Are errors/varieties in pre 1900s coinage as common as modern E&Vs? You hear all the time of modern change varieties but very rarely of a DDO $10 Heraldic Eagle or Capped Bust. What can you tell me about this? Does anyone specifically collect classic E&Vs? Show pics if possible
@TypeCoin971793 I think you might be able to weigh in here. I know there are some star varieties and a few others, but I’m more familiar with moderns.
It seems that way. Possibly it's due to the larger amount of coins made nowadays and different methods of production.
as populations increased (and required more mintage of coins and thus more die replacements) and as the number of mints increased (thus requiring more dies), thus probably increased the number of errors/varieties.
And, don't forget that although there might earlier doubled dies around (and there are) in many cases the 'host' value of the coin itself far exceeds any value or premium that a collector would pay for an expensive coin with a doubled die. Most modern doubled dies are on common, face-value coins, that then have a premium for the Doubled Die.
I think it’s more the errors you find are different. Dates aren’t punched into died anymore so you don’t have RPD or Overdates. Mintmarks aren’t punched into dies anymore so you don’t have RPM or OMM. The single squeeze die makin process has eleminated most DD and has reduced the severity of the ones that exist. The modern minting process has dramatically changed errors.
Very early US coins were struck from hand-made dies, so imperfections and variations are to be expected. In addition, there was a limited number of dies used, so it is possible to keep tabs on each pair used. Some die varieties have significant imperfections that cause them to be more desirable (1796 LIHERTY large cent comes to mind, as well as overdates), but minor doubling is not seen as anything special. Mid-date coins (seated liberty and IHCs) were made from many more dies with far less variation, meaning dies with more variation are special. However, series with higher premiums (seated halves and gold, for example) have fewer collectors and thus fewer varieties with strong premiums. Those that do have high premiums are generally quite spectacular (1857 quarter clashed with FEC or 1846/6 half with a sideways 6, for example). Indian cents are generally low-cost for the common dates, so FAR more people collect them, so varieties are more studied and have higher premiums. This trend holds true for modern coins as well.
Are varieties as common? No, and there are rather obvious reasons as to why, but they certainly exist.
You don't hear about DDO's of those coins because they were not possible Doublded dies, dies with hub doubling is not possible until after about 1836 because the dies were not hubbed before then (as a general rule, there were a few experiments before that time.) You will hear a LOT about die varieties before then though because as mentioned every die was basically made by hand with all the lettering, stars, date etc all punched into each die by hand. So every die was different. So early coins are often collected based on which pair of dies was used.
