variety coins

I have recently been looking over hundreds of lincoln wheaties and memorials and have found several distinguishing marks on them, except I don't know how to classify them. I know what a die crack looks like but what about what appears to be "blobs" in the dates, mottos, and sometimes on Lincoln's head? What is the term for these and are they of any value? Plus, what's the difference between an error and a variety? If anyone needs pictures I'll send them soon. Thanks!

 

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"Blobs" are generally referred to as "cuds"

Varieties are intentionally created different examples of the same coin. The most famous new variety is the edge orientation on the Presidential dollars - some facing up, some facing down when the coins are laid on a table heads up.

Errors are coins not minted as they should be. Again, a new famous example is the smooth-edge Presidential dollar which is supposed to - but doesn't - have incuse edge lettering.

 

Actually the "blobs are cuds only it they touch the rim of the coin. "Blobs" in the field of the coin are either large die cracks or die chips
Ziggy

 

dave:
And, unless they are popular like the promoted: "atheist" cent (where the cud covered the word "GOD" on the Lincoln Cent, they have little value, still they are fun to collect.

 

hontonai:

regarding your definition of varieties:
You stated intentional, however, repunched dates and mint marks are varieties, and they were not 'intentional' in the usual way.

 

Generally speaking

Variety - is an anomaly found in a coin due to a design difference or flaw in a working die attributable to the die production process. Theoretically speaking this anomaly should be found on every coin struck by that specific working die. Ex. (Double Die, Repunched Mint Mark, Large Date, Small “S”)

Error – is an anomaly found in a coin due to a RANDOM occurrence attributable to the coin striking (minting) process. Ex. (Off Center Strike, Rotated Die, Wrong Stock Planchet, Grease Filled Die)

 

Classifications such as varieties and error coins are rather ambiguous. Never really clear to many people. At coin shows there is one dealer I see at all shows with a table of all errors or so they say. They have massive varieties of errors such as offsets, blanks, double dies, blobs or cuds, chips, laminations, etc. None are called varieties, all are to them errors. To many errors are what is not supposed to be. Varieties are considered by most that I have talked to as differences in the actual coins. Such things as the Indian/Buffalo Nickels variety 1 and 2. Those are actual Varieties to most dealers I know. In the Red Book at or near the end there is a list of different types of errors and double dies is not listed as an error. All very comfusing. However, all error type coins have lately become a thing to collect and there are many that are considered error collectors. If you go to coin shows or look on ebay you would now see that the slightest error on a coin is selling for a minimum of $2 to $10. I've seen obsets that are so minimal I would have thrown it back into circulation and now is selling for $2.
As already noted a variety is when the same thing is produced multiple times by the Mint. However, that is where coins such as the 72 Lincoln Cents Double Die has been noticed with a minimum of 9 varieties of errors.
Some call it a spear and some call it an arrow.

 

I wonder if the ancient Romans had these problems with their coinage.