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Ken Potter's Variety Vault!
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In The News ...
September 29, 2008 -- Back in September of last year I wrote a story for Numismatic News about several different edge variations that had been observed by various collectors over the country on 2007-P John Adams dollars. One of the most important is what was being referred to as a Matte Finish edge on the 2007-P Adams dollars. Another was the so-called Small and Large Font Edge Lettering dollars. You can read more about them here: Edge Varieties. You can find them offered for sale here: http://koinpro.tripod.com/ErrorVarietyList.htm. In The News ...
October 25, 2007 -- Yes, you can still find valuable
coins! Professional Coin Grading Service has certified a recently discovered modern rarity, a 1969 San Francisco Mint doubled die obverse Lincoln Cent. It's graded PCGS Mint State 64 Red and tied for the finest known! "I was totally amazed that this coin could turn up out of nowhere. The coin is completely original and full mint red. It's a beautiful near-Gem example," said David Hall, PCGS co-founder and president of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT). "What an incredible find! This could be a six-figure coin." Including this latest discovery piece, the PCGS Population Report indicates only 23 1969-S doubled die cents from Very Fine to MS-64, and only two are graded Mint State Red. The coin discovered by Tremonti has strong doubling on the obverse in the date, 1969, and the words, LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. It's described by Potter as "a Class I Rotated Hub with counter-clockwise doubling." A1969-S doubled die cent, graded PCGS MS-64 Red Brown was sold for $85,100 in the Bowers and Merena Auctions sale in August. The Tremonti coin is full red, tied for finest known with one other MS-64 Red, and with no higher grade examples in the PCGS Population Report. PCGS is a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. For additional information about PCGS, call Customer Service at (800) 447-8848 or visit online at www.PCGS.com. 1969-S Doubled Die 1c Roll Find May Hit $100,000 "Fresh" 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse Lincoln Cent Found In Roll PCGS Certifies 1969-S Doubled Die Cent by PCGS In The News ...
October 20, 2007 -- Coauthors Brian Allen and Ken Potter received an Extraordinary Merit Award from the Numismatic Literary Guild for their book Strike It Rich With Pocket Change. It was accepted for us by our publisher's representative Dave Harper at the NLG Bash held at the American Numismatic Association Convention in Milwaukee this August. Both of us would like to say "Thank You" to the NLG for the honor! We'd also like to thank Krause for making it possible! More information on the book can be found here: Books & Supplies Collector Finds ...
October 17, 2007 -- Professional Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, CA has certified and graded the first Thomas Jefferson dollar to be found with a plain edge or what others call a smooth edge or missing the inscription. The coin was originally reported by Bruce Countryman of Iowa who eventually sold it to Ken Potter. The coin is still thought to be unique and is graded MS65. See PCGS Cert Verification Here Read The Numismatic News Story Here October 20, 2007 -- It has come to our attention that "several hundred" possible "smooth edge" errors have been found. According to a story appearing in Coin World, Fred Weinberg purchased the lot and sent it to PCGS for grading. While Coin World crawled out on the limb and stated that they were "smooth edge" errors in their headline and opening paragraphs to the article, they also say further down in the article: "Weinberg said until he was able to physically examine all of the coins in the hoard, he believed the possibility existed that the coins might have exhibited the weak edge lettering for which thousands of pieces have been reported." As such, at this point in time, we have no confirmation that any quantities exist but leave the door open that the possibility exists. We will report on it further as we learn more. October 25, 2005 -- It has been confirmed that several hundred "Smooth Edge" Jefferson dollars were found and certified. According the the official population report for the variety, exactly 301 pieces have been certified by PCGS with grades ranging from a single MS64 to a single MS68 and all the others with grades obviously falling in between. These coins came to light three weeks after the original find reported by Bruce Countryman of Iowa and are said to have come from the Midwest. Other details have been sketchy but we will report further as we learn more. Collector Finds ...
