Proof S-Mint State Quarter
Obverse Die Cap

NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo
UNIQUE
SOLD

slab slab

This is the only known proof state quarter obverse die cap that has been discovered since the U.S. Mint began production in 1999. I originally purchased this at a Baltimore coin show in 2000 from a collector who had discovered it. I immediately sold it to a collector and thought I'd never see it again. Since then, NGC authenticated and certified it PF 68 Ultra Cameo.

It is a very deep obverse die cap and is in pristine condition. The state quarter design on the reverse has been obliterated due to striking many blank planchets since this die cap adhered to the obverse die. A spectacular and unique U.S. state quarter major mint error.

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Intentional Errors

One of the most controversial categories of U.S. coins are mint errors. Many dealers and collectors, as well as coin auction houses, buy, sell, trade and auction many rare, exotic and unique major mint errors. Obviously, some of these defy logic and were intentionally created and taken out of the Mint.

In the early 2000's, a group of several hundred U.S. error coins were found in a safe-deposit box. Fred Weinberg purchased this group which included coins struck for proof sets and also coins struck for circulation. This group was auctioned by the California State Controller's Office of Unclaimed Property. The U.S. Secret Service inspected and released this collection to the State of California determining that it was legal to own. The State of California then auctioned the collection and the rest is history.

Another example of U.S. error coins escaping the Mint occurred in the 1970's. A hoard of proof error coins were smuggled out of the San Francisco Mint inside the oil pans of forklifts that were being serviced outside of the Mint. This topic was discussed in the June 6, 2022 Issue of Coin World, which covered Fred Weinberg's account of this story. The Coin World Managing Editor concluded:
Obviously, the marketplace accepts these coins, and some collectors are happy paying thousands of dollars for coins that show every indication of having been created through illegal means.

In Episode 11 of the PCGS video series Slab Lab, Seth Chandler interviews Fred Weinberg. In part 2 of the interview, Fred explains in detail why mint errors that are decades old are not recovered by the U.S. Mint. Fred's recollection of conversations in his office with the Chief of the U.S. Mint Police are extremely insightful and explain why the Mint doesn't attempt to recover error coins from decades ago.