i recently aquired a 10 coin 2003 silver proof set red box at a local coin show upon checking the web such as ebay some were listing saying vanishing 3 only on the cent and also the missouri quater stateing that looking at these two straight on or by tilting to the right that the 3 on these two coins vanishes and they that the reason for this is due to a weak strike and so it seems that there is some sense to this for when i looked at the set that i have its true and it happens only with the cent a quater not on any of the other coins do you get this affect. { strange] does anyone know or have any comments on this would or could this be considered error coins . thanks. all replys and comments welcomed
In a techinical sense, yes it is an error. However, because it is caused by a filled die, which is one of the most common of errors, it really holds little interest for most error collectors and has little or no additional value.
I have never seen one of these "vanishing 3" coins that was caused by a filled die or a weak strike. All of them that I have seen have been caused by a poorly frosted die. The 3 did not have the normal cameo and as the coin is tipped the brilliant finish on the 3 causes it to "disappear into the field while the other figures cameo catches the light and makes them stand out.
Take a look at the other coins in your proofset. Look at the dime does it appear to look like the date "2003" reads "3" without the "000" digits? This was my new found addition to this series when cent was introduced..wow for me huh. More important take a look at all reeded coins rims..could be better stuff there to look at.
Yes, it is a popular 'error' coin, and possibly, considered to be more a variety than an error. (my opinion only, about the variety.)
what ever the mint makes a mistake and they are not considered error coins what gives the way that i look at it is any time the mint screws up and the error is on them it should be just that and not call them variety coins. some people just cant get a break these days.
It's really a matter of defintions - an error is a mistake, a variety is just an example of the coin that is slightly different from the majority of the others. For example, if Conder is correct and the reason the letter or digit appears to be missing is because the die was worn and the frosted effect is not there, or because the devices in the die were never frosted completely to begin with - then it's a variety. But if I were correct in my explanation, that a bit of grease got on the die and stopped the frosted effect from being transferred to the coin, then it would be an error. But it would be a very minor error.
