How do you find the value of an error coin?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Vess1, Jun 17, 2021.

  1. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    I recently ran across a Washington quarter from the 60s with a major over strike error on the obverse. Imagine regular strike and then struck again with bottom half of the die rotated 90 degrees and stamped across half of the obverse at 90 degrees. Date is clear again going vertical in middle of obverse. It may be MS or only AU. Not sure due to lighting.

    It’s just in a 2x2. I don’t collect these things but found it kind of neat. It’s priced less than a hundred dollars but higher than I was ready to just say screw it and buy it.

    Should I get it? I’m not an error collector and I’m not sure how common this is in the wild.
     
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  3. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Sounds like it may be a vice job.
    Post some pictures and let's see it.
     
    sel w likes this.
  4. Robert Ransom

    Robert Ransom Well-Known Member

    Without pics. a position on the coin is not possible for me, however, if you are sure of your assessment and it is not post mint damage, you need to consider the price. Also, poor photos can hide other telltale marks. Post some photos if you can.
     
    sel w likes this.
  5. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    It’s not online. I found it locally kind of hiding at a store. I didn’t know if I ran across an overlooked gem or an overpriced error. I can’t get a pic it’s in a case . The details of the second strike are very clear but it’s not deformed like many of these types are. Its not oblong from it. It appears to still be normal size.

    I don’t believe it was homemade unless somebody had an actual die.
     
    sel w likes this.
  6. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title] Supporter

    Unfortunately without photos, it's impossible to know for sure. Perhaps you could tell the seller you are interested but want to do some research and ask if you could snap a couple photos of it to help you study it.

    They will likely say no, but maybe they'll say yes.
     
    sel w and John Burgess like this.
  7. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    I would be leery. From how I know coins are made, a strike from a press would either be in the collar, (coin regular size), or not, (pressure would make flan deformed if second strike offcenter). Therefore, if the second strike was majorly offcenter I do not understand how it could be in the collar, therefore should be deformed.

    Thee are others much better than me about errors but that would be my concern.
     
    sel w likes this.
  8. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    Ah, never mind. I went back and looked at it in hand. I think it's a fake quarter with a faked error. At first it did look a little oblong and thinner so it looked right. But when I picked it up it felt light. I know it's just a quarter but it seemed lighter than what a silver quarter in a 2x2 should feel like. The date was believable but In God We Trust looked mushy and grainy. For the condition it was in, the reeded edge wasn't defined enough either. The edge of the double strike looked rough and torn instead of smooth.
     
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  9. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    We need photos to help you
     
    sel w likes this.
  10. beerandchips

    beerandchips New Member

    But what about his original question? Where do you find information about error coins? The Red Book usually has a page or a half page on non-specific errors. A half page out of 500 does not inspire confidence in extended research on prices. There is the Cherry Pickers Guide, but the prices seem a little suspect/wishful. And then there is Ebay, but errors cannot always be found in the sold listing. Are there other sources, both for error ID and pricing?
     
    sel w likes this.
  11. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

  12. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    I know that’s a poor photo but best I could get. Any take always from this? I’m thinking about buying it. The reverse strike shows up correctly as well but couldn’t get a pic.
     
    sel w likes this.
  13. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    Ok. I got it in hand again and I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Here are better pics. The reverse strikes just seem far to mushy and soft with missing details to take a risk on it.
    In God We Trust is not sharp.
    98E9CA85-151F-4CC1-BCE4-264DD9ABFB56.jpeg E2F7C1A9-F9CE-44ED-930E-70FDFC4A7C4B.jpeg
     
    sel w likes this.
  14. charley

    charley Well-Known Member

    Post mint manufactured.
     
    eddiespin and sel w like this.
  15. Vess1

    Vess1 CT SP VIP Supporter

    I don't even think it's a real quarter. The letters are not sharp and the graininess makes it look like a cast coin.
     
    Etcherman and sel w like this.
  16. Martha Lynn

    Martha Lynn Well-Known Member

    It looks cast to me. You can see the seam around the edge in a few spots.
     
    sel w likes this.
  17. Stork

    Stork I deliver Supporter

    I may sound like I'm joking, but not really--put it in an auction and see what it sells for. Watching some overseas auctions has been a real lesson in wild pricing. Some error types literally bringing thousands and thousands, and others completely snubbed. Depends on how many people want it and how deep the pockets I suppose.
     
    sel w likes this.
  18. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Mint Error News has a price guide for generic errors of various types in the back of each issue.

    One-offs? Worth what somebody will pay.
     
    sel w and Stork like this.
  19. Stork

    Stork I deliver Supporter

    Do they cover non-US coins? Those are the ones that I stumble across. If so, I may have to take a look. I don't 'officially' collect errors, but it's hard to resist sometimes.
     
    sel w likes this.
  20. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    No... the world coin error market is a fickle beast. In addition, several mints have/had really bad reputations for, um, created errors (not like the US Mint was/is any better).

    Like most thinly traded largely unique (non-fungable) items, the prices are made by a small number of market-makers (dealers) and the occasional auction.
     
    sel w and Stork like this.
  21. Stork

    Stork I deliver Supporter

    No kidding. This un-punched center hole set me back under $100 (and I'm sure I paid 'too much'). combo c5c5c5.jpg

    Meanwhile a Japanese 50 yen with an unpunched center hole, I've seen go for $2000-$5000 in recent Japanese auctions. But a rotated die, brockage, lamination error type things go for much, much less. Off center by 10% meh, 20% better, 50% or more wild bidding.
     
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