All -- this is something I've wondered for quite awhile and I'm honestly interested to hear some responses to this: why do you collect error coins? While I collect coins, mainly ancients, but also dabble in world coins and am putting together a US type set, I've never been drawn to the notion of looking for and collecting coins with errors. From the outside looking in, I just don't see what the allure is. If anything, I want my coins to be as nice and error free as possible. But folks in this forum see things quite differently, so to speak. So, would anyone please let me know what I'm missing out on? What lured you in and keeps you collecting these types of coins?
To me it's just the hunt to include them in a set. Like the Lincoln cent series. I had many errors at one time including the 1909 errors, the 1955 DDO, and 9 yes NINE 1972 DDO. If you check out my show cases you will see them and more.
I'm with@dwhiz. Also, As a kid(55 now), we were growing up learning about special coins that could be possibly found in circulation and that were only seen in coin books! This for me was like looking for treasure. Just the thought of finding or buying one someday was a dream of mine.
Mainly because they are different. 2nd they might be rare ? 3rd They might be valuable. 4th they are fun to look at. I like them because some might be rare. For U.S. coins I have a high grade 1984 doubled ear cent. 1943-P Jefferson Nickel a doubled eye nickel. Off center quarter... I have many World Coin errors too. Link: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-your-world-error-coins.324945/ Probably my rarest world coin is the Canadian caribou quarter struck on a cent planchet. I collect Canadian caribou quarters so that interests me in adding those as well....(also a caribou quarter struck on a nickel and dime planchet) They were not cheap either. Egypt King Tutankhamun 1 pound 2010 double struck- 2nd strike 40% off center. I have nicknamed this coin "The curse of King Tut"...
It's probably the detective in me . . . wanting to understand how an error coin was made is just as important to me as appreciating how different it looks. Some error coins have really stumped me for a long time and, when I finally figure out what caused the error, I can take great satisfaction in that.
But lets sort this out as the op asked about errors....not varieties. There's a difference...now I have collected both. Erros are striked related, as varieties like ddo ,ddr's rpd,rpms are varieties. Yoda's first 2 are varieties ,where as the off center quarter is an error. I loved searching mint bags in the past, as one would find a lot of errors. Now a days the quality assurance catches and cancels errors ,their system does a great job kicking out mis minted coins. Unfortunately doing such great work it has just about killed any chances to find mint errors in bags.
I don't search out and collect errors specifically but when I come across them in my searches they are always a welcome addition to my collection. They are just interesting oddities imo.
There are two different views on collecting Mint Errors.. Some people think that its dumb and that nobody should own them. Those people suck! Then others think they are cool and love them.. I think they are cool and I love them! I've been collecting, studying and sharing my knowledge of mint errors for almost 37 years now. And this is an old picture.. I have added about 30 more Attributed Mint Errors since it was taken
I am a perfectionist at heart, so I love them for their imperfections and uniqness if that makes sense
I've been collecting for over 70 years and have nothing left collect other than very expensive, very rare coins. CRH is not for me. I watch for errors and varieties because I like to find something I don't have. I now collect ancients. I wanted to maintain the "finding in the wild" approach, so, I get uncleaned and as I clean and attribute them, I have the feel of finding them in change. It keeps me in the hobby.
For me it was the thrill of the hunt. I used to search for penny errors as a kid 60 years ago but only found filled numbers\letters and laminations. The only oddity I bought, for fun, was a copper plated steel cent. I would like having the '55 DD, the popular overdates, and the 3-legger but they're too pricey for me and could never imagine finding one in the wild. Now days I can't understand so many people looking for DD's that take a microscope to see (and are usually wrong). Also, looking on eBay at what's being passed off as errors, and their insane prices, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
I collect lamination errors before the cent is struck.Each one is different. Mostly from eBay over the years. They really float my boat. yea man.
Errors don't really float my boat either...I never heard of rewards coming from mistakes, except maybe my birth
You can walk into almost any coin shop in the world and find/buy almost any grade of a country’s coins. But try and walk into a coin shop and find error (or variety) coins and you will very disappointed. Error coins are just had to find. Oh the thrill of the hunt! Also, you can almost never find two error coins that are exactly the same. Unlike a slabbed coin with say an MS 60 designation which is going to look like all the other MS60 designated coins of the same type. So you have individuality also going for you on an error coin. Try to put a complete set of error coins together. You really can’t, because no one knows what errors are out there, and no two are exactly the same. To me this is a plus because you don’t have to get aggravated over that hole in an album, or grade you are missing. Knowing a full set does not exist takes the angst out of collecting. Well that’s my story an I am sticking to it.
I wouldn’t like to have errors in my car or a few other things I own, but coins, errors are great. I’m not a variety collector, but I do enjoy the hunt of finding a coin with a genuine mint error. Yes a letter or number missing from a coin due to grease is nice and a die crack is also nice but I mean less common Mint errors. Incomplete Planchets, over dates, clashes, laminations, and doubled dies, etc. are truly wonderful coins to find and own. Here are a few of mine:
For me, it's partly the hunt, but more than that, it's that they are different. If you look at your coins regularly, (no matter what country you live it) they become common place and ordinary, but find a coin with an obvious error and it stands out. Most are one of kind, so finding them is more challenging than just collecting regular coins. Note: I, personally, only like collecting obvious errors that can be easily seen with the naked eye.
I passed up the opportunity to buy a flip over double struck nickel very recently. I bought another coin that I wanted more but here is a flip over double struck cent. The last photo shows it best.
My siblings told me I was an error and it stuck. I'm always looking for worse errors them me, in coins that is.
Thanks to everyone who has responded to my question. I appreciate you taking the time to share what you personally get out of your hobby. While I'm not ready to start hunting for errors or varieties just yet, I'm glad so many of you find happiness in doing so.