When did error collecting take off?
OKbustchaser
Posts: 5,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
As a young collector in the 1960's I don't remember dealers even being able to give away error coins. Just no market for them. There was even a disparaging name for errors: FIDO. Collectors wanted their coins to look the way they were supposed to.
When did this seem to turn around?
When did this seem to turn around?
Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
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As soon as the first error coin was discovered
peacockcoins
With the 1955 Double Die cent...IMHO
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<< <i>I remember back in 1977 at the tender of age of 11 getting into a bidding war with a dealer over a off-center 1968 Lincoln cent. I won the coin for $4.00 and still have it. Probably over paid. It surprises me that "freaks" as they were known were ever unpopular. Some of these look amazing. >>
The 1968 Philly is actually one of the tougher Memorial cents to find off-center, not quite as tough as the 1968-S but close. The San Francisco coins have the reputation of being the rarest but there are a few Philly coins which rival them, particularly the 1969, 1961, and 1962 (in that order).
To the OP's question, someone like Fred Weinberg could probably give you an excellent answer. My understanding is that during the very early days of collecting error coins were shunned and even discarded (melted or otherwise) as collectors strove for only the finest condition examples. As inaccurate as it was, Frank Spadone's popular book on FIDOs at least got people looking at their coins and thinking of errors as something collectible. I don't think error collecting gained widespread acceptance until the early 1970s, around the time CONE and NECA were founded (and would eventually merge to form CONECA).
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>" When did error collecting take off ? " July 17, 1969.....
FMH, is that your birthday?
<< <i><< I remember back in 1977 at the tender of age of 11 getting into a bidding war with a dealer over a off-center 1968 Lincoln cent. I won the coin for $4.00 and still have it. Probably over paid. It surprises me that "freaks" as they were known were ever unpopular. Some of these look amazing. >>
The 1968 Philly is actually one of the tougher Memorial cents to find off-center, not quite as tough as the 1968-S but close. The San Francisco coins have the reputation of being the rarest but there are a few Philly coins which rival them, particularly the 1969, 1961, and 1962 (in that order). >>
Thanks Sean. Perhaps I didn't overpay afterall.
There were always some collectors interested in errors, where others shunned them as imperfection. I think sometime in the mid to late 80's there were a greater number of collectors interested in errors, perhaps some of it was speculation at the time, for others it was a sincere interest.
back at the ANA Speakers Forum at the San Francisco ANA.
The topic was "The Early Days of Error Collecting".
Short version - in general, there were VERY few major errors
(Major = Mechanical, not Die Varieties) before 1964.
At that time, the Mint was pumping out coins in much larger
quantities than ever, and more errors got out in canvas bags
than ever before - Double Strikes, Off-Centers, Off-Metals, Clips, etc.
The first local Error club was in Hollywood, Calif. in 1967 (I was member
# 11, as I recall), and 1967 was also the first year ever for an
"Error-A-Rama" - the first coin show devoted exclusively to Mint
Error coins.
In the Mid-60's, a single D/S or O/M error would be "The Topic" of
conversation at any coin club meeting, and as mentioned earlier
in this thread, Collectors Clearinghouse (Jim Johnson) in Coin World
was about the only lengthy Error 'page' anywhere, not counting the
Error Clubs like CONE (Collectors of Numismatic Errors) or NECA
(Numismatic Error Collectors of America). (these clubs eventually merged)
In the 50's and 60's, there was literally a small hand-full of collectors, and
even a much smaller group of dealers, who could authenticate, buy-sell,
and collect Mint Error coins - up untill the mid-70's or so, they were considered
OddBalls, "Freaks", and "Fidos" (Freaks-Irregularities-Defects-Oddities).
I'd have lots of dealers and 'normal' coin collectors stop by my showcases
and comment on my errors, but in general, the coins were way past most
collectors understanding and pricing levels, even then.
That's kind of a long "short version" - sorry 'bout that......
Fred
<< <i>Blame Fred >>
Gardnerville, NV
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was F G Spadone's book "Major Variety-Oddity Guide of US
Coins" that got a lot of people started in 1962.
I've often said that much of this is the result of the mint pol-
icy to stop making small mintages in 1934. If people couldn't
find scarce dates in change then they were going to lok for
scarce gems, varieties and errors.
The '37 3 leg buffalo was the first but it was in this era that
the '22 plain Lincoln became popular as well.
<< <i>When did error collecting take off? >>
When the TPG's started slabing them and and made them legit!
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Jim
had 'enhanced' photos of minor die
errors that HE owned by the roll and
put in his book to give them more value;
the photos were much better than the
actual coins.
Also, a large number of his "major" error
photos (double strikes, etc.) were of
MAN-MADE FAKES......
Yes, the book caught alot of interested collectors,
(I used it too as it was about the only thing around)
but we quickly realized it really wasn't worth much
compared to Del Ford, Don Taxay, and other's who
had done books on Mint Error coins.
<< <i>Also, a large number of his "major" error
photos (double strikes, etc.) were of
MAN-MADE FAKES...... >>
Tisk, tisk.
<< <i>The Spadone Book (Frank Spadone)
had 'enhanced' photos of minor die
errors that HE owned by the roll and
put in his book to give them more value;
the photos were much better than the
actual coins.
Also, a large number of his "major" error
photos (double strikes, etc.) were of
MAN-MADE FAKES......
Yes, the book caught alot of interested collectors,
(I used it too as it was about the only thing around)
but we quickly realized it really wasn't worth much
compared to Del Ford, Don Taxay, and other's who
had done books on Mint Error coins. >>
He listed an awful lot of junk that could never stand the test of time.
For some reason he sold a lot of copies though. It was likely just that
there was a vacuum being filled.
Variety collecting took off with the 1955 DDO.
Error collecting took off later?