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But what is a variety, but an error of some sort is it not. But thanks I will try to remember. Actually i probably all ready knew that but probably forgot. Us - well this old coot anyway seems to be hard to train.
But what is a variety, but an error of some sort is it not. But thanks I will try to remember. Actually i probably all ready knew that but probably forgot. Us - well this old coot anyway seems to be hard to train.
Chuck can go into depth on this subject...but basically a variety will be produced exactly the same over and over by the same die where an error occurs in the minting process and is typically different each time.That's the simple explanation anyway.
Thanks Roger. So a variety is a die problem and is the same thing over and over until the die is repaired or taken out of service and an error would be a MD or planchet problem etc. That does makes sense. For instance a die crack would be an error until it stops progressing and then it would be a variety. I don't know if that is a good example, just the only one I can think of no wait, a die clash could be a variety right? I am sure there are exceptions and I am probably way off on these two examples. My problem is that I have this mindset that anything abnormal on the coin is an error. I think it is the single remaining braincell syndrome. But thank you very much for explanation. Now if I can just remember it a week from now.
Varieties and Die Varieties are a part of the die making process. Varieties are an intended design change that was not necessarily meant to be noticed by collectors - different date sizes, different mintmark styles, etc. Die varieties are one form or another of doubling placed onto the die before the die is hung on the press to start minting coins. Doubled dies, repunched mintmarks, over mintmarks, repunched dates, and over dates are included in 'die vareities.' Because of the nature of both varieties and die varieties, they remain on the die - thus transfer to ALL coins made by the die - until it is removed from service.
Errors occur either in the planchet making process or occur to the coins or die during the striking of the coins.
Planchet errors are the result of something wrong with the planchet before the coin is struck. Wrong metal, thin planchets, incomplete planchets, split planchets, and others are included in planchet errors.
Die errors are not a part of the die in the beginning, but develop on the die as it is used. Broken dies and cuds, clashed dies, and very heavy gouges and other readily obvious die problems are included in die errors.
Striking anomalies that can occur at any time during the striking of coins. Any coin mis-struck in the coining press is a striking error.
Planchet and striking errors are generally a coin-to-coin thing - it is quite possible for the press to mint an error between two completely normal coins. Die errors often develop or get larger as the die is used, and is not a coin-to-coin thing.
Die varieties and varieties are NOT coin-to-coin. They start on the die and remain on the die throughout the die's life, so EVERY coin struck by that die shows the same variety or die variety. Again, the difference between the two being that varieties are an intended difference, and die varieties are accidental doubling.
WAY too many people take the term 'error' too literally to mean that any coin that isn't perfect has to be an 'error' - nothing could be farther from the truth. There are a lot of coins out there that were struck with loose dies, slightly misaligned dies, or cracked dies that are not considered errors. Although die varieties are a mistake made during the die creation process, they still are not 'errors' - it helps separate the interest groups of collectors. Some collect die varieties and/or varieties, but do not collect errors - and vice versa.
Charles D. Daughtrey, NLG, Author, "Looking Through Lincoln Cents"
[URL="http://www.coppercoins.com/"]http://www.coppercoins.com[/URL]
Chuck that was an awesome explanation, thank you so much. It has helped me a lot and hopefully other newer collectors as well. I hope I am not the only one that thought about errors this way. There is so much learn about this wonderful hobby of ours and I am so very thankful for all the knowledgeable folks on here that are willing to spend the time to help us new fledglings along.
Thanks again.
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