Varieties/Error Coins, A Hobby In Itself...

WoW! I would never thunk it.What a shame.Don't people realize If not caring for var./err.s It's like throwing money away?

I would think it would be even smaller, like less than 5%. You have to realize that coin collecting is one of the biggest and oldest hobbies in history. Sure most collectors will know about the monster 1955 DDO and maybe the 1972, but beyond that, a majority of collectors haven't a clue. Kind of makes you feel like you are part of some secret society.

I suspect there are not many doing this either. I got into the error/variety thing with coins because I like finding the tiny little differences. I think it started when I was collecting stamps, and you had to check perferation sizes, watermarks, and tiny engraving differences to determine if it was worth 20c or $200. It just sort of carried over into coins for me.

Dave

Here's my 2 cents (with die chips),

Big, obvious errors seem to be the most popular. Small errors like small die chips, small laminations, small off center strikes and other common errors don't command a big premium. Like they say, FOLLOW THE MONEY. This is a great part of the hobby that a person with a limited budget could get into. Many of the error coins can be found in circulation so this really keeps your overhead way down. I save most because they are fun to find and nice to look at. Usually, no two are the exactly the same.

I also think we need to understand varieties vs. errors. I collect die varieties but have no interest whatsoever in errors. I agree the "major" varieties, ones listed in the Red Book are collected more. Those people that try to collect every variety in a series or date are rare. For example I know someone who is putting together a set of all vams for 1878. Errors are typically one of strikes and are really just damaged coins. Damaged during the minting process but damaged none the less....imo.

Yes,there are tons of books to look for.Check out Fred Weinberg.Check on his Website.Of course,don't forget The Cherry Picker's Guide.I would say, keep searching online,though.

amida17 succinctly expressed my thoughts. While I will actively collect varieties, the only error I have purchased is my avatar because I HAD to have it.

Varieties I will collect to a certain extent. I say that because there are some series that have so many varieties that it seems like overkill to me...especially if I have to look under a microscope to see the variety.

I like looking at errors because they educate me in the minting process but I do not actively collect them. So error collectors keep posting - you are giving me a first class education!