Build Your Collection Through Knowledge

By Bill Fivaz, NLG

A common phrase used in the numismatic arena in recent years has been “Knowledge is Power”. This admonition has become increasingly more important with the advent of higher process and fewer nice coins in the marketplace. In order to have the self-confidence required to purchase a coin for either your collection or portfolio, a certain amount of homework is necessary, and this exercise in education can also be put to good use in another area.

Many specialists in die varieties do very nicely, thank you, in searching out these rare and marketable coins and thusly augmenting their numismatic “spendable” income. It’s always nice in your hobby can be self-perpetuating, and it’s very possible to do so if you know what to look for.

Some excellent sources for the listing of different varieties are: Scott’s Encyclopedia by Taxay; The RPM Book, by Wexler and Miller; the two Doubled Die Volumes (1 & 2) by Wexler; and of course Collector’s Clearinghouse in Coin World.

What you decide to concentrate on is of course entirely up to you…do you prefer repunched mintmarks or dates? Doubled Dies? Overdates? They’re all “fair game” and besides having a decided premium, they’re doggone fun to look for!

I order to get you started, here are a few of the more important varieties you may be able to find lurking in someone’s stock or even in the ubiquitous “junk” box. These can all be seen with a 7X or 10X magnifying glass, so don’t think you have to tote around a 60X stereo microscope with you…’taint necessary!

1888/7 INDIAN 1¢: this relatively unknown overdate was discovered several years ago by Jim Ruddy of the (then) firm of Bowers and Ruddy. The diagnostic to look for is the upper left serif of the underpunched 7 showing on the left outside of the last 8’s upper loop, and the tail of the 7 just below the left center of the 8’s lower loop. Most specimens also have a small cud above the word UNITED at the rim. This variety is very rare in all grades.

1894/1894 INDIAN 1¢: A spectacularly repunched date, with all digits doubled to th upper right. You can’t miss this one, even in grades down to Good and Very Good. Scarce in lower grades and rare in mint state.

1944-D/S Lincoln 1¢: Although this is listed in the Red Book and on the “Gray Sheet”, it’s surprising how few collectors look for this important over-mintmark. There are two varieties. The more saleable one is the stronger Var.1 with the first-punched “S” very visible well above, to the left and within the “D”. Variety 2 has only a part of the S’s diagonal jutting out to the left from the vertical stem of the D, and is not as popular as the former. Var.1 is very difficult to find in nice mint state without spotting.

1867 2¢: There is a very strong doubled die on a very few of these pieces, most easily picked up in the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the scroll above the shield. Scarce in circulated grades and very rare in mint state.

1883/2 SHIELD 5¢: Although a long-recognized overdate, few collectors (and dealers) actually know what to look for on this Shield 5¢. In order for it to be an overdate, a portion of the previously punched 2 must be visible between the second 8 and 3. The more of the 2 that can be seen, the more of a premium you can expect for the variety, but the vast majority show only the base of that numeral and little else. Beware of those that have a “blob” 2 – they are not overdates. Scarce in all grades, especially in mint state.

1916/1916 – P BUFFALO 5¢: If you are fortunate enough to find one of these extremely rare (in all grades) doubled die Buffalo 5¢, you’ve really hit the jackpot! In this author’s opinion the variety is rarer than the overdate and should command a greater premium. Those “in the know” agree wholeheartedly. The doubling is most evident in the date area where the initial numbers are between the stronger second impression and slightly lower, to the right. Beware of “doubled dies” being touted as such when they are merely machine doubling on the numbers. The true 1916/1916 doubled die has all the numbers raised and rounded. There is also doubling on the Indian’s chin, throat, braid ties, and lower feathers in the headdress. If you find one of these, you’ll be looking for varieties the rest of your collecting life, I’ll guarantee you! I know of less than 5 in AU and none in mint state. Extremely rare, even in lower grades.

1935 – P BUFFALO 5¢: Another doubled die Buffalo and in truth, equally as rare as the 1916/1916, but it simply hasn’t received the publicity. The doubling is on the reverse, with the strongest being on FIVE CENTS and E PLURIBUS UNUM. I know of only 2 mint state specimens and very few circulated pieces.

