Which are errors, which are varieties? 1869/69 Indian Head Cent 1922 Lincoln Cent No D, Strong Reverse 1955 DDO Lincoln Cent 1972 Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Obverse 2023 Lincoln Shield Cent Extra V 1914/3 Buffalo Nickel 1937-D Buffalo Nickel 3 Legs 1938-D over S Buffalo Nickel 2005-D Jefferson Nickel Westward Journey Speared Bison 1945-S Mercury Dime Micro S 1982 Roosevelt Dime Clad No P Mintmark Strong 2004-D State & Territories Quarter WI Extra Leaf High/Low 1955 Franklin Half Bugs Bunny 1982-P Kennedy Half Dollar Clad No "FG" 1971-D Eisenhower Dollar "Friendly Eagle" 1979-P Susan B. Anthony Dollar Wide Rim 2000-P Sacagawea Dollar Wounded Eagle Presidential Dollar/Native American Dollar with Missing Edge Lettering
The 1955 Bugs Bunny is a Die Clash - Error Presidential Dollar Missing Edge Lettering - Error All the others are Varieties Here is a quick definition on the difference The difference between mint errors and varieties lies in their origins and characteristics: Mint Errors: These occur during the minting process and are typically the result of human or mechanical mistakes. Examples include off-center strikes, double strikes, and clipped planchets. Varieties: These are intentional or unintentional changes to the design of the dies used to strike coins. Varieties are often characterized by unique die markings or design alterations that occur before the coins are struck. In summary, mint errors are mistakes made during the striking process, while varieties are changes to the die itself that can be recognized before any coins are struck.
Some good websites PCGS - Varieties vs Mint Errors: What’s the Difference? NGC - Variety vs. Mint Error | NGC
They are all considered varieties, An error usually is a one-of-a-kind coin. Yes, there can be different stages of the error such as when a clash happens. But the majority of the time they happen until the problem is fixed. Many of the coins you posted are in fact errors, but the dies produced many coins that all resemble each other, making them varieties.
the 42/41 Philly was created from the working die being pressed by a 41 and a 42 hub making it also a Doubled die. Although it is an error by the US mint. There are many exact coins in the same die stage. Thus, making it a collectable variety. The 42/41 is a very common coin in circ condition. It only becomes rare in MS.
From PCGS: Mint errors are mistakes that happen during the manufacturing process. Varieties come from variations in the different dies used to strike the coins. Mint Errors Let’s start with mint errors. What are they anyway? A mint error is a mistake that happens during the manufacturing process. They are impediments or imperfections in the minting or striking process that impact the appearance of the coin. Since these are made by mistake, each error is unique, and no two will look exactly the same. PCGS certifies most of the common mint errors but we do not certify any error coins that appear to be human-made instead of mint-made. Here are a few of the common mint errors PCGS will grade: Rotated Dies – This error occurs when one of the coin dies rotates leaving the front and back of the coin unaligned. PCGS will only grade coins with a die rotation of 20 degrees or more. Mules – This error occurs when a coin is struck by mismatched dies. This means that the front of one coin is paired with the back of another or vice versa. The planchet used will tell you what denomination the coin was supposed to be. If the mule has a Lincoln Cent front and Roosevelt Dime back but was struck on a copper planchet, the coin was supposed to be a Lincoln Cent. Brockages – This error occurs when a coin is struck with another coin. This happens when a coin gets stuck to the die and strikes the next planchet. This leaves the new planchet with an incuse mirror image of the design. Broadstrikes – This error occurs when a coin is struck outside of its collar. The collar is the retaining ring in which a coin is struck, keeping it the correct diameter upon strike. When a coin is broadstruck, it expands beyond that ring or is struck without the retaining collar present, making the coin larger than intended. Off-Center Strikes – This error occurs when a planchet is not perfectly placed between the two dies and is struck off-center. These coins are unusually shaped and are always missing part of the design. The off-center percentage is determined by how much of the blank planchet is visible. For example, if you can see 40% of the planchet, the coin is 40% off-center. Wrong Planchets – A wrong planchet error occurs when a coin is struck on a planchet meant for a different coin. For example, an Eisenhower Dollar struck on a Kennedy Half Dollar planchet. Varieties Varieties are variations or slight differences in the different coin dies. They are often less obvious than mint errors and may include differently shaped mintmarks, different-sized dates, or missing elements – for example, the missing buffalo leg on the 1937 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel. Another very popular kind of variety is none other than the doubled die! PCGS recognizes most common varieties listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins, popularly known as “The Red Book.” Other varieties recognized by PCGS include: Large Cents by Sheldon and Newcomb numbers Liberty Seated Dimes by Fortin numbers Half dollars by Overton numbers Morgan and Peace Dollars by VAM numbers
