That's Odd....oh maybe not... a fun hunt of IHC Odd varieties

In my younger years I was an avid sportsman. Fishing and hunting much of Delmarva ...where one can fish the streams,ponds,rivers, bay's,and ocean canyons....all in one week....or hunt the highlands to the swamps...bagging anything from a bear to a ground squirrel...buck's to duck's .... a flyway for the Canadian's & Snow geese.... and wild turkey can be shot either in a glass or in the wooded forest with a 410 load.
In my younger years I watched two show's that not only tweaked my interest....but taught me so much ! Bass Master's and The in Fisherman. Both shows took you out and taught you first hand how to fish.
And proved the old proverb of " give a man a fish" or "teach him how to fish" is such good advice through out life.
The same applies here to coin collection especially when hunting variety specimens. On these two TV show's taught you where to look.....fish "structure" the areas which hold fish. Not just to bait a hook with a worm and toss it in the middle of the lake.
As the possibilities of success is a lot less than placing that bait in front of a lot of fish.

That's my intention here to enlighten those's of you who what to find those prize varieties that become the key stones to your collection.

In variety hunting one cannot " fish structure " however one can find the structure to fish by research, and knowing where to look....or place the bait so to speak....

There's numerous books ,web sites, to obtain your bait ...however for the most part it's free! Your's for the taking....

This post will show some specimens that fall under the IHC's Odd category.

Items that are on the coin that may or may not have any business being there...except mostly human error ,and perhaps the free use of alcohol at the mint. That another story...

Variety collecting covers a lot of ground.... numerous series to choose to hunt.
These are recent finds of mine in the Odd indian head cent series. Careful study of these specimens as well as several websites one can definitely begin to understand where to look ,as well what dates to look for....
I highly recommend a note book, as well as sites booked marked so you can easy identify the specimen in question.



This first specimen of an 1874 Odd 001 housed in an old Seg's slab Larry Briggs got it half correct.
As the coin is in a detailed slab. However what details the coin was done at the mint.
And what detailed it was actually a strike though done at the mint. Foreign object between the die and blank durring coining.
So just above the date ...difficult to see is a gouge between the trunk of the bust and date.
Anyone want to guess where the medal fused on the neck as well on the #1 shaft came from?

I don't think that when Larry was running Seg's that strike thoughts were considered an error. However years ago I purchased a FEC from" the Penny Lady "at the Baltimore show that had the exact same damage. Struck through on the reverse center.
One needs to know that the mint was a messy place back in the day...which accounts for many errors as well variety coins.
Now here's the best part.... cool Odd Indian head cent variety, housed in a slab many would over look...
That is actually an error which created a variety in a vintage slab, onced owned by one of the first TPG's!
Doing ones home work , studing well known varieties in the series you collect will only increase your odds...pun intendec!
I will post a few other finds if this post has sparked your interest ....that will most likely turn to passion after your first successful find.

There's numerous free sites ....google is your friend that will lead your search to the information to confirm your find.
Lastly one needs not perfect vision...it helps...but that's why they make magnifying glass's! One not need an IQ....of a 140!
One needs " passion" for building their collections to the point where they too wish to show case them, as well enjoy the ride they took building it.

Please feel free to post your Indian head collection and share your stories.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

1864 no L bronze Odd 003 snow 11 concentric circles on the obv. Face and devices.
Notice the close up of the eyes and nose... and highlighted red area there's where the lines can be seen the best.
Again proving that varieties are more than doubled dies, and repunched dates and mint marks.
However for the doubter the die crack from the o, in " of " to the rim ,as well the die chip under the T in states confirmed the variety. More information on this and other Odd finds
https://indiancentvarieties.com/

 

The 1875 Odd -004 a snow 18 cross reference, URS,8
Heavy file lines behind the ear . The woodie toning does hide the lines somewhat .

 

The 1880 Odd -001 snow 8 https://indiancentvarieties.com/1880_variety008.html
Has three varieties in one! This happens to be my plate coin # 8 showed below. There's also a 8a and 8b

 

Only my best....
(Not much of a IHC collector) Most of mine are dug....

 

This 1873 open 3 has a bit more going on under the center pearl on her necklace. A mpd the ball of an misplaced 3 .

 

The 1892 is also a mpd https://indiancentvarieties.com/1892_variety017.html
You can actually see the 2 in the rim under the 89. And this variety has two listings ...

 

This very attractive 1889 is hiding some very hidden pups. Believe it or not a top 100 variety. OOC-001 best view is in the E of cent. Small chips that match up the clash. As well the die crack from the O in ONE west to wreath.

 

1880 IHC's had quite a few varieties...some well sought after.
Some of the specimens above haven't been received yet so treating the verdi is job one once in hand.
This is 1880. CRK 001 PUN 011 variety #3 R-6 rarity

 

Thanks for a great write up.

 

Lastly not a Odd cherry pick ...but a cool top 100 variety pick a snow # 2 1888/7 over date R-6 variety