Proper use of "type" vs. "variety": teaching kids to distinguish
shirohniichan
Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
Last night when I gave my 6-year old daughter some coins for her 20th century type and Lincoln cents folders, she asked me what a variety was.
I told her that while a type is a unique design, a variety is a small change to a type. I then noticed that there are varieties listed as types in some folders and albums, so it will only confuse her as she fills more of them.
Why are varieties listed as types at times? Is it because collectors have become so focused on a series that the slightest variation looks big? When I write about "type II" obverse or reverse trade dollars I know I am referring to varieties, but if I were to write "variety II" other trade dollar collectors may wonder what I meant.
Should collectors be more precise in the use of terms to help young numismatists understand the proper meanings of words, or do we continue to use "type" and "variety" interchangeably at times and tell them, "It depends," when they ask what the terms mean?
I told her that while a type is a unique design, a variety is a small change to a type. I then noticed that there are varieties listed as types in some folders and albums, so it will only confuse her as she fills more of them.
Why are varieties listed as types at times? Is it because collectors have become so focused on a series that the slightest variation looks big? When I write about "type II" obverse or reverse trade dollars I know I am referring to varieties, but if I were to write "variety II" other trade dollar collectors may wonder what I meant.
Should collectors be more precise in the use of terms to help young numismatists understand the proper meanings of words, or do we continue to use "type" and "variety" interchangeably at times and tell them, "It depends," when they ask what the terms mean?
Obscurum per obscurius
0
Comments
Obscurum per obscurius
The Ike types of 1976 are usually referred to as varieties.
Words that are misused interfere with communication and can interfere with thinking. We have
enough trouble with both that there's no need to introduce more through mere carelessness.
<< <i>Words that are misused interfere with communication and can interfere with thinking. We have
enough trouble with both that there's no need to introduce more through mere carelessness. >>
I agree with that completely.
The Lincoln cent store:
http://www.lincolncent.com
My numismatic art work:
http://www.cdaughtrey.com
USAF veteran, 1986-1996 :: support our troops - the American way.
<< <i>coppercoins-"Double" die bugs me too. >>
should be Doubled die.
<< <i>I hear "die variety" used frequently and tend to avoid it except when trying to over-simplify things for newer collectors. For my series, I won't use the term -- I prefer die marriage and remarriage to refer to coins that differ because of the specific dies used to mint them. >>
Where each die is distinguisable this makes some sense but with modern coins
there is often a single die that is different. It's easier to think of them as the com-
mon variety and the rare variety.
Frequently "type" implies intent, where "variety" implies the inadvertant.
I, personally, do not think die state considerations should be considered varieties
at all since the die couldn't have struck them when new. While most people con-
sider rotated dies as errors, I consider them varieties because they do differentiate
a set of dies and could have occured before the dies were affected by wear.
Perhaps a better way to say this is that anything that identifies a specific die or die
pair is a variety. Wear is a normal part of all die usage and while it might appeal to
collectors in some instances, does not constitute the use of the term "variety".
Sloppy use of numismatic terms, that's why! Even though we know the proper terms we tend to get tired of explaining the proper meaning over & over again so we use the sloppy terms that the newbie or lesser informed person uses, simply for laziness & simplicity. I find myself doing it and it's inexcusable.
A “variety” should fall under the D class of “errors” using the PDS classification; Planchet, Die, Striking and differences in “walking, standing, seated drapery, no drapery” etc should fall under “type.” "Variety" should not be used to denote a sub-type of a design, even though it is a variation of the design.
Complete Circulating Type Set
Complete Type Set - New Definition
I think the second list is a better type set list. If you start letting in varieties then the flood gates open, and there's seeminlgy no end to what you must include.
US and British coin collector, and creator of The Ultimate Chuck E. Cheese's and Showbiz Pizza Place Token & Ticket Guide