First of all, if looking for a "rare" coin, you're probably not gonna find one outside of a dealer's shop or some auction. To me, and more than few others, rare means that there are 10 or less examples known to exist. Now, if you're talking about finding some variety or error that may be scarce - then you have to first know the diagnostics for that variety or error. And those as numerous as the stars because there's a lot of varieties and errors out there. Can you be a bit more specific, at least try to pin it down to one series of coins maybe.
Hey GD, Thanks for the answer. I have a crap load of cent's and a lot of time on my hands. You were right, I should have explained better. I'm looking for scarce errors. Ever since reading a post on here how a close 'AM' is huge, it got me thinking.
There's the key. The hunt is different for different series. Large Cents involve knowing your die varieties. Moderns are different. I suggest narrowing your field(s) of interest. If you have a photographic memory, you can absorb a lot. The rest of is can only cherrypick within our field of knowledge.
Aside from errors and varieties (missing mintmarks, variations in design and lettering, etc.) I have a reasonable shot of locating Lincoln wheat cents, silver war "nickels," and 90% silver dimes, quarters, and halves. I'm more likely to find these coins in rolls -- and I do hunt bank rolls -- but any of these have a reasonable chance of turning up in circulation, too. As far as finding a 1909-S VDB, 1916-D Mercury, and similar scarce pieces, of course anything is possible, and I do look for those types of prizes....But I don't hold my breath waiting for them to turn up, either ;-) So, keep your eyes on the lookout for silver, wheats, varieties, and those errors....I believe they are among the most likely "finds" you will "find."
LoL, oh wow, this is going to be more confusing than I though. I just did a check on "die varieties". A lot to take in. But... I now understand now, there is no 'quick' knowledge about this subject. Many thanks, time for me to put away my coins and do a lot of reading.
Like has been said above, it's best to know your series. BUT...if you have a lot of time on your hands, and a lot of examples of the coins....you could look at ALL of them throughly. There are still discoveries waiting to happen, and all it takes is a sharp eyed collector to discover them. Put aside any coin that doesn't look like all the rest of that mint/issue, and then search the web for known errors, varieties, etc. Odds are good it will match one. But...what if it doesn't? I think for me, the ultimate numismatic experience would be to discover something new
I think it would be cool to get a footnote in a guide as given credit for identifying a new variety. I like the way you are thinking Billy.
It's right before the study of deep space and ahead of It's right before the study of deep space and ahead of the illneses of human body in terms of "quick knowledge" goes. But eureka! it's a blast and many on here will help you plus the info. now is all over the web. Just think in ten or twelve years you will know much more than you do today - anything worth study has many rewards.
No insults intended, but whenever I see these comments about "I've got a bunch of coins, how can I check them for rare errors?" I compare it to something like "Hey I like music and I have a piano and some sheet music, how do I start playing concertos?
I just tend to scan for any coin with silver, copper cents, s and w mintmarks, foreign coins, coins from dates that are early for the series, and old series [e.g. indian head cents and buffalo nickels]. I'll look a bit closer at any Kennedy halves, but it is rare that anybody gives them out as change anymore.
