Best Book on Mint Errors Still in Print?

cmerlo1

As an ANACS show rep, I have a lot of visitors to the table who save large amounts of anomalous coins without understanding the difference between post-mint damage and mint errors.

I always recommend the red book for new collectors, and am looking for a good, all-around book on mint errors to recommend that includes the minting process and has lots of good photos, and is hopefully available on Amazon. When I was a kid, that book was Alan Herbert's error book, which doesn't appear to be in print now... hoping someone can recommend one!

Pete2226

These are good, though not all error/variety

TPring

I don't have a book recommendation, but I would be more likely to recommend a few websites since "everyone" has a cellphone with internet capability.

Just remember, you can lead a horse to water...

I think many people just want to will themselves to having an error/variety until you can prove them otherwise and there are just so many different ways errors can occur that it might be very aggravating to try and convince someone during a show.

Hopefully you can make a dent.

MsMorrisine

ever looked up fred weinberg's book? i don't have it but he is one of the experts

dipset512

When I found my mint error from a roll from the bank, what helped me the most was: https://www.error-ref.com/error_and_variety_check_list/

Byers

My book on mint errors won the NLG award for the best world coin book in 2009.

I am working on a second edition.

Here is a link to more info on the book and the chapters:

https://mikebyers.com/worldsgreatestminterrors.html

hummingbird_coins

gonzer

Just stay away from Spadone's book on errors.

cmerlo1

@gonzer said:
Just stay away from Spadone's book on errors.

It's apparent a lot of the older visitors to my table have it and still use it.

Mr Lindy

I have many error coin books acquired since 1979. Each is a handy resource. Love when great imagery is included. Would be awesome if one book focused on actual sales for pricing, but in today's world I get my completed sales pricing from Heritage coin auctions. Not certain anything I own is currently in print but I'd guess like new used examples could be on ebay etc..

Spadone was known for having fake errors illustrated in his many editions. False brockages , sandwich coins created with a vise. I was told decades ago at ANA Summer Seminar in mid 1980's by Fivaz and Stanton that Spadone was told this yet he just continued pushing out the incorrect info in newer editions. I took error class in 2025 at ANA Seminar and still when his various book editions got discussed they were universally discredited by those in the know. But there are likely thousands of copies floating around so it's an accessible book to locate, even libraries have it to lend. Maybe that's why so many false brockage errors re-made with a bench vise populate ebay listings thesedays ?