26-Cent Coin Sells for Nearly $17,000

An unusual U.S. Mint error piece, a “26-Cent Coin,” sold for nearly $17,000 at a GreatCollections auction on September 20. A total of 44 bids were placed on the double-denomination mint error, which was created when a 2000 Lincoln cent was struck over an already minted 2000 New Hampshire state quarter. According to GreatCollections, “The result preserves overlapping elements from both denominations: Abraham Lincoln’s bust and cent inscriptions compete with remnants of the New Hampshire quarter’s design, producing a visually complex coin with a face value that collectors whimsically total as 26 cents.”

Certified by Professional Coin Grading Service as Mint State-65, the piece is exceptionally well preserved. Both dates are clearly visible from the quarter and cent strikes. GreatCollections states, “This is a spectacular example of how an unusual sequence inside the U.S. Mint can transform two familiar coins into one extraordinary numismatic rarity.”  Including the 12.5-percent buyer’s premium, the “26-Cent Coin” realized $16,962.50.