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Replies: 9 / Views: 336 |
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
I have mostly Lincoln Cents that I have separated by year/mint and I also have a lot of Quarters, Dimes and Nickels that aren't separated that I go thru somewhat when I need a break for my Lincolns. I'll pick out the die cracks/chips or anything that stands out or decent Lincolns for my album as I sort them but I don't have a certain system to really look for varieties or doubled dies. I have several thousand coins I haven't cashed in because I still have to go thru them one or more times.I need a more efficient way to search. If anyone would like to share your system or some tips, we newer members would appreciate it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
995 Posts |
I separate all my coins by type - date- -mint and year.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1513 Posts |
Separate everything by year and then go through each year using variety vista/wexlers die varieties for reference. I pretty much hunt for everything.
My best finds: 1996 DDO-001/FS-101: http://goccf.com/t/372066Two 2000 WAMs in a box: http://goccf.com/t/3752401995 DDO-001/FS-101: http://goccf.com/t/376071#32252442000-D Maryland Quarter Rotated Die http://goccf.com/t/394553
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Pillar of the Community

United States
4576 Posts |
A cheap microscope would help with eye fatigue, a good high resolution monitor. Plus a 10x magnifier glass and good light source.
Search 45 minutes and rest 15 minutes and repeat a few time.
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Valued Member
United States
255 Posts |
Good advice above and sounds like you are on the right track.
The only thing I would add is: Know what you want to look for [specialize] - It is very time-consuming to try and look for everything.
Edited by CentSation 03/07/2021 12:04 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
38421 Posts |
First thing to learn is the minting process. Then learn what to look for as to errors and varieties. Varieties and errors are the same on all denominations, once you know what to look for it doesn't matter if it is on a cent or a dime. Here is a good site to bookmark http://www.error-ref.com/I have looked through a few cents in my day and don't bother to sort by date or mint, a DDO on a coin doesn't matter what the year or MM is until you try to attribute it. John1 
( I'm no pro, it's just my humble opinion ) Searched 5+ Million Cents Since 1971
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
586 Posts |
Dearborn, you have here the previous answers which put you on the good track.
Me I wrote to you from the point of view of a collector, not like those who answer you who are specialists. Is no software errors recognition. Around you find many studies and sites who mention mint errors. Some say error, some say variety. Except post mint strike, in collecting we say errors. Variety are different die retouch or design (this is the ways the collectors look). The specialists who look those any minute have maybe different opinion, but bottom of the line will be same.
A good magnifier 20-40x 20$ (goldsmith) is ok. But I will opt for a decent approx. 100$ microscope with 7 inch screen which have camera. This will be a good depart.
Good luck
Edited by silviosi 03/07/2021 06:27 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
995 Posts |
I consider my self a collector first. Never really actively looked for errors unless they jump right out and scream "I'm here right in front of you" but I think I would like to start finding some of those rarities
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1980 Posts |
All of the above are excellent ideas. The thing I'm going to advise is something, as a collector, you may have already done. Assimilate a reference collection of normal coins of the type , dates and mints you intend to search. As you begin to investigate the fine details of each coin and think you might have found a die anomaly, this reference collection will be the learning tool you use to determine if a coin warrants further investigation.
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
Thanks for the replies everyone. Dearborn and silviosi, I guess I'm a collector, I don't know enough to be a specialist by no means. Some of the die cracks are interesting for instance the shattered skull. SamCoin, I do use sites from Copper Coins to Wexlers and recently found on Mad Die Clashes overlays for the Lincoln Cent. That's very useful. macmercury and stoneman227, I have a USB microscope that helps a ton. My computer screen allows me to lean back in comfort while looking at the coin. The software allows me to take pictures which allows me to toggle between the coin I just took a picture of and a coin on the scope to see any small difference between the two. The taking breaks is something I need to do more often, thanks for that tip. CentSation, I probably will specialize in the future. I've just started coin collecting a couple of years ago and I'm finding that it's kind of relaxing. Besides it proves that my wife still needs me because she's always wanting me to stop what I'm doing to do something for her. John1, Yes, that is a very good tip. Coop has a lot of good information on the minting process. I save replies from coop to CCF members questions. I think he just started where he can take the members posted coin pic, use arrows to highlight what he sees and explains what he sees to inform the poster. How cool is that.
Edited by Durwood 03/07/2021 09:15 am
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Replies: 9 / Views: 336 |
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