A Indent (IND) is a coin variety in the "Strike Errors" group. It results from an anomaly during the striking process at the United States Mint. Coins exhibiting this error carry distinct diagnostic markers that distinguish them from normal strikes and are actively collected by error and variety specialists.

How does a Indent occur?

A Indent occurs due to a malfunction during the actual striking of the coin, such as misalignment of the planchet, multiple impacts, or improper seating in the collar. Once the affected die enters a production run, every coin it strikes carries the same diagnostic markers until the die is retired or replaced.

How do I identify a Indent?

Look for design elements that are off-center, partially missing, overlapping from a second strike, or show evidence that the coin was not properly seated during striking. For confirmed Indent varieties, cross-reference the coin against the NumisDex catalog entry which lists known die markers and attribution details.

Are Indent coins valuable?

Value depends on the specific die variety, the prominence of the error, the coin's grade, and collector demand. Some Indent varieties are common and modestly priced, while others — especially early die states or dramatic examples — can command significant premiums. Check recent auction records and price guides for the specific variety.

Where can I find Indent varieties in the NumisDex catalog?

You can browse all known Indent varieties on NumisDex by visiting the catalog and filtering by the "Indent" error type. Each listing includes attribution details, die markers, and images when available.

Indent (IND)

An indent error occurs when two planchets overlap in the striking chamber and one is pressed into the other during the strike. The overlapping planchet leaves a featureless depression on the coin beneath it, a smooth area following the outline of the intruding planchet. The indented coin keeps its normal design in the area struck directly by the die, but the portion covered by the second planchet shows only a blank, pressed-in surface with no design detail.

Indents are closely related to brockage errors, with one key distinction. In a brockage, the overlapping piece is a previously struck coin that transfers its design into the planchet. In an indent, the overlapping piece is an unstruck blank or planchet, so it leaves only a featureless depression. Mike Diamond notes that the hobby reserves "indent" for this case, defining it as "an impression of another planchet that does not completely block the die face." A depression left by any other object counts as a struck-through error.

How Does It Happen?

The automated feeding system in a modern coin press delivers individual planchets into the collar between the dies; the U.S. Mint gives a rate of about 750 coins per minute for a circulating-coin press (search). An indent needs two planchets in the striking chamber at once, one partly covering the other.

The mechanics of an indent unfold as follows:

Double feed: Two planchets enter the striking chamber at the same time. One sits in the collar (or close to it), while the second partly overlaps it, lying between it and one of the dies.
The dies close: The face of the lower planchet that touches a die directly receives the design. On the other face, the overlapping area is blocked by the second planchet.
Impression transfer: The second planchet is pressed into the first planchet's surface, creating a depression. Because the second planchet is a blank disc with no design, the depression is smooth and featureless.
Both pieces eject: The indented coin emerges as an indent error. The planchet that caused it, struck by a die on one face and pressed against the other planchet on the other, typically becomes a uniface strike; Diamond pairs every indent with an off-center uniface strike as its mate.

Diamond adds that indents occur on obverse or reverse, and on the first strike or a later one. The size of the indent depends on how much the two planchets overlapped. A planchet lying nearly centered over another produces a large indent covering most of the coin; when the overlying planchet fully covers a centered coin, the result is called a centered uniface strike or "full indent." A planchet barely overlapping the edge produces a small, crescent-shaped indent.

How to Identify an Indent

Indent errors have several distinctive diagnostic features:

Curved depression: The indent is a smooth depression whose outline follows the planchet that caused it. On a cent indented by another cent planchet, the curve is that of a cent-size disc.
Featureless surface: The indented area shows no design detail. This distinguishes an indent from a brockage, which shows a mirror-image design impression in the depression.
Normal design in the unaffected area: The portion of the coin not covered by the overlapping planchet shows a normal, struck design.
Defined boundary: The edge of the indent typically shows a clear border where the overlapping planchet's edge was pressed into the coin's surface.
Metal flow at the edges: Around the perimeter of the indent, the coin's metal may show slight distortion where the striking pressure pushed metal aside.

Same-Denomination vs. Wrong-Denomination Indents

Many indents are caused by a planchet of the same denomination as the struck coin, a cent planchet indenting another cent, for example. These same-denomination indents show a depression matching the host coin's diameter.

Wrong-denomination indents occur when a smaller planchet meant for a different denomination finds its way into the press and lies between a die and the larger planchet. Error-Ref describes this as an indent by a smaller planchet: the smaller "indenter" is pressed into the larger planchet and leaves a circular impression. A dime planchet lying on a quarter planchet in the quarter press produces a smaller circle than the quarter itself.

Notable Examples

Cent-on-Cent Indents

Lincoln cents are struck in larger numbers than any other U.S. coin, so cent-on-cent indents are the examples collectors most often encounter. Cent indents with the date and mint mark visible in the unaffected area can be attributed to a specific year and mint.

Quarter Indents

Indented Washington quarters are known. Error-Ref illustrates a 1998-P Washington quarter indented by a cent planchet and a Bicentennial quarter struck with a dime planchet in the striking chamber alongside the quarter planchet.

Multi-Denomination Indents

Indents from planchets of other denominations, such as the cent and dime planchets in quarters above, are recognizable because the size of the depression does not match the host coin. The mismatch shows that planchets of two denominations were present in the press together.

Double and Triple Indents

When three or more planchets overlap in the press, a coin can show two or more indent impressions, sometimes overlapping one another.

Collecting Tips

Coverage percentage: Indents are described by the approximate percentage of the coin's surface covered by the depression.
Depth: A deep, clearly defined indent is easier to read than a shallow, barely perceptible one. Depth reflects how much striking pressure reached the coin through the overlapping planchet.
Date visibility: As with off-center strikes, an indent that leaves the date in the unaffected area allows attribution to a specific year.
Look for the companion piece: The planchet that caused an indent becomes a uniface strike of its own, so every indent had a mate that left the press with it.
Check the size of the depression: When the indent does not match the host coin's diameter, a planchet of another denomination caused it.
Authentication through PCGS or NGC: Grading services attribute indent errors on the holder label. Encapsulation provides authentication and protects the coin from further damage.

Indent