The second 0 in 2004 is filled, this particular example was caused by a clogged die, i.e. some foreign material became caught in the second 0 of the die causing it to become filled on the coins it produces. Nothing spectacular but still out of the ordinary.

Anglo-Saxon errors are even more interesting, they can be anything from a weak strike, blundered legend or double striking.  

Here's one that is off-struck, hence the large blank field on the obverse side. A good example of simple, human error!

Eadberht silver sceat. Reverse: Stylised heraldic beast facing left, with curved tail and one leg raised. No symbols in field. Obverse: EDTBEREHTVF around small cross. No initial cross. Initial mark is a single pellet. Offstruck. Made from good silver.

This Edward the Confessor Facing Bust penny has a double struck obverse yet the reverse is pretty much perfect. The overall condition is 'as-struck', but the obverse is not the best of looking... This error renders the obverse legends completely useless as it is truly undecipherable! What's more is that it is partially off-struck too, a very interesting coin!

Edward the Confessor Facing Bust/Short Cross Penny, 1062-65, Aelfwold on Wilton.

I also have an Edward the Confessor that has it's dies 'borrowed' from York mint due to the loss/destruction of them at the Derby mint. This has resulted in an annulet being present in one of the reverse quarters, it is therefore unique as no other Edward the Confessor coins are known to have an annulet in one quarter from Derby mint. Also amongst my collection is an Edward the Confessor Pacx Penny that either has a Cnut Short-Cross obverse or a weird Edward Confessor obverse. But it also has blundered legends on both obverse and reverse.

Henry II Shortcross Penny, Class Ib, Pieres on London.

This coin has a major error, Henry's face has a cross over and the legend on the obverse is messed up as it reads: + HENRVND + PIERESE, a mixture of Pieres on London and Henricvs Rex, it features more of Pieres' name than Henry's, perhaps we have a new English King?!

All in all, an about as-struck penny with a double-strike and slight slip of the dies.

Ilger completely messed this coin up, poor John has a cross occupying his face and the cross on the true reverse is weak. The coin has been flipped over in the minting process and then struck with the opposite die.

King John

John, Class 6b1, Ilger on London, Over and Double Struck.

One of the more interesting errors in my collection, a Long-Cross penny of Henry III. The reverse looks normal but the obverse is crazy! The coin was originally struck by John Terri on Canterbury, i.e. Ioh, but the strike was not strong enough and so it was re-struck by Walter Adrian but the penny had been placed upside-down and struck to one side with the intention of filling in the blank half. Therefore this penny has the obverse struck over the reverse therefore resulting in the legends of the obverse/reverse reading IOH / SON / CAN / TER. However, the 'new' reverse now reads HENRICVS  from the original die resulting with the majority of WAL / TER  still visible alongside the King's name.

All in all, this coin has two reverses and one obverse, it was most likely done over a two day period as new dies could be issued on any given day, it also probably only had the one striker as it was not the moneyer themselves that struck the coins, they only had the rights to the profit of striking them and were in charge of overseeing the mint.

Henry III Long-Cross penny, originally Walter on Canterbury and then Ion.

Another one of my Henry III errors is this really nice one, one of my favourites. It's obverse is that of the design often seen on a King in a pack of cards as it is exactly the same when rotated 180 degrees! It is Class Vd, Nicole on Canterbury and the obverse reads HENRI III HENRI III  it's condition is, in my opinion, as-struck, the reverse is also odd in that it reads NIC / CANT / NIC ANT. A superb error.

Henry III Long-cross penny, Class Vd, Flipped and Double Struck, Nicole on Canterbury.

Another odd Henry III penny, the obverse reads HERUS REX REX III'  whereas the reverse has half of two reverses from the same die, it has been double struck and has a very nice effect on it, due to this major error it has a weak spot on the centre of both sides.

Henry III Long-Cross Penny, Class IIIb, Double Struck, Tomas on York.

There can also be deformed letters that confuse collectors, take this Edward I Penny for example. Look at the first letter of LON / DON  the L looks like a D  and so people thought that this read CIVI TAS DON DON whereas it actually reads CIVI TAS LON DON but the L has its 'tail' flicked upwards resulting in what looks like a D. It is in good condition with a very clear portrait and a dark patina.

Edward I Penny, Class 3a, London Mint with Deformed L/D.

Or even the moneyer completely misses out a word and replaces it with another. This is what this penny has, it reads CIVI CIVI LON DON, I have never seen an Edward I/II penny reading CIVI / CIVI and it looks to be a new error legend!

Edward I Penny, in Edward II reign, London mint, CIVI CIVI error.

Another error on a mint legend, this time a spelling mistake, another unrecorded error.

This Edward I Penny of Durham that reads CIVI TAS DVH ELM instead of DVN ELM.

Edward I, Class 15c Penny, DVH error.

This is another spelling mistake that is unrecorded. It is on an as-struck Edward I penny, better than the Spink plate coin in my opinion.

Edward I Penny, IVCI TAS LON DON, mis-spelt CIVI, Class 5a.

 Here is an interesting Edward III error, the original obverse has had the reverse struck onto it whereas the original reverse has a slight hint of the obverse in as it reads CIVI TA EDW ARD. Not bad for such a small coin!

Edward III, Treaty Penny, Double Struck unknown mint.

This is a good example of a Double Strike and an Off Strike, but the monarch is unknown as the error oblitterates the portrait!

All that is known is that it is a Half-Penny of York.

This is an error that had many people stumped... It was thought that this Sixpence was dated 1565 but it is infact dated 1575. There is a protrusion from the central line of the cross that joined onto the 7 making it look like a 6.

Elizabeth I, 1575 Sixpence, M.M. Eglantine, 3rd and 4th Issue.

So whether errors are caused by drunk moneyers, the rush of a recoinage or just accidents at the mint there sure is a wide variety of errors to collect! To see a couple more errors why not check out my other blogs?

Many thanks go to Alastair W., Carsten R. and Dave D. Thank you all!

Any comments or feedback about this article? If so, please email me:

Please note: All coins are banked away from home.