Variety without markers?
joeykoins
Posts: 16,655 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hi guys,
From my past experience. What I thought was a variety coin, turned out to be a bust! I thought if the coin seems to have the obvious sightings that it would for sure be the real deal? Apparently, not so.
Say for example, the famous 55 dd Lincoln cent. The
Obvious doubling of it's date is so clear. Does this variety have any markings to make the coin a true variety? Do all coins have to have markings to make it a variety? Sort of confused? Thanks 
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Comments
If a coin is identified by a feature of the dies, as in doubled dies, overdates, RPM, it is a variety. Other markers are more for die state identification or authentication. In your example, only one set of dies produced the 1955 doubled die, there will not be others that are different.
Collector, occasional seller
Die markings usually confirm certain varieties as early or late die state. For some, they can confirm authenticity as well... such as the '09S VDB. Cheers, RickO
In some series every coin is a variety. State coppers for instance, every single coin can be attributed to a die pair.
Alot (most?) circulated coins no longer have the die markers on them as compared to when they were first minted. So can't always rely on the markings to confirm a variety. And really do you need markers to confirm a 55 DDO? Or are you bringing counterfeits into the discussion?
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
You are still confused about the 1878 S Morgan VAM 50 (Lava Wing), yes?
The main feature of interest on that variety is a raised and very knobbly region on the wing that looks like a lava flow. You completely missed that, for whatever reason - the wing on your coin looks like a completely normal wing. My guess is that you either looked at a bad photo or the wrong part of the photo of VAM 50 to make your determination. If you really want to get to the bottom of it, why not post the photo of VAM 50 you used and circle the exact region of the wing that you looked at.
What I've been trying to explain to you is this - virtually no die has only one distinguishing characteristic. Every die has uniquely-positioned features like die cracks, die scratches, polishing lines, mint marks etc. Pre-20th century US dies were not uncommonly made with damaged hubs, so you may see broken letters, for example. The point is, you can check your work to see if you're right by checking additional markers. As an example, I told you that VAM 50 has a complete "R" in "TRUST". So, when you see that your coin has a broken "R", you know that it can't be VAM 50.
There are probably other 55 DDO markers. But, to @IkesT point, if you don't have the doubled 55, who cares about incidental markers.
But whatever the variety, usually ALL the markers have to match. And I only say "usually" because of things like die state erosion, grease filled letters, etc.
ONE marker MAY not tell you anything. For example, you might have two VAMs (hypothetical) that have broken Rs. Then that is not a definitive marker. But if it had a broken R and a broken wing, then it had to be the VAM.
Personally, I've never liked varieties, especially minor varieties. It can be a challenge if you are looking for letter spacing or something like that and then you have to deal with die wear, die damage, striking differences, and then coin wear on top of that. Gives me a headache.
Smoetimes you need die markers to help verify (Authenticate) the variety. I think he is asking if you do have one, is it real? I think that there are die markers for the 1955DD cent. I don't know what they are thou. Never thought of it as I would only buy this coin in a legit third party grader holder. (PCGS, NGC or ANACS)