I ve been reading threads about errors, and I ve been thinking how could i spot an error on a coin that I don't know anything about, and it the first time to see this coin. Is there any tips for spotting errors, and what are the common errors that would occur on a coin? Thanks Cheers, :hammer:
That is the challenge with picking out errors. I believe that most people who find errors on a regular basis purchase large sums of rolls from their banks or other sources and sit down and look at each coin. I don't have time for that so what I do is to do a weekly search on line for all the latest errors being found in pocket change. Then as I get the coins in hand, I put them aside until I have time to really look at them later. I have found a handful of errors this way. One of the few draw backs from doing it this way is that the coins tend to be circulated instead of uncs. My suggestion to you if you are really interested in collecting errors is to join CONECA which is the the online error collector community. This will keep you up to date with all the past and recent finds. Then if you have the money, go to your local bank and start to buy rolls of coins from them. The good news is that once you have established a limit that you can work with whether it is $25, $100 or $500 you can keep recycling that money to buy new rolls without much of a cost to you. Hopefully some other roll searchers will chime in and give some suggestions. Good luck.
Thank you very much for the advice, I will definitely take this into consideration. As I think of error coins as a rare possession, which will contribute positively to my collection. As for old coins, does CONECA have information about errors regarding old world coins? Thank you again. Cheers,
The key is to learn what different types of errors actually look like. For example once you know what a doubled die looks like, how to recognize it, and how to tell it from Machine doubling damage or double striking, then if you see a coin design you have never seen before that was struck from a doubled die you will be able to recognize it for what it is. Most error types are easy to learn and will look similar on coins from any country. (I don't have to know what a coin is supposed to look like to recognize a clipped planchet, an off-center strike, or a cud die break for example.) Some types such as design errors say where a letter or a punctuation mark was left out you probably wouldn't notice unless you were really familiar with the particular coin design. For example the wide AM Lincoln cents. Learning how coins are made is very important. If you understand exacly how a coin is formed, when you see something odd on a coin you can sart trying to figure out if it is possible for it to be created as part of the minting process, and if not then it is almost certainly post minting damage.
Possibly the easiest way to identify an error on a coin is to become aware of the more common types. If you have or can aquire that famous Red Book by Whitman Publishing on pages 400 and up there is a fairly decent explanation of different types of error coins. Even a sort of monitary valuation of those on page 403. Of course there are other types of errors not mentioned there but with just that info, you would have a decent idea of what to look for. Even if you never saw a certain coin before, the types mentioned there are common to all coins.
Thank you really much guys for the information, It is really important for a coin collector to learn how to recognize errors and how to classify them. I have a large number of coins, ones of numismatic value and ones with no value, I figured out maybe the one with no value, would have value through errors, but I don't know from where to start. I think i will begin reading about coin errors and gaining knowledge about them, then start to look for them. Thank you again for all the information shared, you guys give the numismatic society a wonderful image. Cheers,
The CHERRYPICKERS GUIDE is a book that can be invaluable to error hunters. I bought mine at Barnes and Noble for $38.00. Expensive but well worth it.
get the plaid book You might want to get a copy of the Error Coin Encyclopedia (The Plaid Book) by Margolis & Weinberg or Allen Herbert's Price Guide to Mint Errors. Very best regards, collect89
The cherrypickers books are great but I think the Plaid Book describes the minting process & all the different types of planchet, die, and striking errors. You should get both books actually.
.......read a lot and search a lot on the web and visit several coin forums to learn all you can. and in the mean time check this list and enjoy!! http://www.collectorscorner.org/pocket.html
Thank you all for your input. I will try to buy both books, and check all sources mentioned. Thanks again. Cheers,
Also, if interested in the Lincoln Cent for errors, try www.coppercoins.com The person that has that site also has two books out on just Lincoln Cents and discribes many errors of every year of the Lincoln Cent. Also, in the front of those books he explains all the different types of errors and how they happen. Error coin collecting is as addictive as any hobby. I have possily 500 to 600 or there abouts error coins in my error coin collection. One error I like and is not heavily mentioned to many places is the rotated reverses. Difficult to notice unless you place the coin in something and then make sure you rotate it exactly. Rotated reverses of only several degrees are just not noticed. It almost takes a 30% rotation for people to notice. The worst is one that is 180% rotated. Then it looks normal except it is completely unside down on the reverse.
