Part I. Design Subtypes:

Conceptual Design Flaws:

1828 Half Cent & 1832 Half Eagle with 12 Stars

Definition: Design execution errors are primarily restricted to early 19th century coins, where much of the peripheral design was punched-in or engraved into each working die.  These are errors in translating the intended design to the working die.

Design execution errors are different from conceptual design flaws.  The latter affect the master hub or the master die.

Design execution errors tend to escape casual inspection, while “blundered dies” are usually quite obvious.

Only 12 stars were punched into a working die used to strike 1828 half cents. (image on left). Other half cent dies had the usual 13 stars (image on right).

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

                                                 12 stars                                                                                                         13 stars

The same mistake can be found in the 1832 Half Eagle ($5.00) gold. One working die ended up with only 12 stars.  A coin struck by the poorly-executed die is shown below, on the left.  A normal coin is shown on the right.

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.         

                                   12 Stars                                                                                      13 Stars