October 17, 2007 -- Error-variety coin dealer, Ken Potter of Michigan announces that a “fresh” 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse #1 Lincoln cent has been discovered. He said that a “local collector” cherrypicked a specimen from out of an uncirculated roll on October 6. The coin was consigned to Potter to handle its sale and is currently at Professional Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, CA for certification and grading. He feels that it may very well tie for the finest piece graded or exceed it. He says that it appears to be just one of two mint state specimens known that is full red. See The Rest Of The Story & Images Collector Finds ...
August 24, 2007 -- On August 16, the day the new Thomas Jefferson Presidential dollars were released to the public, Chuck Chichinski of Bellefontaine, Ohio went to his bank to obtain his two rolls of the dollars. Having read a report on the www.coins.about.com website that doubled dies existed on the Adams dollars, he quickly went to work to see if any of the new Jeffersons he had obtained had a similar affliction. By the third or fourth coin in his first roll, he discovered that he had found his first Jefferson dollar doubled die reverse!
Breaking News ...
Collectors in Florida and Michigan are finding quantities of the new
2007 P John Adams Presidential dollars with edge inscriptions applied twice to the edges. See The Rest Of My Numismatic News Story Here
New Die Study Released
...
The first study published on the possible number of reverse dies involved in the production of the rare 1999 Lincoln cent variety with a proof-style "Wide AM" reverse was by G. J. Lawson in February of 2006 in his "List #96." He identified four reverse dies as being used for the issue. I found it hard to believe that a variety could be this rare (I estimate that fewer than 300 specimens are known) could have been struck by this many dies. As such, I asked to examine the coins used in Lawson's study and walked away with different results. I determined that two of the four dies that Lawson had identified as distinct reverse varieties may have in fact been stages of what I was able to attribute as being two distinct dies used for the issue. Collector Finds ...
March 03, 2007 -- Wendell
Carper of PA found the first strong doubled die obverse reported for the 2006
Lincoln cent!
The coin boasts a Lincoln portrait with a strongly doubled earlobe with
the secondary lobe fully displaced from its point of origin to the southwest on
Lincoln’s upper neck. Significant
doubling can also be seen in the lower areas of Lincoln’s beard.
Wendell, found this one while looking through a handful of cents back in
August of last year and reported it on January
27 of this year. It is the only example he found of this variety so
far. In The News ...
January 11, 2007 -- Could a lowly Lincoln cent in your pocket be worth thousands of dollars? Absolutely! Error-variety coins with significant values are found every day in pockets, coin purses and coin jars across the nation! Well-known, error and variety coin specialists, Ken Potter and Brian Allan have teamed up to pen the book, Strike It Rich With Pocket Change to show you just how and where to find these coins. Intended to be an excellent source of information for the novice through advanced collector, it covers important die varieties and errors known on United States coins from cents through dollars. The emphasis is on coins with values ranging mostly from about $50.00 up to $125,000.00 that might still be found in pocket change. Released in the Fall of 2006 by Krause Publications of Iola, Wisconsin, it is the most in-depth work of its kind. It covers doubled dies, repunched mintmarks, over mintmarks, abraded die varieties (such as coins with missing designer’s initials), mismatched die combinations (commonly referred to as mules), counter clashes, transitional errors, die design changes, striking errors, planchet errors, etc. In The News ...
January 11, 2007 -- Atlanta, Georgia – Whitman Publishing, LLC is proud to announce the release of the long-awaited latest edition of one of America’s most popular and frequently used coin books: The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties—Fourth Edition, Volume Two. This volume covers all United States series from silver half dimes through silver and modern dollars, all gold denominations, and classic commemoratives. Both volumes of the Cherrypickers' Guide are available from us
here: Collector Finds ...
