Lincoln hunting - tips for finding more keepers!

[VAB2013]

It would be nice to get some tips, pointers and techniques from our members so we can think about ways to become more effective Lincoln hunters!

We all learn at a different pace and then decide what things interest us the most and what we want to find!

I would like to start with how critical it is to understand the minting process of how the dies are made. This is the backbone of our hobby! Below are links from Wexler's website that really helped me understand the minting process and what causes doubled dies!

Please feel free to add your favorite links on these subjects and also give us some of your tried and true tips on how to search and find more of what you are looking for!

http://doubleddie.com/58201.html

http://doubleddie.com/58222.html

[makecents]

Thanks Viv! Sweet!!

[scubalou]

Thanks Viv: I have a bit of a problem thou. Seems my tiny brain can only hold so much information, so when I learn something new I have to relinquish something else. Problem is - I don't have a say in it, the brain just takes whatever is handy and eliminates that to make way for the new information. This morning, I got in my vehicle and forgot how to start is. Spent half the day looking through the manual before I was able to get out. Not sure what got pushed out, hopefully I still remember how to pee.
Lou

[GrumpyEd]

Understand the basic minting process and the types of varieties or errors you want is a good start.

After that refine the search method.
Volume is a huge factor. Searching is fun but going to get cents and getting rid of them is less fun but without a big volume the chances of finding rare big varieties or errors is very low.
Avoid getting side-tracked by spending too much time on minor quality control issues like plating bumps, die lines, chips, cracks, MD and die wear because those things aren't worth a flip and it gets messy to have thousands of minor things on your desk.
Don't look too close in your initial search, it should start with a loupe not a microscope or you'll take a lot of time over reflections and lighting. If you can't notice it with a loupe it probably isn't worth the time to look with a scope. Know what to look for and go fast, make notes or a mental list of the big stuff and put extra focus on the dates with good stuff to find. If something looks possible but confusing, put it aside and continue and go back later when you have nothing to search and go through the ones you put aside.

Deviate and look closer if you are bored and stuck at home and want to look very close but that should be a last resort, it's always best to get some new rolls/bricks/bags and keep the volume going.

[scubalou]

Thanks Ed: Sounds like a good regiment.
Lou

[VAB2013]

Thanks Viv! Sweet!!

You're welcome Jon! I was hoping you would chime in and tell us some of the things that you do to make your searching easier and more effective!

[VAB2013]

Thanks Viv: I have a bit of a problem thou. Seems my tiny brain can only hold so much information, so when I learn something new I have to relinquish something else. Problem is - I don't have a say in it, the brain just takes whatever is handy and eliminates that to make way for the new information. This morning, I got in my vehicle and forgot how to start is. Spent half the day looking through the manual before I was able to get out. Not sure what got pushed out, hopefully I still remember how to pee.
Lou

Oh Lou, trust me... things will get better! You are just going through the initial growing pains of trying to learn too much too fast! I remember in the beginning I took a lot of notes because I could not remember which years had doubled ears, WAM's and doubled dies because I didn't want to miss anything. Over time you start to remember that stuff and it gets much easier. There are still some years I have to look up on Coppercoins, Wexler and Variety Vista because there's no way to remember all of it!

[VAB2013]

Understand the basic minting process and the types of varieties or errors you want is a good start.

After that refine the search method.
Volume is a huge factor. Searching is fun but going to get cents and getting rid of them is less fun but without a big volume the chances of finding rare big varieties or errors is very low.
Avoid getting side-tracked by spending too much time on minor quality control issues like plating bumps, die lines, chips, cracks, MD and die wear because those things aren't worth a flip and it gets messy to have thousands of minor things on your desk.
Don't look too close in your initial search, it should start with a loupe not a microscope or you'll take a lot of time over reflections and lighting. If you can't notice it with a loupe it probably isn't worth the time to look with a scope. Know what to look for and go fast, make notes or a mental list of the big stuff and put extra focus on the dates with good stuff to find. If something looks possible but confusing, put it aside and continue and go back later when you have nothing to search and go through the ones you put aside.

Deviate and look closer if you are bored and stuck at home and want to look very close but that should be a last resort, it's always best to get some new rolls/bricks/bags and keep the volume going.

