Home U.S. Coin Forum

What Constitutes a Coin Variation and/or Error?

DotStoreDotStore Posts: 702 ✭✭✭✭

How do "Varieties" become official by the grading companies? For example, if one of the dies had an inadvertent pattern on it, and that pattern was transferred to all of the coins struck with that die -- would that be a "Variety" or would it be an "Error" or something else? And how many of the coins would have to be found (with the same distinguishing pattern) before it was recognized as an official "difference"?

Comments

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Many varieties are indeed minor errors. Not all varieties are errors. Most errors are not varieties. Hope this helps :D

  • gripgrip Posts: 9,962 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good answer Moxie15.

  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The 3 legged Buffalo is considered a variety and it is also a minor and repeatable die-polishing error

  • DotStoreDotStore Posts: 702 ✭✭✭✭

    @ErrorsOnCoins said:
    Many varieties are indeed minor errors. Not all varieties are errors. Most errors are not varieties. Hope this helps :D

    That actually does make sense (great user name) :)

    @Moxie15
    Thanks -- that is what I thought. I'm looking at some coins that might be a variety. I say that because I have seen several coins with the same distinguishing pattern on them (I'm thinking they were struck with the same die). I've seen this identical pattern on slabbed coins from all 3 major TPG's

  • cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 7,946 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here are my definitions (some will disagree, but I like to keep it simple):

    Variety: An abnormality with the die or dies used to strike coins, that can be seen on the coins it or they struck. All coins stuck by this/these die or dies will show the abnormality.

    Mint Error: A coin that shows an abnormality that occurred in the manufacturing process of the coin itself. All of these are one-offs.

    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
  • WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 6,894 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great place to get your answers questioned...

    lincolncentforum.com/terminology-list-e/

    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • HemisphericalHemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Moxie15 Welcome to the forums!

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Moxie15 .... Welcome aboard.... Good response, however, as you can see... in numismatics there are exceptions and contradictions. Cheers, RickO

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file