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 Replies: 9 / Views: 950 |
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Valued Member
United States
405 Posts |
I've always been curious how folks like CONECA, wexler, Charles, etc. settle on a certain error being a new varietal vs either a one-time error (like MD) or a variation on an existing varietal due to wear or damage to a die encountered throughout it's life. Feel free to point me to a guide / FAQ on this topic and I'll happily read it.
Also, I notice that most varietals have both a obverse and reverse set of markers. Is it always the case that the same die will be used together throughout their life, or it it just so common that markers on the opposite side of the error are still valuable?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1915 Posts |
First off, an error is a one time occurrence. No two errors are exactly the same. Secondly, a variety is present on the working die from the moment it started minting coins. Therefore every coin made with that die will have the exact same variety. Different stages of that variety can be seen through polishing of the die, presence of chips, cracks, scratches and the like, but the variety will still be there. Dies can be changed depending on wear and tear. Say there is an obverse doubled die that was paired with a late stage reverse. That reverse may change if needed without changing out the obverse in which the variety occurred. You will see the evidence of this by the different stages of wear on the obverse as compared with that on the reverse. This is not something you can expect to grasp and fully understand. I have been doing this for years and still learn new things all the time.
Edited by seal006
01/16/2013 3:03 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
405 Posts |
Quote:
This is not something you can expect to grasp and fully understand. On the contrary, your explanation was clear, concise, and answered all my questions. I have a much better understanding now. Thank you! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1915 Posts |
You are quite welcome. I would love to have been a little more detailed in my answer, but I am afraid it would have been long winded. Some might have found it a bit boring. Thus I just hit the high points.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
seal006 made some great points concisely.It is so important to understand the difference between errors and varieties. It all is quite misunderstood by most new collectors. I hate the fact that they are often lumped together as error/varieties when they really have absolutely nothing to do with each other...I wish Chuck were here to rant on the subject...  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1915 Posts |
Also remember there is a difference between "die" variety and "design" variety. Die varieties were not intended to be on the die, they are anomalies. Whereas design varieties are not anomalies at all, the are just a difference in design. Like Wide AM cents. These were die designs intended for the use in proofs not circulation, there for a design variety. But a 1955 doubled die obverse was not an actually intended design on that die, but happened anyway, therefore a die variety. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Thanks for the very good explanations.  So....say somebody finds a die variety or design variety and it's not in the books...what happens next? |
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Valued Member
United States
405 Posts |
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..I wish Chuck were here to rant on the subject... Is he still around? I remember him being super active when I was active back in 2008/2009. Quote:
...say somebody finds a die variety or design variety and it's not in the books...what happens next? They are dismissed as quacks. Everything has been discovered already, duh.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1915 Posts |
Edited by seal006
01/16/2013 6:57 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 950 |
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Posted 01/16/2013 2:52 pm