1939 – P JEFFERSON 5¢: A doubled die reverse, with strong doubling on MONTICELLO and FIVE CENTS. There are two varieties, with the stronger of the two (Var.1), easier to move. Look first at the “O” in MONTICELLO for the strong doubling. Moderately scarce in circulated grades (but tough to resell), and scarce in mint states (most marketable).

1943 – P JEFFERSON 5 ¢: Even today, some seven years after Del Romines discovered this Jefferson 5¢ overdate, uncirculated pieces are still being found in sets and rolls. There’s not a lot of interest in the circulated pieces, but mint state examples command nice premiums. Look for the full diagonal of the 2 in the lower loop of the 3 and the lower tip of that 2 under and attached to the 3’s bottom loop.

1934 – P JEFFERSON 5¢: An incredibly spectacular doubled die obverse, this variety is affectionately known as “Ol’ Double Eye”. Another complete eye is very much in evidence below Jefferson’s “normal” one, as well as strong doubling on most of the letters around the rim. Fun to find, and again, much more saleable in UNC rather than in the lower grades.

1945 – P JEFFERSON 5¢: Another doubled die reverse, and very similar to the 1939-P 5¢ mentioned above. Again, the doubling is clearest on MONTECELLO and FIVE CENTS. Same comments on scarcity and potential as on the 1939.

1949 – D/S JEFFERSON 5¢: A fourth major variety in the Jefferson 5¢ series, this overmintmark is getting very tough to find. Marketability depends largely on the overall condition of the coin, clarity of the D/S and the step count. Look for the “S” peeking out above and to the left of the D.

1934 – P WASHINGTON 25¢: A nice, strong, doubled obverse die, seen the best in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. You can’t miss this one. Scarce in lower grades and rare in mint state.

1942 – D WASHINGTON 25¢: Another doubled die, again most noticeable on the motto on the obverse and on the “LIB” of LIBERTY. The latter has the letters doubled almost half again to the left. I have never seen nor heard of a mint state specimen, and AU being the best so far reported. Rare in any grade and unknown in UNC.

1942 – D WASHINGTON 25¢: A relatively new discovery, this doubled die in on the reverse. Most clearly seen on the lower part of the branch under the eagle and the eagle’s beak which is also very strongly doubled. Rare in all grades, especially in mint state.

1943 – S WASHINGTON 25¢: A fourth doubled die on the Washington 25¢, this is also characterized by strong doubling in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST on the obverse. Scarce to rare in all grades.

1950 – D/S WASHINGTON 25¢: The first of the two overmintmarks in the Washington 25¢ series, this variety usually comes with a brilliant finish. The previously punched “S” can be seen above and to the upper left of the D. The D mintmark also appears to be doubled on the right side, but this is the result of machine doubling, not a D/D. Scarce to rare in mint state, but tough to sell below this grade.

1950 – S/D WASHINGTON 25¢: The other overmintmark in the series and also on a 1950 minted coin. This variety is usually found with nice frosty surfaces and is more obvious than the D/S.

The upper left serif of the D is seen to the top left of the S and the full curvature of the D is in evidence on the right side of the predominant S. Same comments as on the D/S as to rarity and marketability.

There are many other major varieties that you can opportunistically busy, but these 18 will at least get you started. Also, I would be remiss if I neglected to answer the question that I’m sure is on all your minds – “Now that I’ve had the fun of finding these (and other) critters, where do I go to sell them?

As I mentioned, many are listed in either the Red Book r on the Gray Sheet, and there is a certain market for them among regular collectors and/or dealers. However, you may also want to dispose of them through special club auctions or through ads in the national mint error organization CONCEA ( Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America). Information on joining CONCEA may be obtained by contacting Paul Funaiole, 35 Leavitt Lane, Glenburn, ME 04401-1013. Dues are $25.00 per year, $7.50 for YNs under 18.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our little excursion into the exciting, profitable and fun world of die varieties…but, I must warn you, once you’ve started looking for these and find a few, you’re hooked!

Enjoy!!

Bill Fivaz is the author of Helpful Hints for Enjoying Coin Collecting and co-author of The Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varities.