Brockage

Also see |Brockages| |and| |Clashed| |Dies|.

A brockage is an error coin. One side (most of the times the obverse) is normal, but the other side (usually the reverse) has an incuse (in negative) image of the other side, replacing its usual types and inscriptions.

In just a few words, a coin is produced by inserting apiece of metal, called blank (1) between two dies (2a,b). One of the dies is fixed (in a type of anvil setup), the other is mobile, held by a worker with tongues. With his other hand the worker (or another worker) applies a hammer blow to the mobile die and the engravings of the dies are transferred in positive to the blank resulting in a coin (3). Another blank is positioned and struck, and so on.

In some rare occasions, the coin can adhere to one of the dies and remain undetected for a while, because the process was carried out at a very fast pace. Following the drawing below, a new blank (1b) will be struck by the normal die (2b) and by the die + coin combo (4) resulting in a brockage (5).

Photographs of some attractive brockages follow are below.

Reverse brockages exist but are rare.