Something about the next new A Guide Book of United States Coins (The Official Red Book), you should know. It is going to contain many more listings! Not just the 2008 cent nickels, dimes, quarters, halves, Sac dollars and Commemorative coins, but all kinds of variety and error coins. (including 13 new Mercury dime varieties). Most new listings in the Mercury Dime section will be doubled-die varities. To check for these look carefully at the date on the obverse of the coin or at the "In God We Trust" or "E Pluribus Unum" on the reverse. Because of employ ineptness there will be more listings in silver Washington quarters for the years 1956 through 1964. As you know proof coinage dies are slightly different from business strike dies, This is now highly evident because of the close and near "AM" Lincoln cents produced by the Philadelphia Mint in 1998, '99 and '00. Also by the San Francisco Mint in '98 and '99. Just imagine this: a Philadelphia Mint employ, needing a new reverse die to finish up a business striking of 1956 quarters, goes to the Proof die stock and uses one of those to mint the reverse of business-strike quarters. And does the same thing in 1957, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62 , '63 and '64. Nine new varieties: Type "B" reverse (proof reverse die) Guess what? In 1964, at the Denver Mint, another inept employ did the same thing. (or maybe the employ at the Philadelphia Mint was transferred to Denver?) So there, fellow U.S.A. coin collectors, are 10 more "error" coins to collect. Now you know so you who are reading this can get a jump start on finding these coins at coin shows and local coin shops before the next new Red Book comes out. So what happened to the regular business-strike dies that weren't used? No one seems to know. Hope this trivia enhances your numismatic knowledge. Clinker
Putting on tinfoil hat... Ever wonder if the employees do such things so they (or friends/family they inform) can find the coins first?
Probably a member of the Coin Secret Police? Works at Whitman? Is clarivoyant? Of course there is always the possibility he has the next addition of the Red Book. The 2007 came out many months early and the 2008 came out almost a year early so maybe the 2009 is now out.
Most of these varieties have been known for years - the Red Book just choose not to list them in their publication. This is because it used to be, and may still be, fairly common for the mint use worn Proof dies to strike business strike coinage. This is not new information - it is just the first time the Red Book chose to publish it for these particular coins. They have however published it about other coins previously.
Just called Ken. He never heard of you! (LOL) He does want your address as that he can have to Coin Police contact you for giving out ultra secret info.