Excellent information and searching tips Ed! Thank you! I know that you have searched a lot of Lincolns and found many very nice varieties and discoveries! We all have things that we have found to help us be more effective in searching and I hope that everyone will pitch in this conversation and share those things with us! It is especially nice to know how you and our other mentors have streamlined your searches over the years!

[GrumpyEd]

I always try the simplest methods. I only need a loup and a desk-lamp. I don't do much pre sorting but as I sort many "dud" dates go straight into the spend pile directly including almost any modern D mint or shield cent. I look at it this way, 90% of what I get out here are modern D mints. I can't think of any modern D mint that I could sell or bother wasting a flip on, most recent thing would be a 92-D CLAM and I do look at those. So tossing that 90% of the coins lets me look faster at more coins and if I miss something worth a few cents it's ok.

People that have more P mints can look for the modern ones with football 0s and TY doubling but in reality even in the modern P mints you could just check the 97 for the ear, the 92 for the CLAM, the 06s for the better ones and a few other dates. Most of the other stuff is going to be $1 coin at best.

So my point is, for me that blazing through volume and looking for bigger stuff works much better.

Everyone has their own method and goals.

Viv, if you can find one of the posts where CD described his technique you might link it. His approach is much more professional than my speedy approach. I'm talking about the way he sorts with a stick and groups by decades.

[VAB2013]

I always try the simplest methods. I only need a loup and a desk-lamp. I don't do much pre sorting but as I sort many "dud" dates go straight into the spend pile directly including almost any modern D mint or shield cent. I look at it this way, 90% of what I get out here are modern D mints. I can't think of any modern D mint that I could sell or bother wasting a flip on, most recent thing would be a 92-D CLAM and I do look at those. So tossing that 90% of the coins lets me look faster at more coins and if I miss something worth a few cents it's ok.

People that have more P mints can look for the modern ones with football 0s and TY doubling but in reality even in the modern P mints you could just check the 97 for the ear, the 92 for the CLAM, the 06s for the better ones and a few other dates. Most of the other stuff is going to be $1 coin at best.

So my point is, for me that blazing through volume and looking for bigger stuff works much better.

Everyone has their own method and goals.

Viv, if you can find one of the posts where CD described his technique you might link it. His approach is much more professional than my speedy approach. I'm talking about the way he sorts with a stick and groups by decades.

I think that volume is where some of us are at a disadvantage since it's not always easy to get large quantities of Lincolns to search. So, when we have a small amount to search we tend to look harder for things.

Was it Chuck Daugherty who had the stick with the hinges and groove where the coins could be lined in a row and flipped?

[GrumpyEd]

Was it Chuck Daugherty who had the stick with the hinges and groove where the coins could be lined in a row and flipped?

Viv, I'm not sure but I remember he sorts by decade and I thought he used a sorting stick.
For me, I avoid handling them more than once, I figure I pick it up so might as well look and get on to the next coin LOL...

I searched a bit. I did find one really old thread that CD and Coop both gave advice on where they both used sorting methods but in the thread they are talking about searching wheat cents only.

http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3125

[VAB2013]

Viv, I'm not sure but I remember he sorts by decade and I thought he used a sorting stick.
For me, I avoid handling them more than once, I figure I pick it up so might as well look and get on to the next coin LOL...

I searched a bit. I did find one really old thread that CD and Coop both gave advice on where they both used sorting methods but in the thread they are talking about searching wheat cents only.

http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3125

I bet Roller or enamel will remember who used the stick with the groove and hinges but I don't know if that's the same thing as the sorting stick you are talking about Chuck using.

Ed for a couple of years I sorted everything by year and mint mark and it helps so much to train your eyes and mind what to look for. I don't sort anymore... but if I had a bag of wheat cents I would definitely sort them by year so I could study them better!

Thank you for the link to the thread! Nice round table discussion amongst pros!

[Petespockets55]

I remember you asking about a "sorting stick" last year Viv. I had never heard of that before. Maybe that is what Ed was referring to when he mentioned hinges to be able to turn the stick over to search the reverse.

I was curious at the time and should have asked for an image (maybe you did post one).

[GrumpyEd]

LOL, I don't remember hinges, maybe they used the stick just so you can line em up then flip them all.

[VAB2013]

Here is a thread I found that describes the wood stick with hinges but you can't see the attachments http://www.lincolncentforum.com/foru...ighlight=hinge