1912 Indian Quarter Eagle (1912 $2.50 Indian) PCGS AU55, Mint Error. 1912 $2.50 Mint Error 10% Off-Center PCGS AU55. Gleaming luster flashes from within the incuse devices of this outstanding quarter eagle error coin. A couple of obverse marks in the field, one on the cheek, some reverse bag marks, and very light wear keep this coin from a mint state grade. The strike is strong on the reverse and somewhat weaker on the portrait and the lower feathers on the obverse. An off-center error takes place when the planchet, the unstruck coin with a raised edge, is not held properly by the collar in the coining chamber. As the hammer die strikes, the planchet receives the impression on both sides but since it is not held securely, the design is off-centered. In the case of the present coin, the design was ten percent off-center. Both sides of the coin are off-center at the same point of contact. Sometimes a coin can be struck out of the collar and receive the entire design. This type of error is called a broadstrike, which is characterized by the planchet usually being enlarged and the absence of reeding. The distinction between a broadstrike and an off-centered coin is that to be considered off-centered, some part of the design must be missing.

Error specialists describe off-center errors by the percentage of design missing as well as the errors position on the clock. The current coin is a 10% off-center at 8 oclock.

In general misstruck error coins are unusual; however, a misstruck gold coin is extremely rare. PCGS has encapsulated 4002 1912 quarter eagles in all grades, but only a miniscule number of them are major errors.