An error coin is a coin which has been made improperly, and issued accidently as a result of some malfunction or failure of operation in some phase of the minting process. The emphasis is on the accidental or inadvertent production of incorrectly shaped or formed coins. Mint error coins must also be released to the public in error. A coin that has been stolen or spirited out of any mint facility is a faked error is is definitely not collectible.

Mint error coins are almost always very rare making them valuable to numismatists. They are the only truly limited edition U.S. mint products. Because of the nature and complexity of mint errors we strongly recommend you confine your purchases to coins professionally certified by PCGS, ICG or NGC. This will help protect you from doctored or counterfeit coins. 

The rarity level for each class of error coin is based on the following scale:

1. Very common: 1 million or more

2. Common: 999,999 down to 100,000

3. Scarce: 99,999 down to 10,000

4. Very scarce: 9,999 down to 1,000

5. Rare: 999 down to 100

6. Very rare: 99 down to 10

7. Extremely rare: 9 down to 1