When does a variety become important?

291fifth · October 31, 2009 3:45AM

In my opinion:

1. When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass.

Add some more ideas ...

LoveMyLiberty · October 31, 2009 3:50AM

When it's the last one you need for your collection.

When it means it's value is thousands of $$$ more than the other varieties.

MrHalfDime · October 31, 2009 3:52AM

Some people collect "varieties"; others collect "die marriages". Varieties " ... become important" when they are visible to the naked eye and are easily identifiable. Die marriages are all important to those who collect by die marriage. They are most important when you are lacking an example in your collection.

RTS · October 31, 2009 3:57AM

<< In my opinion:

1. When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass.

Add some more ideas ... >>

I'll modify...

When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass to a 40 year old and under 2-3x magnification for older persons.

crypto79 · October 31, 2009 4:01AM

when it is in the Redbook and needed for PCGS Reg sets

cladking · October 31, 2009 4:08AM

1934.

OK, this is a somewhat facetious answer but a good argument can
be made that when it became policy for the US mint to have no short
press runs then it followed that collectors would seek rarity where it
could still be found; varieties.

Many of the things that make a variety popular are not quantifiable
but early publicity or a catchy name can be big inducements for many
people to seek them.

Barndog · October 31, 2009 6:29AM

a variety becomes important when someone else will pay a premium for it

BillJones · October 31, 2009 6:39AM

<< 1. When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass. >>

That is true most of the time, but in the classic coin area, a new variety that has very minor differences, but also proves to be very rare, can become important too. An example that comes to mind is the very rare 1806, small 6, stems half cent variety. The variety gets one line in the Red Book, but there are two minor varieties of the coin. The rare one uses the same obverse as the very common small 6 stems variety, and the more common one has another die that is virtually identical. Telling the two apart is very hard, but very rewarding if you find the rare one. The rare one is worth as much as 28 times the value of the more common piece, but the "common piece" can bring a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

ricko · October 31, 2009 6:39AM

For new coins, when it is first found and the flippers go nutso..... for old coins.. when someone decides to collect them. They are always unimportant to the uninterested. Cheers, RickO

ColonialCoinUnion · October 31, 2009 6:49AM

<< when it is in the Redbook and needed for PCGS Reg sets >>

I think this is a much better answer.

keoj · October 31, 2009 7:08AM

Not all varieties in the Redbook are recognized by PCGS

Example, I collect Type I/II Trade Dollars combinations, easily recognized without a loupe, listed by the Redbook, listed by NGC if you request, NOT listed by PCGS. Maybe someday, I'll win the battle.

keoj

tjkillian · October 31, 2009 8:25AM

Faceciously - Easy to remember to spell as it is one of only two words in English with all the vowells in order.

The other one means to do something in moderation.

LoveMyLiberty · October 31, 2009 8:44AM

<< Faceciously - Easy to remember to spell as it is one of only two words in English with all the vowells in order.

The other one means to do something in moderation. >>

Your memory is not very good then.

GrumpyEd · October 31, 2009 8:45AM

When there aren't many and enough people want it.

cladking · October 31, 2009 8:52AM

<< Faceciously - Easy to remember to spell as it is one of only two words in English with all the vowells in order.

The other one means to do something in moderation. >>

It is kindda a "crappy" spelling to put an "e" as the first vowel.

I suppose I'll remember now.

Stew · October 31, 2009 9:00AM

<< When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass to a 40 year old and under 2-3x magnification for older persons. >>

Thank you for that with out the aid of magnification I can not even make out what the date is on a cent or a dime let alone a variety. As a matter of fact all of my 1955 cents kind of look like DDO's without a glass

Stew

Dismeguy · October 31, 2009 9:39AM

When a segment of the numismatic market acknowledges the variety and people are willing to collect separately or pay a premium.

19Lyds · October 31, 2009 9:49AM

<< Many of the things that make a variety popular are not quantifiable
but early publicity or a catchy name can be big inducements for many
people to seek them. >>

100% Agree!

Some varietes that were important 30 years ago are not so popular today.

Likewise, varieties that are not important today, may become important in 30 years when none can be found.

tahoe98 · October 31, 2009 10:01AM

......i don't mind having a variety that needs a dino-lite to see it. especially if there are only a few known. and i would be more than glad to share my dino with anyone that wants to take a close look at my specimen.

bolivarshagnasty · October 31, 2009 10:46AM

<< In my opinion:

1. When the variety is easily visible without the use of a magnifying glass.

Add some more ideas ... >>

When demand exceeds supply. Demand is created when PCGS includes "with varieties" in their Registry Sets. JMHO Shag

ProofArtworkonCircs · November 1, 2009 3:51PM

If you want easily visible, try this one. Not only that, you can feel it. Yet it has not made much splash yet.

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=697723&highlight_key=y&keyword1=type m

cladking · November 1, 2009 3:55PM

<< If you want easily visible, try this one. Not only that, you can feel it. Yet it has not made much splash yet.

>>

LINK FOR ABOVE.

ProofArtworkonCircs · November 1, 2009 4:07PM

Thanks Cladking.

jsf · November 1, 2009 8:16PM

"when PCGS includes "with varieties" in their Registry Sets."

yep, and that's why my registry sets are going to be retired since PCGS' last little composite adjustments.

Overdate · November 1, 2009 10:33PM

Business-strike Franklin halves have some eagle varieties on the reverse, easily visible to the naked eye. But few people seem to collect them by eagle variety, and as far as I know they are not in the registries.

ProofArtworkonCircs · November 1, 2009 11:22PM

<<Business-strike Franklin halves have some eagle varieties on the reverse, easily visible to the naked eye. But few people seem to collect them by eagle variety, and as far as I know they are not in the registries. >>

Good point! That is what I am finding with my type M's and even clad type B quarters.
However, on the halves, how about the two 1956 proof varieties? They seem to have caught on. And it is the same variety.
Perhaps the varieties are too common in the business strikes. And my clad B's are too rare. Maybe you have to have the right amount existing for a variety to make it. Not too common. Not too rare.

TwoSides2aCoin · November 1, 2009 11:35PM

Importance is established by the person who owns it. Well, sort of like that.

TwoSides2aCoin · November 1, 2009 11:39PM

<< Importance is established by the person who owns it. Well, sort of like that. >>

On another note: when I want to own it , it becomes more important, too.

ProofArtworkonCircs · November 1, 2009 11:43PM

<<On another note: when I want to own it , it becomes more important, too>>

Thank you for your encouraging words! I now remember that in several, once obscure, series I started to collect, prices rose so much that I couln't continue. Maybe there is hope for my clads yet.

Steve · November 1, 2009 11:48PM

In today's market, I believe the PCGS Set Registry plays a BIG part. When they list a variety as a MAJOR variety it makes that coin one that needs to be collected. I would have never attempted to collect the 1998 and 1999 "close AM" Lincoln cent PROOF coins if they were not added to the Major varieties requirements this year. Now I got them and paid $$ for them and I believe they will hold their value because collectors now need them for their Set Registry. JMHO. Steve

Nysoto · November 1, 2009 11:58PM

Whar Barndog said, when someone will pay a premium for it. Here is a variety that is not in the Redbook, is not visible to the naked eye even by attribution "experts", yet made the cover of Coin World and is worth around $20K Baley's 1807 O.115 discovery coin

When does a variety become important?

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