Overstrike (numismatics)

In numismatics, an overstrike describes a situation in which an existing coin rather than a blank is struck with a new design.

Overstriking was sometimes done for technical reasons when a first strike is unsatisfactory, or accidentally if the blank slips out of place or if the dies judder, resulting in a slight doubling of the design.

In the ancient world, use of overstrikes was not uncommon, since the manufacture of flans was resource consumptive; thus a foreign or outdated coin could be overstruck with less investment than new mintage.

[1] Evidence of overstriking appears as early as about 500 BC when coins of Aegina were overstruck by the ancient city of Kydonia on Crete.

[3] Due to a shortage of silver coinage and bullion in late-18th century Great Britain, the Bank of England in 1804 issued Bank of England Dollars bearing the image and legend of king George III and valued at five shillings; these were produced by Soho Mint on their modern, steam-powered coining presses by overstriking Spanish silver dollars.