How does one find errors?

F117ASR · July 25, 2014 2:08PM

Okay. So I often see errors on ebay such as missing clad layers, blank planchets, rotated dies, etc.

I wanted to ask, how often are errors found if one is looking? Because I've been looking through rolls, circulation coinage, and mint bags for quite some time and have yet to find anything truly substantial. Has anyone found any major errors looking through modern mint rolls or bags (not counting die cracks or DDOs DDRs or any doubling)? How many of you have honestly found a major error? Just curious. Thanx

-Stevo

F117ASR · July 25, 2014 2:15PM

<< I found a sweet Kennedy error, but that was in a bag of Ikes from a major armored truck service, so good luck with that. >>

Hey you can't leave me hanging. What kind of error was it?

goodmoney4badmoney · July 25, 2014 2:22PM

I found 4 coins with small curved clips in a $50 mint sewn bag of Lincoln cents from the 1970's that I opened and searched. I also received a small broadstruck state quarter in change at a convenience store that looked like it had been previously sitting in the road and got run over several times.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · July 25, 2014 2:33PM

<< 

<< I found a sweet Kennedy error, but that was in a bag of Ikes from a major armored truck service, so good luck with that. >>

Hey you can't leave me hanging. What kind of error was it?

>>

...if he told us...he would have to kill us...taking a major armored truck down is a thing that most wouldn't say a word about...even if it be on an Internet forum

Erik

AUandAG · July 25, 2014 2:46PM

I think the Scarface Morgan I found on Ebay in January was a major find...
It sold and then got resold and is now owned by a fellow formite.

The rotated die I found today was from a neighbor...He had about 150 common date silver dollars
that he wanted a value on...I obliged and he sold me just this one after I pointed out the error.
I didn't get to buy the rest but got the best of the batch.

Here's the scarface:

F117ASR · July 25, 2014 2:58PM

Very nice find. I suppose if you are counting major varieties, I have found two 1966 kennedy halves with the missing initials. I admit it is thrilling to find a variety out in the wild.

Stooge · July 25, 2014 2:58PM

I was searching a box of 2008-P Roosevelt Dimes and found 3 blank planchets. In the same box I found 2 with 5% O/C strikes.
In a different year of Dimes I received a small clip Dime. Not much otherwise.

Paul.

BryceM · July 25, 2014 3:17PM

Having a job at the mint seems to help.

lostincoins · July 25, 2014 3:26PM

BryceM +1 and FTB thats cool and you know what I think I have overlooked those as MD issues whats a value on that ?

I find errors in dealers cases in bulk bins, in the rotating shelves, I also find them roll searching. I have found a good number of wheat back errors searching through bags of them. Have about 10,000 to search now.

F117ASR · July 25, 2014 3:35PM

FadeToBlack, now that is a nice error. Nice end to the anticipation. I'm now more motivated to keep at it.

I always rotate my change to see if I can get the elusive circulation rotated die as I think they are pretty cool

GrumpyEd · July 25, 2014 6:14PM

<< I wanted to ask, how often are errors found if one is looking? Because I've been looking through rolls, circulation coinage, and mint bags for quite some time and have yet to find anything truly substantial. Has anyone found any major errors looking through modern mint rolls or bags (not counting die cracks or DDOs DDRs or any doubling)? How many of you have honestly found a major error? Just curious. Thanx >>

I'm taking the question as being about finding major strike errors (off center, broadstrikes, clips etc) not die varieties (DDOs, DDRs, RPMs, ODV, RDV) and that you're talking about modern stuff like you can get at the bank.

For the most part, they stopped shipping new coins from the mint to banks in bags years ago. Most modern coins go to a distribution outfit (like Brinks) that gets bulk coins by weight and rolls/boxes then ships them to banks.
Because of that, most things that won't fit in a roll (dramatic off centers, multiple strikes, broadstrikes, etc) would get culled out at those outfits if they don't fit in rolls. Maybe minor stuff or clips that do fit in rolls still get through. Some of those outfits may return the big defects to the mint or some may get sold into the market as errors.

It may be the case that your best bet to find big errors would be buying old sealed bags from back when things were shipped in bags. Beyond that you might be most likely to find items online or from dealers.

One other key is that people might think they look at a lot of coins (like thousands of coins) and expect to find some rare errors or varieties. The people that find more stuff are probably looking at more coins (like millions) of coins or have access to rejects from a place that is rolling or counting coins (banks, coin rolling outfits).

ricko · July 26, 2014 2:31AM

I have found blank cent planchets..... but nothing else of note.... Cheers, RickO

F117ASR · July 26, 2014 2:33AM

<< 

<< I wanted to ask, how often are errors found if one is looking? Because I've been looking through rolls, circulation coinage, and mint bags for quite some time and have yet to find anything truly substantial. Has anyone found any major errors looking through modern mint rolls or bags (not counting die cracks or DDOs DDRs or any doubling)? How many of you have honestly found a major error? Just curious. Thanx >>

I'm taking the question as being about finding major strike errors (off center, broadstrikes, clips etc) not die varieties (DDOs, DDRs, RPMs, ODV, RDV) and that you're talking about modern stuff like you can get at the bank.

