PSA Thread For New Members Who Think They Might Have A Mint Error

cmerlo1

Existing Forum Members- please chime in and add/correct anything.

Here is a link to the US Mint's site outlining the minting process: https://www.usmint.gov/learn/production-process/coin-production

With the exception of Step 6: Bagging and Packaging, what you think might be an error on the coin you have must occur in steps 1 thru 5. Anything that occurs in step 6 is considered damage and adversely effects the value of the coin, as does anything that happens after the coin has left the mint.

Anything that affects the design on the dies and thus shows on the coins struck by those dies is called a variety. All coins of a particular variety should be identical as far as the variety is concerned, as they were all struck by the same pair of dies.

For example, if you believe you have a 1969-S doubled die Lincoln cent, all aspects of the doubling must match all known 1969-S doubled die Lincoln cent examples. It's easy to find images of certified examples to compare to, or you can look here for confirmed examples: http://www.varietyvista.com/

It is definitely possible to find both errors and varieties in circulation and by looking in rolls. Until you learn to recognize legitimate mint errors and varieties, remember that the reason some errors and varieties are valuable is because they are rare and there is demand by collectors for them. Until then, review the references above and attempt to determine why the coin ISN'T an error instead of just assuming it is because it looks different.

IkesT

For descriptions and images of genuine Mint errors and die varieties, please also visit:

https://www.error-ref.com/

Aspie_Rocco

This should be required reading before being allowed to making a first through tenth post. Also, why do so many of these “hunters” have a fancy digital scale?

bearcave

@Aspie_Rocco said:
This should be required reading before being allowed to making a first through tenth post. Also, why do so many of these “hunters” have a fancy digital scale?

LOL."fancy digital scale"

ricko

Excellent post... I would like to see this information 'pinned' to the top of page one.... With a title "Information for new collectors". Cheers, RickO

cmerlo1

@ricko said:
Excellent post... I would like to see this information 'pinned' to the top of page one.... With a title "Information for new collectors". Cheers, RickO

@PCGS_Moderator , what do you think?

shortnock

Most interesting videos. Intriguing, the upsetting mill.

streeter

My opinion
Almost every thread regarding parking lot finds or other goofball coins is by a newly registered poster, very low feedback, usually never reposts on thread. But takes super photos most of the time. How come many people here have never mastered photos to that degree? After decades of doing coins, I can't take a photo to match them.
Some here extend a welcome wagon to these newbies. Why not wait until they post 5 times to see if they are not a troll?

Troll, or alt over 90% of the time.

Namvet69

I seem to sense a lot of impulsivity with newbies, maybe excitability bordering on delusion. It'd be real nice if they read up but I don't think so. I do appreciate members who give newbies concise advise and suggest a reference source. Roy