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Box 239


A very well enjoyed hunt! Key date and some nice silver. Also a few errors. I usually never keep the die chips where the "o" in Monticello is filled as they are very common. But it was the last coin of the box hunt and I decided to keep it.

1-1950P
1-Silver 1944D
3-Errors 2017P Die Chips and a 2006P
1-Foreign 1996 Canada
2-AU/BU 1971P and a 1982D
13-Common 50s
4-Common 40s
9-2009D

 

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2005 Bison Errors.


I want to take some time and post some very interesting errors that can be found for this coin. I have yet to find any of these in the wild.

As some of you are aware they minted the bison reverse for just one year. That being said these errors I will be presenting are very rare. The prices every year get higher and higher!

These are indeed on my bucket list. Over 15 years hunting for these and still no luck. These photos are jaw dropping (well for some folks that love nickels) and are from different websites I would like to share with y'all.


First one below is the Die Clash error. Extremely rare. I have only seen one sold on eBay. And there aren't many photos available. This is a nice close up of the die clash and gives you a idea of what to look for.




Keep in mind there are different stages to a die clash. You may be lucky and find one in its early stage where the first arrow on the right side is the only thing shown on the coin. This early stage will have just a straight line under the bisons chest. Still rare and valuable. But! If you find one exactly like the picture you hit the jackpot!


Next is one we are very familiar with. The speared bison. This coin every year is getting higher. Especially the ones with high grades. This error is easy to see with the naked eye. This will also come in different stages. Some will see the "spear" just from the rim to the back. Very nice examples will go right on thru the bison like below.



Next is its little brother. The "wounded bison". This coin is cheaper but still a very nice find. I have seen examples run thru the back end of the bison (like in the photo below) or on the head. These are still very hard to find CRH. But if you get one cherish that feeling!!!




Now this next one is very cool. The "Two Horned" Bison. This one depending on your eyes you might be able to catch it. But for us older folks you might need a 10X loop. It really does look like part of the design and thats why I like it a lot!




Next is its lesser known brother. The little horn is just a tad bit low to be considered a "two horned".





Now this one we are all pretty much informed about. The disconnected leg. This is also a coin going up in value with decent grades. You can spot this with just the naked eye. Another one I would love to find in the wild!




Now this one is kinda hard to spot. A nice little die gouge. You can see where it disconnects from the original design. For someone like me i need a loop for this one




Next is more of a defected planchet error. You can see the roller marks on the coin. Under the coin design. Once again a very hard coin to find. But if there is one there are more!




Next is a very interesting error. This has led the bison to appearing bald. Has a smooth forehead and the rest of the body is fine. Only seen a few of these as well.





Now this final one is truly remarkable. I saved it for last because I love rotated die errors. And as you can see there is a very nice example for the bison. This coin was found by one of our members on this forum. Between the die clash and this one. It is hard for me to choose.





In conclusion.

These errors can be found for both Philly and Denver minted types. But regardless please check your bisons. You may have a little surprise waiting for you!

 

Box 240


Well we are approaching the half way point. This box was a very fun hunt. Nothing like a nice double silver box! That 2006 struck thru is a very nice piece with no mint mark.

2-Silver 1943P and a 1945D
1-1938P
1-1942D
4-Errors 1981D Clipped Planchet, 2005D Reverse Die Chip, 2006P Reverse Die Chip, and a 2006 Struck thru
3-AU/BU 1960D,1978D,and a 1980D
6-Common 50s
10-Common 40s
10-2009D

 

2006-Present Modern DDO/DDRs


Before I post my next box on here I want you guys to take a look at this new discovery I found. It is not on variety vista. It is also not on eBay or anywhere else. It is a 2015D DDR. None as well on Brian's Variety either. Check photos below.









Now as some of you guys are aware the Philadelphia mint isn't known for their amazing quality. It seems like most modern DDO/DDRs come from Philly. In fact almost all of them are from philly and it is rare to find the Denver mint slipping up.


I bring this up because like I stated before ALWAYS CHECK YOUR COINS PROPERLY!


Most individuals won't check DDRs on new Denver minted coins because they see it as a waste of time. Look how long it took me to find this DDR. 240 boxes done and I now have one. It was well worth it to me. To find a new discovery is the best feeling. Now I'm not saying this is the only one that exists I'm sure there are collectors out there that might have one.


My point to this post is there are great coins to be found. It just takes a little time.


Below are some very nice modern DDRs courtesy of Variety Vista. All are from the Philly mint (no surprise there) and as long as they keep their standards low in quality it keeps my optimism high!

 

Nice! Good finds! I'm from ,Michigan. I'm gonna get them. Before you!

 

Now thats a great find

 

Box 241


Man oh man! What a insane box hunt. Pretty much a little of everything in this one!


