Lately, I've been noticing a lot of clipped planchet pennies in the bargain bins at coin shows and dealers I frequent. I was sorely tempted to buy them, but knowing little if nothing about error coins, I was afraid I'd just pay for nothing. It got me wondering... what adds value to error coins? Clipped? Lamination? Does machine doubling add no value at all? Also, is it possible to find wide AM's in years other than the usual ones? (I think I may have found a 1979 one, but I'm not certain.) I know, I know... Buy a Cherrypicker's guide.
The only thing that adds value of any consequence is if it is a major error like being a doubled die that can be seen with the naked eye, no mint mark, off metal planchet, missing clad layers, double denomination, mule, double head/tails - things like that. Now there are a few exceptions to that, but not many. Your typical minor errors like clips, brockages, minor doubled die etc may add a few bucks to the value of a coin but that's about it. Stuff like machine doubling adds nothing at all.
Hi, A few points of clarification. Doubled dies are considered die varieties and not errors. The terminology is important. Also, some coins struck on incomplete planchets depending upon the denomination can be quite valuable. Also Brockages demand a nice premium. Also, recently, a so called "minor doubled die" (1972 DDO#4, I think it was)sold for a few thousand bucks Thanks, Bill Thanks, Bill
Yeah, you and I may say that Bill, but there are a few million others who disagree. I rather doubt that the debate of what constitutes an error and what constitutes a variety is going to be settled by us. Especially since it has been going on for as long as I can remember among the entire numismatic community.
Actually, this part of the terminology has been settled for 25 years. Errors and Die Varieties are not the same.
I do not disagree, errors and die varieties are definitely not the same. However, with many coins, whether it is an error, or a die variety - that is still being widely debated. Personally Bill, I agree that doubled die coins are varieties. But there are plenty of folks, some of them very well known and considered to be experts, who do not see it that way. That's all I'm trying to say.
We could argue this for days! but I won't.your both right 50 year ago when I started collecting they were variety's and about 25 year ago they add errors. like all thing coin collecting has to grow and it has.
Bill is perfectly correct and it is settled as far as Bill is perfectly correct and it is settled as far as serious die vareity specialist are concerned - none of us consider errors varieities or vice versa. If you truly understand the minting process there can be no disagreement regarding this IMO and everyone I know. Now with that said, "yes" not all folks will agree and most all of the ones who do not agree are not die variety specialists - they are error coin specialist or just dealers who do not study die varieties (except the Red Book issues) so my first statement is perfectly correct again.
There are exceptions but rule of thumb An ERROR is an anomaly on the coin attributable to the manufacturing process of the coin. A VARIETY is an anomaly on the coin attributable to the manufacturing process of the die.
