and authenticated by NGC. It is an English half sovereign dated 1824 of King George IV. This happens to be an extremely rare date in the English half sovereign series and is also in Gem Mint State condition.
After being struck, this gold coin adhered to the obverse die and became an obverse die cap. It subsequently struck several blank planchets, creating brockages on the obverse of each coin. The reverse design of this die cap expanded with each strike. As with any obverse die cap, the shape resembles a thimble or bottle cap depending on the number of strikes.
This unique gold obverse die cap has an incredible pedigree. It was originally from the John H. Clapp collection and then subsequently found its way to the estate of Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. in 1942.
I consulted many of the recognized mint error experts and dealers and none of them had ever heard of another gold die cap. They were surprised that one even existed and thought it was fascinating that it was on such a rare English gold coin from the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. collection.
The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. collection was auctioned in April 2005. This unique obverse die cap sold and here is the following description:
1824 1/2 sovereign. Die cap error. Fr-379, S-3803. MS-64 (NGC).
3.96 grams, 20.70mm. Laureated head to left, legends around / crowned shield, date at sides, branches below. Bright yellow gold with highly reflective fields. An impressive and very rare error, caused when this coin became adhered to the obverse die and struck multiple times, resulting in a high wire rim and deeply rendered obverse details. The reverse appears somewhat flat and wavy, a by-product of this coin acting as a die and stiking one or more brockages. British gold coin errors are highly elusive and avidly sought by error coin specialists.
From the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate to Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., 1942
Recently, a mated pair of Canadian Proof reverse die caps were discovered and I had the opportunity to purchase them. These two Canadian reverse die caps and this English die cap are the only three known gold die caps from any country.
This unique obverse die cap is a perfect combination of rarity, pedigree, and condition. It belongs in a collection of English gold coins or world mint errors.
The unique gold die cap was featured on the cover of Mint Error News Magazine Issue 22.
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World’s Greatest Mint Errors
The book World’s Greatest Mint Errors is an enjoyable numismatic resource packed full of some of the rarest, most dramatic and extraordinary mint errors and die trials ever assembled in one publication. It combines stunning imagery with the most accurate information available to provide anyone interested in mint errors with the latest data on mint error coins from the United States and around the world. Hundreds of spectacular mint errors are pictured. Each error coin photo is presented in full color and enlarged to enhance the smallest details.
Some of the error coins featured in this book have never been seen by the public before, and each is described in great detail as to the type of error, the assigned grade, rarity, and estimated value. The release of World’s Greatest Mint Errors has only helped to further interest in the field in non-collectors and advanced collectors alike. This book is a must-have for every numismatic library.