For the most part, they stopped shipping new coins from the mint to banks in bags years ago. Most modern coins go to a distribution outfit (like Brinks) that gets bulk coins by weight and rolls/boxes then ships them to banks.
Because of that, most things that won't fit in a roll (dramatic off centers, multiple strikes, broadstrikes, etc) would get culled out at those outfits if they don't fit in rolls. Maybe minor stuff or clips that do fit in rolls still get through. Some of those outfits may return the big defects to the mint or some may get sold into the market as errors.

It may be the case that your best bet to find big errors would be buying old sealed bags from back when things were shipped in bags. Beyond that you might be most likely to find items online or from dealers.

One other key is that people might think they look at a lot of coins (like thousands of coins) and expect to find some rare errors or varieties. The people that find more stuff are probably looking at more coins (like millions) of coins or have access to rejects from a place that is rolling or counting coins (banks, coin rolling outfits). >>

Thank you GrumpyEd. That was the best answer so far and I think it directly addresses my issue regarding errors. I will look into the old mint bags (although I know finding original ones are getting harder and harder).

joeykoins · July 27, 2014 3:18AM

Told this story many times. I found a Lincoln cent 1999 " Wide A.M." variety/error on the sidewalk! I believe it was in 2001. It's the significant one in the three year " Wide A.M." series. I decided to send it in to be graded from across the street ( NGC ). To my surprise, it came back MS 64 RB. The cent was worth about $200 after the grade. Not bad for finding on the sidewalk, huh? You just have to keep patient and keep searching and hunting! You'll find your diamond in the rough too.

One note: My cent was the first one NGC graded in the Wide A.M. category.

ctf_error_coins · August 5, 2014 2:06AM

For one person to search to find a major mint error is a close to an impossible task.

There are 300 plus million Americans, and some of them do on occasion find major mint errors, it's a number game.

Back to the coin collecting community where many numismatics search hours upon hours looking for major errors, varieties, or high grade coins.

IMO, major error coins are WAY UNDERVAULED when you consider the man hours put in collectively to find such pieces.

So back to the question, where do you find major mint errors? .....

The simple answer is you buy them. From a error coin dealer, a regular coin dealer, or some lucky citizen who comes upon one.

Type2 · August 5, 2014 2:40AM

Or look at 1000's of bags & rolls.

lkrarecoins · August 5, 2014 3:22AM

I've been collecting for over 35+ years, and have only found a Washington qtr with a missing clad layer, and a jeff nickel brockage error...Significant errors are not easy to find in the wild ;-)

AMRC · August 5, 2014 3:34AM

With great patience.

joeykoins · August 5, 2014 3:47AM

Major errors, probably far fetched. Minor errors, yes, probably will turn up? Ex: 1955 Double Die, very, very unlikely to find in the wild! When was the 55'DD found last by anyone on this forum?

Flash · August 7, 2014 6:32AM

I usually find them at Fred Weinberg's bourse table

LanceNewmanOCC · August 7, 2014 7:12AM

.
get a job at a mint?

isn't that how most of them made their way into the public's hands?
.

ctf_error_coins · August 7, 2014 7:18AM

<< .
get a job at a mint?

isn't that how most of them made their way into the public's hands?
. >>

Really, ....... (most) ........... some here need to do just a little research before making such statements .......

TwoSides2aCoin · August 7, 2014 7:22AM

Every time I find them, I don't believe it so I toss them back into circulation.

LanceNewmanOCC · August 7, 2014 7:38AM

<< Really, ....... (most) ........... some here need to do just a little research before making such statements ....... >>

statement?

how about questions?

i linked the words to dictionary.com for you.
.

ctf_error_coins · August 7, 2014 7:56AM

<< 

<< Really, ....... (most) ........... some here need to do just a little research before making such statements ....... >>

statement?

how about questions?

i linked the words to dictionary.com for you.
. >>

Thank you, but MANY TIMES, Questions ARE Statements ........

SAM5969 · August 7, 2014 8:14AM

By mistake

LanceNewmanOCC · August 7, 2014 8:21AM

<< Thank you, but MANY TIMES, Questions ARE Statements ........

>>

i was legitimately asking (in this instance) since i've read on a few occasions that tens of thousands++ of errors were reported to have been absconded from the mint(s). i was and am wondering if these

reports comprise the vast majority of errors leaving the mints. i know it is asking for tons of speculation but sometimes the right people with the right info can relay it in such a way as to be useful.

i'd link the reports but they are from a myriad of sources, some not online, that i know of.

i do feel confident that sealed mint bags and sets etc. provided quite a few errors to be sure.

either way, i've enjoyed owning quite a few and some rather diverse errors.

.

ctf_error_coins · August 7, 2014 8:28AM

Lance, yes error coins have been smuggled out of the mint. The last big batch was MEL or Missing Edge Letters, which I personally do not consider a significant error. Yes some Big eye appealing error coins have been smuggled out.

But by far the vast majority have indeed escaped the lawfully and are fully explainable in terms of how they were minted in error.

Sorry I was a little snide, but I hear this (that they were smuggled out) every time I post I really cool mint error.

LanceNewmanOCC · August 7, 2014 8:52AM

<< But by far the vast majority have indeed escaped the lawfully and are fully explainable in terms of how they were minted in error. >>

but if coins are not to leave the mint that our designated out of parameters, aren't they all illegal since they shouldn't have left? i really couldn't care any less either way. just an intellectual inquiry.

pretty sure the pattern debate has hit on this topic recently as well. probably a lengthier debate than the error one.
.

How does one find errors?

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