One of my main problems with coin collecting is, as you all well know, my inability to distinguish between authentic errors and pmd. Try as I may to reason with myself I’m constantly thinking I just discovered something. I’m sorry about that, I know it’s gotta be frustrating when new people do this type of thing... I do try to understand but it’s a struggle. But take this 1967 Philly dime I was just looking at. To me, this thing appears to have doubling everywhere LOL. I can’t tell if I’m seeing the eroded edge of a letter or number, or if it was stamped twice at the mint. Some places it obviously looks “flat and shelf like” and others it looks like there were 2 edges overlapping slightly and they both eroded! Now I just had my vision checked in the last year and it’s still 20/20... how do you guys distinguish between all these things?!
experience, and not being biased. You *want* to find an error and you deem that your primary goal. So that shades your ability of looking at the coin as it is. you say "flat and shelf like" THEREFORE it is Mechanical Doubling. Why would you then doubt that ? "looks like" does not mean it is .... in other words .. you need to study the 8 forms of Doubled Die much more intensely. Study varieties much more intensely. Study how wear and damage over time affects a coin ... so you're experience will be much better.
When you find a coin, you should immediately go to a website and look at the known varieties for that particular year and mint mark. Then use the images to compare to yours. You have to be totally objective though (there's another thread about that actually). Then you'll have examples that you can then use to compare.
Well, one thing is for sure.. If you can get a crystal clear picture of a human hair, you're taking some great pictures!! You need to read this..... https://www.cointalk.com/threads/training-the-eyes.345521/#post-3669861
A seller is listing a 1962 proof set with the image displayed here. I'm new to the hobby but I asked if this was instead a state quarter set from between 1999-2008. His response was that no, it is in fact a 1962 proof set. The highest bid was at $4. How reliable are sales and auctions on e bay?
Look at their feedback. If they have negative feedback read the ones that are negative and then decide if you want to buy from them. If they have many negative feedbacks run away from it. Most important know the coins you are buying. I would copy and paste that pic and ask again. Some sellers do make mistakes on photos. I have told so many sellers they have the wrong photo or the description is wrong.
I've said this over and over again to many different people. "If you don't have a thorough understanding of the coin & die making process, how do you expect to know what is or isn't an error or variety?" You're putting the cart before the horse. Chris
How long have you been trying to figure it out? It takes years of learning. I say that 98% of coins in circulation have some sort of issues with them. So the problem is that new collectors think that those issues are automatically errors or varieties. It is a reoccurring issue here on CoinTalk that will never end. Like Chris said.. First learn how coins are made and you will be able to see a damaged coin and know very well that the PMD happened after it left the mint. Many are common sense but people are so desperate to find an error that they don't stop to think about it. Also, Learn what the already established mint errors and varieties are then familiarize yourself with them. Then you will save lots of time for yourself and for us... For example. I started 34 years ago. I didn't have CoinTalk nor the internet back then. I went to the books and magazines and patiently studied. I can tell what a mint error is or even PMD without even seeing the coin.
You need to create your own unique separate thread about your question! It's rude to ask a question that has nothing to do with the original question.
@MCPark82, OK, you've already cleared one of the difficult hurdles - "One of my problems" - admitting you have multiple problems, of with this is one! You got some good responses, but @Clawcoins hit the nail (or the dime, as the case may be) right on the head! Now, there are ways you can shorten the learning curve, & your subsequent enjoyment of your endeavor. Let's consider the dime you posted here; a well circulated (OK, maybe you don't have the experience to recognize it as well worn) 52 year old (Oh my god, I graduated high school 52 years ago!!! yikes!) coin. The chances are, if this coin had "collectability" or "I am special" written all over it, it would have been picked long ago. So, is it possible to find an unaccounted "error" in a 52 yr old coin? Yes, but the probability is likely less than winning the Powerball (have you won it yet?) You are much more likely to find a "discovery" coin, or an "error" coin in more recent issues, those which have NOT had a long time to be picked over. You are also more likely to find anomalies, not in pocket change (albeit, we have just gone through the "Great American Coin Release", so...), but in hoards which people have collected over the years & are now dumping (agreed, these can be hard to find/ascertain). Now let's say you can find one "anomaly" per 1,000 coins searched. And, let's say you only spend 1 minute looking @ each coin (wow, sounds like a TPG), do you have the time to spend more than 16 1/2 hours to find 1 "anomaly" (keep in mind, most "errors" will not have a premium attached; also, I think the 1000/1 ratio is too kind). So, follow the advice given here. Learn (or learn how to look up) the varieties already discovered. Narrow down you search parameters. Keep learning,...keep posting,...you must look, but you must also see...there is no wishing or willing it to be! JMHOFWIW!
