Numismatic Terminology

[foundinrolls]

Exactly ....an RPM is one type of die variety. A Doubled Die is another type. Over-mintmarks are another type of die variety and so on.

[coppercoins]

Actually what is far more important than the terms used is that everyone involved KNOW the minting process and how all of these come about. The terminology comes logically to those who REALLY understand all about how they are created. The mere fact that varieties, die varieties, and errors really are DIFFERENT things doesn't phase most collectors because they don't know enough about the minting process to logically separate them.

I would MUCH rather have a student who understands the process from beginning to end than have a student who doesn't know the process but knows there's a 'd' on the end of 'doubled' die.

[foundinrolls]

What he said! Thanks Chuck!!

It is by knowing the minting process that you can understand just what you are looking at. There are finite possibilities when looking at an anomaly on a coin and based upon how coins are made, you can tell the difference between errors, die varieties and Varieties..

You can also tell what has some kind of collectible value and what does not.
Thanks,
Bill

[lara4228]

Chuck, I agree with you. One who understands the minting process is far more important than one who understands the vocabulary for diagnosing irregularities on cents.

I created this thread to see how open people are about the vocabulary around numismatics and to actually change the way the lamination/delamination is used officially in this hobby.

While lying down this morning before I arose, I was thinking about this idea of grading companies applying the named error "Lamination" And yes, a coin in essence has a "Lamination Error" when some of the layers are or have peeled away. In true form of identifying and grading a coin, "Lamination Error" seems accurate, because it is, in fact a laminating defect within the planchet itself.


I suppose, after creating this thread, reading everybody's responses and working through the notions of understanding, reflecting and logically piecing together everything, I too am in agreeing, leave the terminology for grading purposes, "Lamination Error" alone. The term "Delaminating" would and should still apply for the peels. Because they are hard core evidence that the coin has been 'delaminated'

Thank you everyone who has chimed in on this thread. It has been great hearing from all of you and it has been a wonderful learning experience for me also. I enjoyed reading everyone's point of view and furthermore I enjoyed reflecting and seeing the whole aspect in full picture with all possible variables. It has clarified such a simple matter which I picked apart and made it not so simple. (Typical of me).

[BadThad]

The bottomline, as long as we understand what another person is talking about, it doesn't really matter. LOL