Strike-through errors occur when foreign material gets trapped between the coin die and the planchet during striking. The material leaves its impression, shadow, or void in the coin's surface. Strike-throughs come in more variety than almost any other error type — from common grease fills to rare and dramatic cloth or wire impressions.
During coin production, the area between the dies should be clear. When debris enters — grease, metal fragments, wire, cloth fibers, or other material — it interferes with the design transfer, creating a strike-through. The nature of the impression depends on what material was present.
Strike-through values vary enormously by type. Minor grease fills carry little premium. Identifiable object impressions (cloth weave, wire shapes), large affected areas, and retained foreign material significantly increase value.
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Scan Your Coin NowGrease-filled die errors are by far the most common. Lubricant or debris accumulates in die recesses and prevents design transfer. Minor grease fills are found frequently and carry small premiums at best.
Value increases with visual drama, identifiable foreign material, large affected area, and retained material. A strike-through showing clear cloth weave or an identifiable object impression is worth significantly more than a minor grease fill.
Use strong, angled lighting to reveal surface textures and impressions. Photograph from multiple angles. The directional light creates shadows that highlight the strike-through details the AI scanner needs to detect.
Strike-throughs typically affect only one side — whichever side had the foreign material between the die and planchet. Rarely, material can affect both sides if debris was present on both dies.