Die Variety vrs Die Marriage
BustDMs
Posts: 1,701 ✭✭✭✭✭
Many collectors think theses two terms are interchangeable. I even fall into the trap every now and then when speaking about them.
Die Variety was used often in the past, including by Overton in the title of his book, when referring to a marriage. No wonder we were all so confused!
So, a die VARIETY will refer to a die charasteric that may be found coming from numerous dies. Let’s use 1828 half dollars as an example. There are curl and square base 2 varieties as well as knobbed and pointed 2’s. There are also large and small 8 varieties.
Now, a die MARRIAGE refers to a specific pairing of two dies. IE: 1828 O101, 102 etc.
So, what do you all think about this terminology?
I just think being specific makes everything clearer.
Q: When does a collector become a numismatist?
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
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Comments
I has always used DM to be specific such as JR-1 whereas DV would be 1830 Small 10.
FYI - the new MegaRed 4 has been recently released and it has full coverage of dimes including all Draped & Capped Bust dimes, including prices for all the different die marriages - rare and common. I believe its a first price guide for JR#s. PS - I was a contributor to MR4!
I have always used DM to relate to specific marriages i.e. JR-1 whereas DV would be 1830 Small 10.
FYI - the new MegaRed 4 has been recently released and it has full coverage of dimes including all Draped & Capped Bust dimes, including prices for all the different die marriages - rare and common. I believe its a first price guide for JR#s. PS - I was a contributor to MR4!
I think that when coin collectors are ready to take their collection to the next
level they begin to realize that just collecting an 1828 CBH or a 1955 Lincoln is
just well....scratching the surface. When collectors discover die varieties they
discover the real meaning of coin collecting.
Varieties help put the numismatics into coin collecting.
I did not realize there was confusion over those terms.....I guess I have just read so many numismatic books that I knew the difference for most of my collecting years. Thanks for pointing it out and posting for those who may not know... Cheers, RickO
"I just think being specific makes everything clearer."
Yep.