After finding several pennies this week struck with rotated dies, I thought I should remind collectors to check every coin they come across and see if the results are the same as mine.

I'm always searching large quantities of circulated rolls, and usually just look at the 'better dates' with a magnifier for doubled-dies, etc.  I never used to take the time to flip each individual coin, until recently, as I've been turning out more 'rotated dies' errors than doubled-dies!  The ones I'm talking about have a rotation well out of 'mint standards', usually a 20 to 40 degree rotation.  The dies are supposed to be chucked to only fit in the press at 1 precise alignment, but their method must not be 'fool proof' as there are many coins struck with the reverse die out of alignment with the obverse die.  I recently found a 1996-P cent with 180 degree rotation!

They are easy to spot.  On a 'normal coin', both sides will always be aligned upright, when holding the coin by the edge in an upright position (at K-3 or K-9 clock positions), and flipping it over vertically.  If you want to put a precise number on the degree of rotation, you can put a small rubber band around the center of the coin, perpendicular to 'Liberty' on the obverse (straight up and down through lincoln's bust), then flip the coin over and measure the angle of the rubber band to the bottom of the memorial building with a protractor. 

Happy Hunting!