Searching for Errors

I'm curious if anyone has an idea of the odds of finding error coins in regular coin searches. I've gone through 30,000 pennies from the banks already and although I have found some interesting stuff. Errors are quite elusive. I'd love a 1983 or 1984 double die error. My goal is to check a million pennies over the next decade of course. But, I just was curious if anyone had an idea if I will be successful or not? I guess I'll just have to keep trying, but if anyone has any tips on searching large lots, I'd appreciate them

Esky

 

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It depends on what types of errors you are looking for. I looked through about $100 in pennies and i found 2 wheats with rotated dies. And a wheat with a cud in the wheat stalk. The last was a cent with a off struck obverse. I also went through my mercury dimes a couple of dates and found about 10 with listed die cracks and 1 that was not listed.

 

I'd really really like to get a nice 1984 Lincoln Double Ear Lobe and a 1983 ONE CENT double. I get a decent amount of 84s and 83s in the bags. Just wondering how many thousands I'll need to pan through to get the two I want? They are going on Ebay for the likes of $400+ So, they must be somewhat rare. I live way in Upper Michigan too, not a good place for major coin circulation. Of course, the 1995 double LIBERTY would be nice too, but my eyesight is starting to dwindle. I thought I saw $75 on that... Would love to actually find one of these kinds of coins! My eye is always on the lookout for a 1972 double die as well... but I see that coin is all but scarce.

Esky

 

Those are two well known errors and were discovered early in those respective years if I recall. I think it will be extremely difficult to find these in circulation though I would never say impossible. I remember looking at every 1983 and 84 cent in those years and the next few after that as well in 1972 I wish you better luck.

 

Hello ESKYCHESS,

First of all, welcome to Coin Talk. I would say that your chances are greatly increased as long as you know what you are looking for. I think nickelman nailed it on the head. Those errors ie. 1984, 1983, and 1995 were pretty much wiped out in those years. However, if I recall a gentleman just found a 1984 ddo in circulation. I'll try to find the article or someone else might know.
Like I said if you know what to look for you are already ahead of the general public. So read read read. Educate yourself, and have some fun.
I myself have actually found some errors worth hundreds of dollars.
I am reminded of the story of two guys in 1955 that had several rolls of cents that "looked funny". They figured they all must be like that and not worth anything, so they spent them. This might be an urban legend, but it sticks with me.

Happy Hunting,

Michael

 

I myself have actually found some errors worth hundreds of dollars.

You have given me hope! I don't mind bad odds ... but it's good to talk to someone that has actually found something. I do enjoy the wheats I get in the search. I am keeping statistics, and I will share with the group when I get to the 50,000 penny I have checked (right now I'm on 30,000). My son found a 1907 Indian Head Penny and I have found some decent Wheats a 1910, 1917 and a 1929 ... No errors on anything - but it was kind of cool to find. Some errors are subtle as well. I have two 1956 Ds that look different and I did read there is an error for that year. So maybe I've found my first error! I'll do exactly what you say and read - read - read I absolutely have fallen in love with this hobby. I am a very skilled chess player, I have published a novel on chess. All my life I've been into chess - Of course, I'm not about to quit chess by any means ... However, now it's time to do coins!

Thanks again - Esky

 

Hi,
I've found 6 1983 DDRs in the past five years. 2 1972 DDOs(the big 0nes) , scores of other 1972 DDO varieities. Literally hundreds of nice DDO and DDR coins mostly on cents and halves.

The best advice I could give you is to get a nice high powered jewelers loupe and a book called "The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties" by Fivaz and Stanton, edited by Mike Ellis.

I have found all kinds of errors and varieties.
There are varieties on the following (there are more, but I will list some off the top of my head. These are on Lincoln Cents minted since 1959.

1959 DDO
1960 DDO
1960 D DDO
1960 D Repunched Mintmarks
1961 D Repunched Mintmarks
1962 DDO
1963 DDO
1963 D DDO
1964 DDR at least two types
1966 DDR
1968 D DDR
1969 S DDO at least two types
1970 S DDO
1971 DDO several types
1972 DDO several types
1972 D DDO several types
1972 S DDO
1973 D
1980 DDO
1982 DDO
1983 DDR two types
1983 DDO four types I think
1984 DDO at least three types
1984 D DDO
1985 DDO
1985 D DDO
1986 DDO
1989 DDO more than 20 varieties
1992 AM touching on reverse
1994 DDR
1995 DDO several types
1995 D DDO
1997 Doubled Ear DDO
1998 AM separated on reverse
1999 " "
2000 " "

There are even minor DDOs on 2003, 2004 and 2005 cents. They are not supposed to exist, but they do.
And so on.
Like I said, this is off the top of my head on cents. I know I missed some. The odds of finding good stuff is actually pretty good once you know what you are looking for.
It takes a while before you can tell a true Doubled Die from mechanical doubling. I usually average 1 or 2 doubled die coins in each $50.00 bag of cents that I look through.

I've also found off center struck coins, capped die strikes, blank planchets, indented strike coins, major CUDS, coins struck on incomplete planchets and others.

You have to know what to look for

Have Fun,
Bill

 

Just to give you an idea of the odds. The rule of thumb for die life is somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 strikes. You mentioned 1956-D, the last time I checked NCADD has listed RPM #067 for 1956-D. Mint Records indicate 1,098,201,100 struck overall.

(67*750,000)/1,098,201,100 = 4.6% or about 1 out of every 25.

Add OMMs, Double Dies and other recognized varieties and errors to the mix - the odds go up.

 

I hope my earlier post didn't discourage you that was not my intent. On the other hand the post by Foundinrolls was very incurouraging to me. I have just resently started to pick up several rolls of coins everytime i go to the bank. I only collected high grade unc. coins but after discovering this site and reading posts over the last couple of weeks I'm looking. Have you read the thread about half dollar roll finds? Wow, I want to order a $500 box or two of halfs for the bank and I don't even collect halfs.

Good luck in your searching and keep us posted on your discoveries.

 

Eckychess...there are thousands of varieties out there to find. Check out the listings on the CONECA web site. http://www.conecaonline.org/variety_listings.html

Larry NIenaber

 

Foundinrolls... That is extremely encouraging!!! I will get that cherrypicker book and study it. I really hope to find an 83 or 84 DDO ... or a 1972 ... That would be awesome... BUT ... I will keep searching Thanks for the inspiration!

Esky

 

Heck! I find cool errors in the dish of common Indian cents and others at my local coin shop!

 

Hi,
My pleasure. A rule of thumb is "the more you know, the more you find" I have a great time looking for the unusual!
Have Fun,
Bill

 

The cherrypickers book only goes to Jefferson Nickels...they have yet to do book number 2...

Also remember...its not a book to just sit down a read...I would suggest just taking it with you when your search coins and looking at them as you come to that date....

Speedy

 

The book is worth it's weight in gold just for it's ability to teach people the differences between die doubling and mechanical doubling.
Have Fun,
Bill

 

they are out there. i was starting to get discouraged and then i found a 72 ddo this past week.

 

Nice find.... but you should start a new thread. This one is over 6 years old and a lot of those members are long gone.

*Never mind.... I found your new thread.

 

I've gone through 28,000 nickels and have not found a single error (i am in the camp that makes a distinction between varieties and errors).

 

I always went to coin shops or coin sites that don't deal in error coins. There are some coin dealers on line that state this and I've come across some great finds ! Buy rolls of what ever denomination your looking for errors in, and also what grade too. Don't mention errors in your buying process...this is " Cherrypicking ". hope this helps!