2017-10-07 Sat

Some errors are made deliberately, that’s what happened with two Proof error coins that were struck at the San Francisco Mint in the early 1970s. They are composed of aluminium Shell Coin Game tokens. Error coin specialist Jon Sullivan of Sullivan Numismatics in Charleston, South Carolina confirms the news.

A 1970-S Kennedy half dollar graded and encapsulated Proof 62 by Professional Coin Grading Service, was struck over a Missouri token issued by Shell Oil Co. as part of its States of the Union premium games.

In 1960s and 1970s, Shell Oil Co. issued the tokens for production promotions. The common reverse for the States of the Union tokens — evidence of which can be found on the Kennedy half dollar error — reads SHELL’S / COIN / GAME in three lines over concentric circles, with five-pointed stars around.

When one sees the obverse of the Kennedy half dollar right side up, concentric circles from the reverse of the underlying token are visible across Kennedy’s portrait. COIN / GAME is visible upside down on Kennedy’s face. On the reverse of the Kennedy half dollar, viewed right side up, the letters OURI of MISSOURI from the token design are behind the letters DOLL in DOLLAR on the half dollar.

The Proof Kennedy half dollar error measures 29.5 millimeters in diameter and weighs 1.6 grams. Normally, a regular Proof 1970-S Kennedy half-dollar would have a diameter of 30.61 millimeters and the copper-silver clad coin would weigh 11.5 grams.

The edge of the error half-dollar is reeded, as are the States of the Union Shell Oil tokens.

The 197x-S Eisenhower dollar, graded Proof 64 by PCGS, is struck over a struck a Ulysses S. Grant Mr President Shell Oil aluminium token. Only the 197 from the date on the Eisenhower dollar design is obvious. The error dollar weighs 2 grams and is 30.8 millimetres in diameter. The edge is plain, as are the Mr President Shell Oil tokens. The error is double struck.

A normal Proof 1971-S Eisenhower dollar measures 38.1 millimetres in diameter, with a reeded edge. The pieces struck on the copper-nickel clad planchet weigh 22.68 grams and those struck on a copper-silver clad planchet weighs 24.59 grams.

The common reverse for the Mr President tokens is inscribed in three lines SHELL’S / MR. PRESIDENT / COIN GAME over concentric circles with stars around. Many stars are visible in the obverse field on the Eisenhower dollar error, along with 18TH from the inscription above Grant’s portrait on the token’s obverse. Behind the Eisenhower’s portrait appear the letters ANT from GRANT, which is inscribed below Grant’s portrait on the token used as a planchet.

The reverse of the Eisenhower dollar error shows prominent evidence of the concentric circles from the token reverse.

Other 1970s era coins from the San Francisco Mint were also struck on the Shell Oil tokens. Also, an undated Eisenhower dollar struck over Abraham Lincoln Mr President Coins aluminium token.