2020 (P) American Samoa National Park Quarter - Strike Through 001

Description

Foreign material trapped between die and planchet at the moment of striking produced this dramatic strike-through error on a 2020 Philadelphia Mint American Samoa National Park Quarter. The obstruction completely obliterates a large portion of the Samoan fruit bat's face on the reverse — a conspicuous location given that the bat is the central design element. Strike-through errors vary in severity; partial obstructions may leave faint impressions, while extensive ones like this example eliminate major design features entirely. These exist in several different die states carrying different rarities, as foreign material may shift position or fragment between successive strikes. Full bat-face strike throughs, where the obstruction covers the entire bat face, are considered moderately rare among the known population. The American Samoa quarter's distinctive wildlife design makes strike-through damage in the focal area immediately recognizable, adding to the variety's appeal among error collectors.