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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;1stSgt22, post: 7497532, member: 116892&quot;]Here are a few things that might answer some questions frequently asked by beginning collectors.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; If you are really serious about collecting coins, the first thing you should consider, buying is a R. S. Yeoman, Red Book.&nbsp; It will provide a wealth in information and answer many of your questions!&nbsp; You don’t need a current edition!&nbsp; One that is 2 or 3 years old is fine.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; You also might want to consider buying an inexpensive digital microscope for taking closeup pictures of coins you want to post.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; When you post pictures of your coins, I recommend you post a full view of the obverse (front) and reverse, as well as a closeup of the area you’re are asking about.&nbsp; Also please provide a detailed comment/question that explains exactly what you are asking about.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Modern cents have an outer layer of copper over a core of zinc.&nbsp; This composition does not hold up and results in a seemingly endless number of anomalies on these coins!</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The correct term to use when referring to doubling is “doubled die” not double die.&nbsp; Most of the coins you think are a doubled die are not!&nbsp; They will have some type of mechanical doubling that add absolutely no value to the coin other than as an example to refer to!&nbsp; A true doubled die variety is caused when the die is made, not when the coin is struck.&nbsp; Mechanical doubling happens when a coin is struck and is often caused by a problem with the die or striking process!</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There is a difference between errors and varieties!&nbsp; Varieties are the result of intentional or unintentional changes to dies before coins are struck.&nbsp; Errors are unintentional mistakes or abnormalities made during the striking process.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There is only one year you need to look for a “Close AM” on cents.&nbsp; That year is 1992.&nbsp; There are 3 years to look for a “Wide A M” on cents.&nbsp; Those years are 1998, 1999, and 2000.&nbsp; If your cent doesn’t fit one of these years and A M positions, it’s a normal cent.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The mint mark on a coin tells where the coin was minted!&nbsp; Coins with a “P” or “<b>no mint mark</b>” were minted in Philadelphia, and coins with a “D” were minted in Denver.&nbsp; Coins with a “S” were minted in San Francisco, with a “W” at West Point, an “O” in New Orleans and a “CC” in Carson City”.&nbsp; There are others but these are the most common,</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There are three websites you need to become very familiar with.&nbsp; They are Lincoln Cent Resource, Variety Vista and Wexler’s Coins and Die Varieties.&nbsp; They are great places to do your research!</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Although it may be exciting to find a wheat cent, most wheat cents are not very valuable.&nbsp; However there a few rare cents that can be more expensive/valuable.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Until the year 1989 the mint mark was hand punched on dies. Some coins have repunched mint marks (RPM).&nbsp; An RPM is caused when the mint mark was hand punched on a die more than one time and the punch was not correctly aligned with the original mint mark!</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There were occasions that coins were punched with two different mint marks.&nbsp; This is called an over mint mark (OMM).&nbsp; An OMM is when mint marks from two different mints were punched one on top of the other on the die.&nbsp; For example, a D over S.</p><p><br /></p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Most serious coin collectors will emphatically tell you “DON’T CLEAN COINS”.&nbsp; Of course, there are exceptions (some don’t mind or even like cleaned coins) but that is a very good rule to follow!&nbsp; A coin that has been cleaned loses both value and desirability to most collectors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to correct any mistakes you see and add any other information you think might help those new to this amazing hobby!!!![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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