New Lincolns, New Coins & A Bit of Ranting~

clembo · 06-25-2009, 11:09 PM

Howdy folks! Clembo's a bit ornery tonight - what can I say? Figured I'd share it with y'all.

It concerns the new Lincoln Cents and SO many modern coins for that matter. Be advised I don't collect these nor do I really plan to. Everyone has their own tastes.

Oh, the rant? It's errors and the frequency of same. Is there at least one error on EVERY U.S. coin made these days? At times it seems there are several to me. Usually they are just plain miniscule and mass produced.

How many LP2 die doubling errors are there now? This on a brand new coin with state of the art technology?

Today my boss asked me why I hadn't mentioned a big die crack on a Lincoln as pictured in CoinWorld I believe. My response? - because I don't care.
There are so many "errors" on modern stuff it can make your head spin. Most require magnification. They are minor yet heavily "published" in coin mags.
Show me some real errors for a change. The last I remember was the 2008 reverse of 07 silver eagle. At least one doesn't need a loupe to see it.

Some type of "error" found on almost every Presidential dollar and coins of the quarter program as well. Now it's the Lincolns.

So why don't I hear about teeny errors on the other coins as much? Is it because the buyer base isn't really there as much?

The mint is producing a lot of shoddy coins folks. I sell the "big in demand" coins all day and the quality is absolutely horrible IMHO.

People will pay crazy money for an MS67 2009 Lincoln and, although I wouldn't, I can actually see why to an extent. True high grade coins are scarce.

How many Lincolns will be found with an "extra finger" that one can see at 20x magnification? How much will people pay for that "error".

The quality of coins being minted, the coverage of "errors" and what people will pay for them is becoming a joke to me.

Give me real errors. A Lincoln I'd like? 1955 DDO.

My rant is through for now.

clembo

coleguy · 06-25-2009, 11:20 PM

I agree, Clembo. I think it's just the hype of the new coins that drive people to find errors where none really are, and elevate common errors to the point of super-stardom. Like with the multitude of "errors" that plagued every single issue of State Quarter dollar, the fad will die and the prices for such rubbish will die with it.
Guy~

Arizona Jack · 06-25-2009, 11:22 PM

Well said Clembo, I am with you on this one. Modern Shmoderns.

Cloudsweeper99 · 06-25-2009, 11:26 PM

Clembo, you are right again.

BadThad · 06-25-2009, 11:39 PM

One thing to consider is, for example, some people probably said the same thing in 1955. I do agree the modern stuff is not all that exciting, but it has it's place in numismatics, namely for the future. Perhaps in 50 years collectors will be excited about today's moderns and their errors, varieties, die cracks, etc. Perhaps by then, mintages will be in the trillions and it will make these billions seem collectible. Who really knows. Don't abandon all hope for moderns.

desertgem · 06-26-2009, 12:04 AM

If the mint orders for the LP1 ( which I just got from the bank and trades myself) I probably wouldn't have ordered any LP2 from the mint, but I did, and I must admit, had a great time looking for DDR in the P rolls. There were enough to get the adrenalin going! But that was when I thought maybe 3 or 4 different ones, but now that there are 13 or so, the excitement has died down a little.NOw if they just didn't have the spots on them.

Jim

kanga · 06-26-2009, 08:28 AM

To borrow a term from philatelics, I place most of the modern "errors" in the "flyspeck" numismatics category.
Extra fingers on Lincoln.
Wavy steps, doubled knees, etc. on the Memorial reverse.
Extra trees on Minnesota(?) state quarters.

Buy one and it will cost you.
Try and sell one and no go.

C Jay · 06-26-2009, 10:42 AM

I'm a modern collector. I do most of my shopping at the mint. I like shinny, new, and as close to perfect as I can get. I agree with you, in that if you can not see it with the naked eye, then I don't give it much value. Today's e-bay frenzy is tomorrow's die sets and varieties, and only time will make that distinction. I'm also in the process of renovating a 90 year old house and I say to myself, wouldn't it be cool if I open up a wall space and find a bunch of Morgans or Barbers. But then again, someone has to put them there.

**green18** · 06-26-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizona Jack

Well said Clembo, I am with you on this one. Modern Shmoderns.

Ah, but look at all the new collectors being drawn to the hobby because of all the "hype" and Shmoderns......

houston3204 · 06-26-2009, 11:10 AM

I hear ya clembo!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Carl · 06-26-2009, 11:43 AM

AHHH. So no one is aware of the Mint's latest promotion ideas. In the US Mint there is a new branch or department. It is called MESS. This department is responible for the creation, distribution, notification to the public about Mint Error Coins. MESS stands for Mint Error Secret Service. These people infiltrate coin forums, such as this one, and use all sorts of tactics to promote the error coins thier department has created.
Haven't you ever wandered just how it is that the second an error coin is noted, that information pops up everywhere and people scramble like idiots to find them. The MESS department strikes again.

**GDJMSP** · 06-26-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clembo

There are so many "errors" on modern stuff it can make your head spin. Most require magnification. They are minor yet heavily "published" in coin mags.
Show me some real errors for a change.

clembo

Do you know why ? Because they have to write about something to keep their jobs, and quite honestly they don't have much else to write about.

houston3204 · 06-26-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Carl

AHHH. So no one is aware of the Mint's latest promotion ideas. In the US Mint there is a new branch or department. It is called MESS. This department is responible for the creation, distribution, notification to the public about Mint Error Coins. MESS stands for Mint Error Secret Service. These people infiltrate coin forums, such as this one, and use all sorts of tactics to promote the error coins thier department has created.
Haven't you ever wandered just how it is that the second an error coin is noted, that information pops up everywhere and people scramble like idiots to find them. The MESS department strikes again.

JustCarl...I thought this post was great......

mark_h · 06-26-2009, 02:24 PM

I agree Clembo. And the worst part is I find myself searching my change for some of these things. I think they are great to find, but would not pay for one. Actually I feel the same about certain varieties on older coins. I will hunt and cherry pick, but have no plans to pay for them.

Ripley · 06-26-2009, 04:09 PM

I really love the old Lincoln Towncars from the 1990's.... Traci

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