PO Box 1993, Bloomington, IL 61702-1993
309 662-0159

Personally, I feel the mated pair coins are the most interesting to collect. The odds of finding them are very rare.

A planchet fall inside the collar and a can coin fall on the collar, particully covering the coin. If the two are struck with the dies, you can have a mated pair. Each coin of a mated pair is each struck at least twice. Some may be struck several times.

The problem comes from finding the two pieces of the mated pair.

The odds of the two coins staying next to each other in the storage area or bin is very low. Next they must make it into the hands of a collector.

Here we will show you in detail two very special PCGS certified mated pair Lincoln cents.

PCGS called the first set of images coin 1 and the second set of images coin 2. The third set of images are the two coins placed together to form the mated pair.

This is coin 1. This coin is very unique because it has been struck three times. Once on center (red arrow), second time slightly off center and the third time off center about fifty percent (white arrow).

The second coin was struck twice. Once on center and the second time about 55% off center.

This is where the problem begins. If the two pieces do not fit together perfectly, it is not a "Mated Pair". Do not pay the price for a mated pair set unless you know what you are buy or they are certified. The finial image below shows the perfect match.

These coins were very hard to photograph because of the slab. You might look years to find a mated pair like this set.

This coin is what makes this mated pair so speical. Notice the coin flip was struck on the obverse with the reverse dies TWICE. The coin is also slightly bent, making it a saddle strike.