1-Buffalo 1936
3-Errors 2015D DDR,2017P Die Chip Reverse, and a 2010P Die Crack Reverse
1-Silver 1945D
1-1950P
1-2009P
4-Foreigns 2006 Borwa,2014 and 17 Mexican Peso,and a 2007 Canada
3-AU/BU 1980D,1981D,and a 1984D
13-Common 50s
5-Common 40s
6-2009D

 

That makes a dozen 1936 P's. The highest mintage Buffalo by a lot!

I have a number of the modern DDRs that are not attributed (or weren't when I was CRH) but fun to find especially for a simple flip. I'm always looking for a clash anyway!

 

Box 242

A very nice box. I had a little bit of a run in on that 44P Silver. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out if possibly it was struck on a non silver planchet. Of course this would be a huge error. I weighed it and bounced it off a table to hear that "Ping" noise if it was silver. It still bothers me and I have it off to the side. I'm going to say judging by the strike it is the correct 35% Silver planchet. And on another note a very nice struck thru on Jeffersons face. The bridge of the nose and part of his face is missing on that 1974D!

2-Silver 1943S and a 1944P
2-Errors 1984P and a 1974D
1-AU/BU 1978P
8-Common 50s
5-Common 40s
8-2009D

 

Improperly Annealed.


Want to take a little time today and talk about a beautiful error coin. This coin has yet to be found by me. Hopefully one shows up!


Now this error has a lot to do with the color of the coin. A improperly annealed error can be many colors. Yellow,Pink,Red, and even black. In fact one of the most famous nickels that was improperly annealed was the 1959 "Black Beauty". Now keep in mind a "Black Beauty" can also be found in different dates. Not just the 1959.


The value of this coin depends on how much of the coin is colored. It can be a small part of the coin on just one side or it can be the entire coin both obverse and reverse. The coins with beautiful pink and red on both sides will command a higher premium.


Now the tricky part. Determining whether your coin is PMD or a error.

Supposedly one of the ways you can tell if you have one depends on the edges. If the edges look like a normal nickel and you have some pink or red coloring on the coin that appears like the pictures I have provided below you may have one.

Another one is the coloring caused by the improperly annealing should not affect the mint luster surrounding the color in anyway.


The photos listed below are some examples on ebay. As you can tell the annealing is different on each coin. I chose only photos that are graded by PCGS or NGC to insure accuracy.



This coin has a very nice copper color. Notice the rim break at the top left of this coin.





This example obove pretty much covers the entire reverse. Very beautiful!




A nice solid annealing error. Love the fact the color is even throughout the coin.




I wanted to post this one do to it not looking like the others. As you can tell this error can be different. It can happen to the whole coin or patches here and there.




You will find quite a few like this one with a dark spot right in the middle. It can happen to both obverse and reverse




But don't be fooled! It doesnt have to be so strong and evident. This example has some nice coloring around the edges. But the reverse is strong in color with also the black spot in the middle below.





And of course this is the "Black Beauty" I was referencing to. But this error comes in different dates. Not just the 59.


And finally below my favorite. Super rich dark copper coloring on both sides. And its the 2005 Bison!!!








In conclusion.


This error by far is another on my bucket list to find. If you pull a nice example you are looking at a decent payday. But if it was me id send that bad boy into grading and just stare at it everyday!!!

 

Box 243


Not a bunch of finds but some interesting ones.


2-Errors 1966 Minor Die Clash,2005P Multiple Die Chips reverse
1-2009P also with a bunch of Die Chips Obverse and Reverse
2-AU/BU 1970D and a 1989D
9-Common 50s
6-Common 40s
5-2009D

 

So I don't know what the odds are of this happening. I just posted yesterday about the annealing error. Maybe it was good karma. But this just happened on the last tray of nickels.
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I can't get the camera to pick up the bright copper color this thing gives off. I will try to take better photos. It definitely is pretty close.

 

Some better pictures. The coin on the right is for comparison. I dont know guys. It lools like one to me. Ive pulled a handful of black beauty. But none with that beautiful copper mint luster!!!!

The luster on it is so bright it reflects my phone on the bottom left of the coin!

 

If you are not sure don't toss it back!



I want to talk about something I feel is very important to any CRH. I have gotten private messages and comments on here regarding coins people have found and they don't realize what they have and toss it back.


If you find something that appears to be a error or the coin looks off to you JUST KEEP IT!


I have personally read threads where a bunch of so called "experts" will state the coin appears to be post mint damage. The person posting the coin in question would then dump the coin not realizing they have something huge.

But I have read other threads where the individual just doesnt believe its PMD and decides to send it out to get looked at by a real well known numismatic error expert. The coin comes back a DDR or a DDO new discovery.


I bring this up because I recently got a message about some coins a member on here found. He really didnt think nothing of it and tossed them back. I informed him what he described to me sounded like a DDR and to hold on to these next time.


So now comes my turn. As you guys know I believe I found my first improperly annealed error. But I will not count it to the master list. Im just not 100% that it is a improperly annealed error. Even though all the attributes appear there. Im just not sure.


That being said I will not throw it back into circulation. But it will be put into a roll with a "?" Symbol on it.

