Need tips when viewing shiny coins

collectorof2much

Since I'm new at trying to distinguish if a coin has any errors I am looking for some help. It seems that every shiny coin viewed up close shows halos (for lack of knowing the proper term) around the numbers and letters which can look like doubling (maybe doubling is not the proper term either) at times. I'm assuming that knowing the difference just comes with experience but I would appreciate any tips on the subject. I've included 3 photos of a 1971 D lincoln cent which is a good example of what I'm talking about, it looks like doubling with the 9,7,1 & maybe even a D over a D?

This 3rd photo gets disappearing when I try to post:

MarkKelley

Just trying to be helpful here, but you are wasting your time inspecting every coin for doubling. Look at websites such as Variety Vista or Wexler's Guide, which list all of the valuable forms of doubling. If you do see what you think is an unlisted type, chances are it's worthless machine doubling. Don't believe everything you see on YouTube or on the Facebook forums.

collectorof2much

@MarkKelley That is very helpful about being concerned about the listed types of doubling, not the unlisted. I've checked out Variey Vista but haven't heard of Wexler's Guide. Much appreciated tips!

Jzyskowski1

@collectorof2much said:
That is very helpful about being concerned about the listed types of doubling, not the unlisted. I've checked out Variey Vista but haven't heard of Wexler's Guide. Much appreciated tips!

Welcome. Please study more than you search. Knowledge is very important. Look through the threads and read up on what interests you. Now because humor is part of the fun here I’ll suggest sunglasses 😎 for them shiny coins.

coinbuf

Ditch the microscope is the best piece of advice I can give you, that will have you chasing your tail and seeing things. If you cannot see it with a 5X loop you don't need to. The mint is a high-speed manufacturing facility, coins minted for circulation are not and do not need to be perfect. As such the dies are used longer than they should resulting in things like die deterioration doubling, split plate doubling, and common strike doubling. These terms are all describing the types of manufacturing defects that are common and fall within the specs the mint uses for circulation coinage.

The microscope makes all those things appear to be significant to newbies and the various hype sites like youtube and such like to encourage newbies to look for these worthless things.

sellitstore

This halo effect is light machine doubling.

collectorof2much

Hello @Jzyskowski1 I just got those 😎 on!

BryceM

If there's one thing I wish everyone knew about errors it's this:

Doubling affects every sungle coin made from a particular die. These errors don't happen to single coins in isolation. Usually thousands or tends of thousands of essentially identical coins were created and released into circulation. The vast majority of significant doubling events have been well described and documented.

TomB

Howdy and welcome.

Read and follow the sage advice you have already been given. Additionally, read about coins, look at lots of images of coins and understand the minting process before you attempt to go down the potential rabbit hole of variety/error hunting. If you ignore the helpful posts others have kindly given to you then you will be wasting not just your own time, but the time of others, as well.

Good luck!

ricko

@collectorof2much... There is great advice given above. Once you study the process, and understand the differences in doubling - you will quickly recognize the worthless versions - it really is that easy. Also, get a Redbook.... a truly superb investment you will use over and over again. Cheers, RickO

lilolme

@collectorof2much said:
@MarkKelley That is very helpful about being concerned about the listed types of doubling, not the unlisted. I've checked out Variey Vista but haven't heard of Wexler's Guide. Much appreciated tips!

.
The Resources thread pinned to the top of this US Forum (and link below) has the Wexler in it (just below the noted variety vista). It is near the top of the list which is in the first post of the thread (OP).

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1006619/resources-books-links-to-read-on-numismatic-series-errors-and-varieties/p01

Also if you go down to the section of Errors there are more links with information related to your question. The link for error-ref.com has a couple of different listing summaries under Comprehensive Error-Variety Checklist and Index of Completed Entries. Going down a little further to Actual vs PMD / and Coin Production section there is a .pdf link for StrikeDoublingFlyer that has some doubling information that might help.