2022 (P) Maya Angelou Quarter - Strike Through 001

Description

First documented strike-through error on the 2022 Philadelphia Maya Angelou Quarter, this variety preserves an impression left when foreign material became trapped between the die and planchet during striking. Strike-through errors occur when debris — grease, metal filings, cloth fragments, or other contaminants — interposes itself at impact, preventing the die from fully impressing its design onto the affected area. The resulting impression varies depending on the material, ranging from smooth depressions to textured imprints mirroring the intruding object's surface. Retained strike-throughs of this type are considered fairly uncommon but are documented across various denominations. The Maya Angelou Quarter was the inaugural issue in the American Women Quarters program running from 2022 through 2025, featuring the celebrated poet and civil rights activist with outstretched arms against a bird in flight and rising sun. As the first cataloged strike-through for this issue, it demonstrates how production contaminants can disrupt the striking process even on modern Philadelphia Mint coinage.