I have about three full rolls of these. Over the years If I found something that was just to odd. Or im just not 100% sure. Then it gets put into a "?" Roll.




In conclusion


Remember if you find something strange and you feel it is not PMD. Just keep it to the side. Now a lot of us on this forum are very educated in errors but this doesnt automatically qualify us as "experts".

Always remember it's just going to cost you 5 cents to hold onto it. Or whatever denomination you are collecting. Better safe than sorry.

 

Box 244


This was the box I found the improperly annealed error in. But unfortunately since I am not 100% sure it is one. It will be put to the side for now.

1-Silver 1943P
2-Proofs 1974 and a 1994
1-1939P
2-Foreign 1993 Peso and a 1995 Canada
1-AU/BU 1967
10-Common 50s
6-Common 40s
8-2009D

 

Your 74S reminds me of my first impaired proof which was a 75S. It was so well circulated that the proof luster was long gone; looked like a circulation strike except for the S. But that 1967 is my favorite from this box. It's hard to find a 1967 with well defined pillars.

 

Absolutely true. Some of those 50s and 60s philly coins go for some ridiculous money if you can pull a MS67 6FS.


Even though that proof is worn down it still has just a little mirror finish around the sides. I had to do a double take and use the loop. The mint mark has some damage on it. Probably one of the most worn proofs I've pulled. Glad I saved it.

 

So I have a question - Do anomalies like doubled-dies, die breaks, date varieties, planchet annealing, and other things you have shown above actually add monetary value to a coin, or is it mostly just the fun of the hunt and discovery - the 1955D doubled Lincoln not withstanding? I don't carefully inspect every millimeter of every coin. The only errors I really look for are the more obvious (and more published) ones on the state/territory/park quarters, because I do a lot of CRH on those. Oh yeah - 1955 Lincolns too.

 

The Red Book calls out a number of the more obvious and historically accepted Varieties. Doubled dies, repositioned mint marks, transitional types and even a few more notable die wear issues like the 3 legged buffalo and missing mint mark. But these are not an exhaustive list of valuable varieties. If you variety hunt, you quickly learn that there are far more unlisted varieties that are as valuable...or even more valuable than the commonly accepted listings in Red Book.

However, amongst varieties, there are tons of them that aren't very valuable at all. At that point, collecting them becomes a collecting interest. Most varieties found during a CRH event fall into this category. For instance, CRH a box of Cents, you might find a handful of moderate varieties and dozens of minor varieties. That doesn't generally include 'varieties' attributed to cracks...chips...and other die wear issues. Dies will wear; it's natural to the process. So aren't issues attributed to cleaning up a die after a clash (e.g., floating roofs...missing initials...other missing details such as the nose on Jefferson above). But the 3-leg...3 1/2-leg and 2-feather versions of the Buffalo nickel have interest even though those issues are related to die wear/maintenance. Find a 1922 Plain or Weak D (due to a filled die/worn die), it's certainly a valuable coin.

Another point: the 1995 Lincoln Memorial Cent DDO listed in Red Book is the 3rd most valuable DDO for that date. If you aren't looking for the other two, you might miss out on an opportunity.

The other thing to remember is that you have to find a Variety/Error collector with the same interest and need. Values posted here-and-there can be inflated by that reason. But if you accept that there is a market for Variety coins...then you should consider looking for them. In a box of Cents, you might find 6-10 Lincoln Wheat Cents with an average value of a nickel each. So, pay-day for a box if you only look for wheats, 30-50 cents. But one of those Moderate varieties might list for a buck or two. Folks throwing out the baby with the bathwater?? Maybe. But to each their own. I enjoy looking for the moderate Varieties, but might spend more time looking at new cents (e.g., 2021) for something more minor just to find something. That happened for me with the early 2020 nickels. I found a few DDRs in the doorway that weren't listed (none were at that point). But they are minor...quite common...and not very valuable. Just fun to find and have in the collection.

 

Kevin like always hit it right on the nose. But to add to this I will say simply Yes. The coins I have do have value. You just have to know how to sell them correctly. I see a lot of listings on eBay with common errors like die cracks and die chips that never sell. This doesn't mean they are worthless it just means the individual selling them has no idea how to sell these properly. With common errors like these you want to sell them in lots. With the modern DDRs (the ones in the doorway) these bring in about $1-$5 depending on how severe the doubling is. With that being said you never want to sell these by themselves. They sell well in lots. If you look at eBay sold listing you will see some sell for around $2-$3 each. This in my opinion is just not worth it. After eBay fees and shipping your probably looking at $1.50 in profit. But!!!!... When you find them simply add them up until you have a full roll of modern DDRs,Die Cracks,Die Chips,or any other common error and sell them by the role. I've seen lots of 40 misc errors on ebay sell for about 25-50 shipped. A $2 cost to you but a $50 sell is decent profit.

Please keep in mind a coin is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it. Watch the market carefully when it comes to coins. If you notice a simple error coin not selling dont think it is worthless.


Also remember good quality pictures. There are way to many coins with blurry nasty pictures on eBay.