Please explain it to me like I'm 5. What is the difference between the following terms and can a coin overlap into multiple categories? Variety Type RePunched Mint mark (RPM) Error Is an RPM a type of variety? Is an error considered a variety? I am having a hard time understanding how to classify different ones. For example: In the Ike series, there are various "types" like the Type I, II, and III for 1972, and the type I and II for 1976. Are these considered varieties, or are "types" something different? How does the "FEV" play into this? At what point does something become a "major" variety and end up getting it's own spot in a coin album? At what point does a grease filled die that strikes a few hundred coins with missing letters become a variety? What about other series like "motto", "no-motto", "arrows"... what do you classify these as? Or what about "clear S" vs "Filled S". Or "three legged buffalo". Or "No FS" - designer initials missing. Finally, what about series that have mint marks like D/S, S/S? It is all a little confusing to me. I hope what I am asking makes sense. -g
Although some distinction among them may vary with others, mine are Variety ~ differences cause by damage or improper maintenance to a working die including hubbing Type ~ Intentional design change occurring within a coin series RePunched Mint mark (RPM) ~For those working dies punched by hand , a variety, same for repunched or misplaced dates. Error~ usually one offs , caused by irregularities in the planchet,or striking process mechanical operation. ( most exclude mechanical damage/setup which allows movement in the striking process such as MDD Is an RPM a type of variety? ~ yes as well as 3-leg where die was worked on , small date/large date coins, etc. Is an error considered a variety?~ no, as considered to be a one shot at the time. IMO of course
Well join the club Greg. The so called experts have been arguing about what defines an error and what defines a variety for decades. And they will probably argue about it for decades more. As to some of your specific questions - Answer to all of the above - it depends on who you ask. Again, depends on who you ask. To me, yes they are varieties. And I have no idea what the FEV is. I don't know that there is any rule. But my guess is it happens when the variety is included in the Red Book - sometimes. Never. Those are types. Varieties. Error. Variety. Varieties. Like I said, join the club. You'll probably get conflicting answers
The Error Coin Encyclopedia (Plaid Book) by Margolis & Weinberg is good reading at the 6th grade level. You could probably get it on loan from the ANA library. I should be getting my extra copy back from a friend on February 23. If I can ever be of help, please let me know.
Thanks for the quick responses everyone. They are very helpful. I am trying to wrap my head around it all and how groups like coneca, wexler, breen, fivav-stanton classify them.
It is not uncommon for an error coin to have more than one error type (and/or variety) on it. When the automatic machines begin to malfunction, all types of combination errors can occur. This Connecticut quarter has a couple errors present. 1. Planchet It has a planchet error which is known as an incomplete planchet or clip. In this case it has a double clip. 2. Strike The odd shaped planchet was then struck out of collar and off center (with design off the planchet) so it is an off center error. 3. Label The slab label kind-of sort-of has an error as well. It states NO DATE and you can clearly see 1999 on the coin.
Something like a 1955 doubled die cent. I thought a doubled die would be considered an error, yet this is a good example of an error that isn't a one-off and plenty of examples have been found. So does that make it a variety?
FEV on Ikes is the "Friendly Eagle Variety" - http://ikegroup.org/FEV.htm All copyrights for the link above belong to the original website and poster.
No, all true doubled dies are caused by hubbing mistakes where the die after the first hubbing and removed for annealing is not put back exactly and the second hubbing is slightly off, so when striking a planchet shows as a doubling. So is a variety. Single press doubled dies are still caused in the hubbing process, although there is no second hubbing, likely there is a movement during the hubbing to cause the doubled image.
My favorite doubled die are the 1960 group where they used the hub for one date such as the large date for the first press, and then later used the hub for the other , such as the small date for the second press~ reesulting in one design over the other.
I'll stir the pot. :devil: I'm going to be signing-off in a couple minutes & will try to log onto CT later tonight. Here is an coin that is known as a cud. Every coin that comes off this set of dies would have the same cud. Does that make it a variety? Would you classify it as a variety or an error? Remember that the die started its life making normal coins & only later began making the cud coins.... Let's just call it a cud. :smile
To stir the pot a little more- This cud coin evolved to a larger cud & then evolved to an even larger cud.
