Part VI. Striking Errors:

Retained Struck-Through Errors:

Retained Die Fill

Definition:  Occasionally hard, compacted die fill (“grease”) separates from the die and adheres to a newly-struck coin.  While similar to a dropped filling, the resulting mass is shapeless and carries no raised design on its outer surface.  The substance is typically black and granular, with occasional silvery and coppery flecks scattered within.  The latter are presumed to represent metal dust.

Two patches of embedded black die fill occupy the obverse face of this 1970-D cent.  The larger deposit obscures part of Lincoln’s head and the words WE TRUST.  The smaller deposit covers the back corner of Lincoln’s shoulder and continues on into the adjacent field.  A few silvery flecks appear within the larger granular mass.  Other portions of the obverse face show the typical appearance of a “struck through grease” error.