In the days when coins were struck by hand, double-strike errors could happen fairly easily. A coin-maker, not certain that he had struck a good impression, or an apprentice learning the trade would find it hard to resist striking a second time. Usually the resulting image had extra impression-lines or might contain blurred printed letters in its legend.
Especially in imperial Roman times, demands for coinage were sufficiently intense as to foster several classes of double-strike errors. The need to provide regular pay to increasingly far-flung armies meant rapid recirculation of coins collected in taxes. One quick way to produce a steady flow of coinage was to over-strike worn coins or those remaining from a previous imperial regime (occasionally, a new emperor was commemorated on the face of a coin, while the back retained symbols or even the name of his predecessor).
Modern coinage machines still display occasional double-strike errors. Collectors watch especially for double-strike errors in pennies (perhaps their low monetary value means less rigid inspection of results).
While the classic gambler's two-headed flipping coin is a true forgery, double-strikes can be detected in authentic, circulating coinage to this day.
![]() 99 Linc 1c Double Overlapping Strike US $68.00
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![]() 1952 Australia Penny Double Date Strike Normal Penny US $2.74
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![]() State Quarter Double Strike Error Coin US $2.75
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![]() 1982 Double Strike W Full Indent Brockerage Oversized US $34.95
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![]() 1988 D Lincoln 1¢ Dramatic Double Strike US $16.49
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![]() Two Error Cents Chain Strike Double Struck O C US $15.50
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![]() Error Mexico 1874 20 Ct Double Die Strike Both Sides US $150.00
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![]() Error Coin Lot 7 Lincolns Plus Bonus Double Strike US $49.99
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![]() Poland Rare Denar Kazimir Jagiellonczyk Double Strike US $15.50
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![]() Flipover Double Strike Silver Moon Mission Mint Error US $49.99
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![]() Rotated Double Strike Y2k Airforce Academy Mint Error US $15.00
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![]() 1985 P Washington Quarter Unc Errordouble Strike US $1.99
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![]() Nice Strike Double Doubling 1994 D Washington Quarter US $39.00
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![]() Error2001 Bs Double Struck Centlarge Second Strike US $95.00
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![]() Red Bu Lincoln Cent Unc Double Strike Planchett Error US $14.95
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![]() 2000 Red Bu Lincoln Cent Unc Error Double Strike 50 US $22.95
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![]() Netherlands Voc Colonial Duit Double Strike Error Coin US $175.90
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![]() Nederland Indie 1838j Double Strike Planchet Error Coin US $125.50
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![]() Error Double Center Strike W Deep Dish Effect 2001 US $145.00
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![]() Nederland Indie Dutch Holland 1839j Double Strike Error US $105.50
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![]() Dutch Nederland Voc 1790j Double Strike Planchet Error US $155.50
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![]() 1999 Awesome Double Strike Indent Error Cent Anacs Ms64 US $200.00
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![]() 1946 Florin Error Coindouble Strike US $36.56
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![]() Belgium 1905 Ten Cent Coin Error Double Strike US $349.00
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![]() Error Cent 1999 Double Center Strike W Large Indent US $125.00
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![]() 1987 Singapore 20c Date Double Strike Error Struck Coin US $99.90
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![]() Error Nickel1997p Double Strike US $29.50
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![]() Malaysia Malaysian 1sen 198x Multi Error Double Strike US $499.00
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![]() Romania 20 Lei 1951 Double Strike High Grade Luster US $29.99
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![]() 1910 Rare Straits Settlement Ke 20c Double Strike US $299.00
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![]() Scarce 1967 1 Cent Ms 64 Cameo Double 96 US $86.22
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![]() Medal Germany Wilhelm Kaiser 1897 Double Strike US $149.99
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![]() Green Duck Don Adams Mint Bronze Double Strike Coin Bar US $24.99
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