Error collectors - How important in your purchase of error coins are ...............

SanctionII · July 16, 2012 5:15AM

......................:

1. strike;

2. marks;

3. luster; and/or

4. eye appeal?

These factors are evaluated by collectors of non error coins and are considered important. How about in the error field?

Rampage · July 16, 2012 5:44AM

Assuming you mean actual errors and not varieties, my opinions are as follows:

1) Strikes not all that important.
2) I do not mind bag marks.
3) For an uncirculated coin, I'd like to see luster.
4) It should have great eye appeal.

seanq · July 16, 2012 6:04AM

Couldn't care less about any of them, if it's a coin I need for one of my sets I'm interested no matter how ugly.

Sean Reynolds

MrEureka · July 16, 2012 6:12AM

Eye appeal (which includes strike, marks, luster, etc) is critical. So is the dramatic effect of the error. In other words, it's all about the "wow factor".

Granted, some people may be willing to compromise on eye appeal and drama if they need the coin to fill an otherwise unfillable hole.

goodmoney4badmoney · July 16, 2012 7:00AM

I collect modern error coins only.
Strike quality, bag marks, luster and grade don't matter to me a whole lot, but most modern errors come uncirculated anyway. Eye-appeal is a big factor in what I like.
Sometimes for certain errors there are only a small few...or even just one example of a certain coin/type....so you must accept the way it comes regardless.

jmcu12 · July 16, 2012 7:04AM

I would have to agree with seanq on this. If I dont have it then what it looks like has less to do with the intent to purchase. But if I had to rank them...

From 1-10

1. strike; (7 - I prefer more dramatic mechanical errors so this is more important for me)

2. marks;(3 - If I need it and it is otherwise all messed up, that is of very minor importance for me)

3. luster; and/or (4 or 5 - again it really depends on how much I want it)

4. eye appeal? (4 or 5 - the need for an item can forgive a lot of sins)

MedalCollector · July 16, 2012 7:43AM

IMO
Strike is not important
Marks are not important
Luster is nice to have but not important
Eye Appeal is very important and probably the only reason I collect errors. The error itself is the appeal and what makes it so collectable. The strike and bag marks are not taken into consideration when evaluating eye appeal for me. I think errors are mostly valued not by grade, but by what the actual error is. When I look at an error it is either circulated or uncirculated, the actual grade isn't important to me. You don't hear of people resubmitting error coins to get a better grade (varieties are different and a few exceptions like the MEL dollars).

I am much like a classic coin collector in the fact that corrosion and damage bothers me. If when evaluating an error I see damage or corrosion, I know my eye will always be brought to it and so I try to avoid buying problem erros, no matter how rare or strange they are. If it is for the one set of errors that I am trying to put together, I would accept a problem coin to complete it.

ctf_error_coins · July 16, 2012 8:15AM

Eye appeal and the "Error" are the most important.

errormaven · July 16, 2012 10:29PM

None of these are especially important to me. I focus on pattern and process, rarity, novelty, and how unusual the sequence of events is.

But among those factors you've listed, eye appeal would be important followed by the (relative abscence of) "marks". By "marks" I assume you're referring to post-strike damage. A few minor dings are no big deal. Heavy abrasions, a profusion of contact marks, and any crushing or bending are big turn-offs. Unfortunately for the buyer, heavy damage is often no barrier to an error coin being slabbed MS-64 and higher.

EXOJUNKIE · July 17, 2012 12:29AM

<< <i>None of these are especially important to me. I focus on pattern and process, rarity, novelty, and how unusual the sequence of events is. But among those factors you've listed, eye appeal would be important followed by the (relative abscence of) "marks". By "marks" I assume you're referring to post-strike damage. A few minor dings are no big deal. Heavy abrasions, a profusion of contact marks, and any crushing or bending are big turn-offs. >>

I concur. Errors are often complicated, with many unique, and thus IMO all factors mentioned must be considered holistically, and in no particular order. I suppose to most collectors eye appeal will be the dominant consideration, but another way to describe eye appeal is to simply say "I know what I like when I see it."

astrorat · July 17, 2012 12:44AM

Eye appeal is paramount ... unless on a twenty-cent piece, then anything goes!

gonzer · July 17, 2012 2:15AM

Sometimes when a very major error does not have bag marks that's when suspicions arise.

19Lyds · July 17, 2012 2:28AM

<< <i>Eye appeal and the "Error" are the most important. >>

From a "pricing standpoint", the 4 items outlined by Kevin are most certainly required.

However, to the dedicated error collector, they mean little compared to understanding the actual error itself since they are collecting the "error" and not necessarily the coin.

Error collectors - How important in your purchase of error coins are ...............

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