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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jaelus, post: 3081651, member: 46237&quot;]Clashes do not make for a variety, that is correct. Having said that, they also reproduce on every coin struck thereafter and thus absolutely 100% <i><b><u>cannot</u></b></i> correctly be considered errors. Die clashes can serve as markers for die state, however. So you can have variety A state i (pristine), state ii (clashed), etc. Die breaks, chips, and resurfacing are all markers for die state. These are all markers and not varieties because they occur from wear and tear and maintenance of the dies. They are not original design elements (intentional or not) on the die, which is what would make a variety.</p><p><br /></p><p>NGC&#039;s definition &quot;A variety is a coin that has characteristics specific to the die pair that struck it&quot; is correct. To clarify the varieties from die pairings, different die pairs <i>only</i> constitute varieties when they can be identified by markers on the die.</p><p><br /></p><p>For example take the following dies:</p><p>Obverse die A (narrow date)</p><p>Obverse die B (wide date)</p><p>Reverse die X (normal)</p><p>Reverse die Y (normal)</p><p>Reverse die Z (repunched legend)</p><p><br /></p><p>These could potentially make four varieties:</p><p>A/X or Y (narrow date)</p><p>A/Z (narrow date/repunched legend)</p><p>B/X or Y (wide date)</p><p>B/Z (wide date/repunched legend)</p><p><br /></p><p>This is <i>extremely common</i> with early US coinage. Note that because reverse die X and Y are indistinguishable, the use of either produces the same variety.</p><p><br /></p><p>Something else to keep in mind. There are both <i>major</i> varieties and <i>minor</i> varieties. A major variety might be something like an overdate, whereas a minor variety might be something like a slightly larger arrow head. Both major and minor varieties are <i>varieties</i>, however, a type collector for example may care about a major variety but not a minor one (and may not even know that they exist). For example, small capped bust quarters 1831-1838 have 36 varieties (38 if you include collar changes). Out of those, only 2 varieties are listed in Cherry Picker&#039;s, and only 1 variety is listed in the Red Book. By definition, all of these are varieties, but depending on who you talk to, bear in mind they may only be talking about <i>major</i> varieties.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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