Variety Reporting

We are interested at https://www.coppercoins.com if you have Lincoln cents that need to be reported, however, we have not yet begun to really explore the other series of US coins. At some point this year we hope to be able to publish https://www.uscoinvarieties.com where we will have open areas for all the different series of US coins where collectors can view known dies and report those yet unknown.

As of present our attribution service is closed down so we can work on the new version of the site, and like I said, the other site - but don't let that discourage you from at least joining up on the forum over there and sharing what you do have.

I understand your frustration with the general lack of interest across the board from many of the "experts" but don't let that get you down. Most of them are frustrated themselves because we at coppercoins.com have managed to publish more photos of die varieties to the web than all of their books combined - and it only took us 5 years to do it.

Thanks for your answers... Interesting. And both 'hint' at the reasons for my frustration(s).

For some time, I have been putting together a book -illustrated listing- of marking from a specialized niche in philately. I found many experienced collectors were un-willing to provide photocopies of what they have in their collections, but readily asked when my project would be ready (so they could order).

To me, there's an amazing 'resource' of errors -apparently ignored- on auction sites, especially now that collectors, sellers, and shysters are attempting to sell what they have by producing reasonably decent images. Given that downloading an image from an ebay listing isn't as possible as it once was, certainly an inquiry/request of the seller to email an image outside of ebay would help flesh-out an archive of error coins. Has anyone tapped this resource?

Perhaps the biggest 'eye-opener' was when I offered super close-ups to the author of an 'error coin publication' - an error not listed/shown in the publication, only to receive a reply that he wasn't interested.
So, Dave and 'Coppercoins'...if you desire, I'll send such images to you to do with what you want.
Randy

Not intending or meaning to be picky here, there is a difference between an error, variety, and die variety. If what you have are errors, I respectfully submit that I have no interest in errors. If they are varieties or die varieties, I am keenly interested in them. There is another thread in this topic that explains the differences.

I do not "define" what the coins are. They are already defined by being what they are. I did not come up with any definitions, I only teach the differences and definitions that have been around since I was very little and first started learning them - there are definitely differences. Those who do not want to learn and use the terms properly end up shortening their marketing possibilities for what they have, because there are definitely people who will look at one with interest, and pass the others by because of lack of interest.

I guess you would have to specialize in die varieties or errors and have fifty people a week email you about the other thinking they were contacting the right person and have to explain it to all of them week after week, month after month. Then you might understand how people that carry the attitude about it that you are showing by crossing terms is at the very least confusing if not slightly upsetting. And I, for one, do not think it is "okay" to start crossing terms myself just because the majority don't want to educate themselves. I think the difference is very clear, very easy to understand, and very important.

Just imagine being a trained auto technician who knows all there is to know about car engines, yet people keep calling you about motorcycles day in and day out just to hear you repeat yourself time and time again that you work on cars only. I'm sure you could see that it would get tiring quickly. Those who carried the attitude that they all have engines so they're the same thing would probably upset you if you had to spend so much time explaining the difference to them. I can tell you that there are a lot of us who consider "errors" to be synonymous with "mint floor scrap metal" and couldn't care less about them. You bring a doubled die into the mix and call it an "error" and you're killing your own market for it.

Bottom line...if you want to sell something you have to call it by the right name if you want to maximize your returns. I would be happy to look at any die varieties you have - doubled dies, repunched dates or mintmarks. You can keep the errors, I don't mess with them.

As for cataloging them, most errors cannot be cataloged. They are sorted and sold by type only, because there is no knowledge of exactly what was made and when. Only die varieties and type varieties are cataloged because each individual coin can be traced back to the die that made it, and it can be compared to other coins from the same die. That's one of the big differences between die varieties and errors.

I'm not trying to be crass, and I'm not trying to make anyone feel small. I'm simply explaining that there is a definite difference, and in the topic you posted the difference is everything.

I'm not sure what you mean by your post other than the last statement, which has no relevance at all with my responses to you. Yes, I do have PTSD - anyone who has dealt with seeing the number of dead people I have would have it, especially when it involves one's own co-workers, friends and small children. After losing two marriages to it and nearly committing suicide three times I finally dealt with it and have been in treatment for two years....but what does this have to do with calling coins by their proper term so as to receive a proper answer with regard to who should be cataloging them? You ask about cataloging errors - it doesn't happen. If you're asking about cataloging die varieties, then call them die varieties. That much should be simple enough.

The resource I authored and developed is the only online resource for reporting die varieties and having them published for all to see. That same resource does not deal with errors at all, because most errors cannot be classified or cataloged by die and assigned die numbers. If you have die varieties you would like to see published, then I welcome you to contact me or Bob Piazza who works with me to describe what you have.

If you have errors to report, you'll have to find the source to report them - I don't know of one, nor do I really look into such matters. Rich Schemmer or Fred Weinberg, maybe even Mike Byers might be able to point you in the right direction for error information, but I cannot.

If you have die varieties, we would be the only source likely to help you. If you have errors, we would not be the source because we don't catalog them. It's really that simple.

C.D.,
RE: PTSD There is a 'tone' in your writing/replies with which I am familiar. Comment not meant as discussion topic.

Just a few moments ago, I went to your site (at suggestion of another 'error' collector) to find a 1937 Lincoln doubled-date marking. Found only one image -not date.

If you access https://www.home.jps.net/~pmarche/Ic1937dd.jpg, you're welcome to use it, but tell me if it is an RPD, or DDO please. [Cap 'I' in URL]

Randy