Procedures in Finding Errors?

Does anybody here know any procedures you can use in finding errors on coins?
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I have looked on the net but couldn't find anything. All comments welcome!

 

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First, do your homework. Find out as much as you can about the various types of errors. Over time you will find you can identify errors more quickly. I can't go into the various details concerning each type of error, since that would be impractical here. Instead, examine your coins in as much detail as you can. A magnifying glass is essential for easy errors, a (jeweler's) loupe with 10x to 20x power is usually all you need for most errors.

 

I should add: If you find a coin that you think may have an error on it, but you're not certain, set it aside and do some research. This site has some experienced people on it so you could always post a photo and description to access their knowledge. Some will point you in the right direction education-wise too.

 

I mean exactly......I know the errors, I just want to have proceddures on where to look first and how to spot them and how to go over every part on the coin in a few minutes!

 

First, look at 10,000 coins (give or take) memorize every detail. Then when a coin with an error appears, it'll jump right out at you. Easy.

 

awsome! 99,999 to go

 

Errors can occur anywhere on a coin. Some of them are very obvious like a slap in the face. There is no right or wrong way to examine a coin. The best thing for you to do is establish your own routine and stick to it. For example, you may want to examine the obverse, first: check the date, mintmark, legend, bust, fields. Then, follow a similar procedure for the reverse. Try not to vary the routine because this is how you can overlook something. If you follow an order such as the one I suggested, stick with it. Don't check a coin this way and then change the order on the next coin.

Chris

 

And when you're done, someone mentions "varieties" and you have to start all over.

 

Uh-oh!

 

Sort by year and mm. Keep them stored that way so if a new variety is listed you won't have to search so hard. I like to search one date & mm at a time. Oddities seems to stick out better for me that way.

 

Errors are usually easy. Are you instead referring to varieties such as doubled dies and RPMs?

 

That's pretty much been my approach to reading x-rays..... brutal, but it works!

 

LOL! I used to sort fish scales from archaeological sites. After a few thousand, the different species jumped right out at you!

 

Awsome help! I just bought 200 coin holders!

 

If you don't know already, learn the entire coin-making process from mixing the alloy, rolling the metal into a strip, blanking, upsetting the blanks to create a raised rim, annealing, and washing. That's just for planchet preparation. You will also need to understand how dies are created - a Master Hub is created and is used to make a small number of Master Dies which are used to create a number of Working Hubs which are used to create the Working Dies. You should understand how the die press works - feeder fingers slide a planchet into place while moving the previously-struck coin to the hopper, the planchet drops into the collar, the dies come together to strike the coin, the anvil die pushes the coin up to be carried off by the feeder fingers, etc. (That is for a vertical coin press. The operation of a horinzontal coin press is different.)

Once you understand how coins are made you will be able to understand how error coins are produced. And - hopefully - you will be able to distinguish a coin with PMD from a true error coin.

 

Pmd?

 

PMD = Post-Mint Damage (damage that occurs after the coin has been struck)

 

oh...i get it

 

Taylor,

What I am trying to get across to you is if you understand how coins are made you should be able to tell if the anomaly occurred during the minting process or if the coin got run over by a car.

 

I know about errors....you dont get what im talking about...this was originaly about what order and where to look first for errors!