I am confused (not unusual) about the relationship between value, scarcity, and eye appeal for known error coins. I know the 1955, and 1969 ddo cents are the most valuable decause of visual impact and scarcity, as well as "fame". When I go to certain websites like coppercoins, or variety vista, wexlers, etc. They list population #'s like 1 or 3. I'm thinking that's the number these attributors personally have seen. If these were true for the entire population no one would bother looking for such small needle in a haystack of hundreds of billions. How can I find the true populations? Thanks in advance...
In truth, you can't find a "True " population of varieties. With few exceptions if the minting error was discovered in the mint, they didn't count and release them, they removed them and melted them. So the only population that exists are those that are found and then changes hands so people know they exist. Your neighbor may have a 1955/55 DDO, but if it stays in his jar of old cents his dad collected, no one can count it. Probably the best one could do is try and estimate populations is to count the distinct different coins in sales and auctions ( unless they are extremely small number known). But you are right in that the number known is just one factor. Maybe someone can data mine eBay sales and get some numbers, but it is almost impossible. Also one other factor is if the makes of albums put a 'hole' for a new variety, the demand for it increases strongly as some want a filled album.
Varieties and errors are two different animals. Varieties such as DDO's are only listed in census numbers by the various grading services if they are recognized, but that only counts coins that have been submitted for grading. Some varieties are considered too minor to list. On the other hand, errors such as clips are not separated in any census because there are too many possibilities, and listing them in separate groups would be an accounting nightmare. For example, how would you classify a group of Lincoln cent clips that are in totally different positions all around the perimeter....12-3, 1-4, 2-5, 3-7, 4-9, etc.? The same would hold true for off-center strikes....10% at K2, 20% at K4, 30% at K6, etc. Chris
I know what you mean about being too minor to list. I have a LOT of 1983D's that all have the telltale thickening and doubling to the right on the 8 of the date and lots of spots on the coin. I look at some and can't match with the listed coins even though the doubling on some of my coins is stronger than on some of the listings. The value of these umpteen varieties of 1983's are only like $2.00 or so who cares.
