Definition

• Dropped Letter.  A letter or figure flaked off of one coin, dropped onto the blank of another and impressed into its surface during striking. Such an anomaly is an impressed error. Its flaking off is due to any of several reasons, alloy imperfection, lamination error or such. The lettering in a legend is the largest source of these flakes because this is where the metal stress is the greatest. The flake is work hardened and when it falls between die and blank it is easily impressed into the softened blank. Each dropped letter coin is unique and quite rare; however if it could be paired up with the piece which furnished the flake it would be rarer yet.  See flakes, flaking; impressed error.
  Reference:                                                                                                                                   
  NM19 {1991} Margolis, p 331-334.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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