October 13, 2006 -- Three new doubled-die Oregon quarters join the initial find reported in Coin World and Numismatic News last month. Like the first variety, all were found in mint sets issued by the U.S. Mint, and all are Philadelphia issues. News of the latest finds appeared in the October 16, 2006 issue of Coin World and on the Numismatic New website. See The Illustrated Oregon Listings Please Note: I suffered a
series of setbacks in keeping up with the new doubled die listings due to ongoing
computer problems over a two month period of time last Fall that was followed by very
strong holiday sales and then a period of illness (a dragged out knock-out cold
or flu?) right through the holidays and into the New Year. This is really
an oversimplification of the problems that are all now behind me. I am just
now starting to catch up with piles of orders and will soon start up again with
the Minnesota, Oregon and Westward Journey doubled die listings that are piled
up here. Hang in
there please. Collector Finds ...
October 09, 2006 -- The discovery of a doubled-die obverse may in fact be the beginning of a new string of discoveries as folks start to check both sides of the coin for doubled dies. David Serbonich of New York sent in the first and only one to be reported thus far that is now listed as doubled-die obverse #1 (DDO#1) for this date, mint, denomination and type. See The Minnesota Doubled Die Listings For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Collector Finds ...
September 16, 2006 -- Troy Watkins of Garrett, Ky., who was first to report a Minnesota doubled die, has now found a very significant doubled die reverse on an Oregon quarter! The variety shows best as strongly doubled branches shifted to the south of the stronger primary design on the tall evergreen tree in the foreground to the right of the coin design. It also shows some doubling at the base of the highest relief areas of the rocky shoreline of the north-northeast rim of Crater Lake. Stories on the variety can be found in the September 25 issue of Coin World and in the September 26 issue of Numismatic News. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Collector Finds ...
September 16, 2006 -- Since the last update on doubled dies found on Minnesota quarters, 15 more varieties have been added to the list! Fourteen of the newest finds are on the Philadelphia issue (bringing it to a total of 39) while our 15th variety added to this week’s list is the very first find on a 2005-S proof coin. Stories on the Proof quarter can be found in the September 18, 2006 issue of Coin World and in the September 26 issue of Numismatic News. See The Minnesota Doubled Die Listings For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Collector Finds ...
August 20, 2006 -- Whenever folks start looking more closely at an issue for a new discovery like a doubled die, they tend to find other thing too. The search for 2005-P&D Minnesota quarters with the "Extra Tree" doubled dies is no different. Lots of minor variety types and strike doubling damage is being found and submitted. Perhaps one of the more interesting that came in is a leaf-shaped die dent that appears in the field over the second evergreen tree from the right of the state outline. One can see evidence of metal displacement that surrounds the dent as a sort of trench all around its perimeter. When a die is dented metal is of course pushed down. In reaction, metal may be displaced upwards outside the perimeters of the dent. When the die is used to strike a coin the recessed dent is evidenced on the coin as raised metal while the raised area of metal displacement on the die shows as a shallow trench around the dent. We often see this effect around Mintmarks that were punched into the dies. So far at least three persons searching for the Minnesota doubled dies have found examples of these die dents with the first one reported to me by Colleen Prebish on July 28 and another one coming in from Dave Serbonich on August 6. Both specimens are shown above. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: In The News ...
August 14, 2006 -- The Professional Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, Calif., has announced that it will begin grading and attributing the 2005-P Minnesota state quarter doubled dies that have been found in recent weeks. These varieties were reported in front-page stories in the July 18 and Aug. 8 issues of Numismatic News. Additionally, since the Aug. 8 story was published, three new doubled die varieties have been found, including one in a government-issued mint set. See The Rest Of The Numismatic News Story Here See The Minnesota Doubled Die Listings For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: In The News ... August 13, 2006 -- As most folks know, there are several independent entities listing and attributing die varieties on modern coins. The result is that many die varieties end up with several different attribution numbers representing the entities that have listed them. Because varieties are most often listed sequentially in the order they are submitted, it means that one coin listed by me as VCR#1/DDR#1 might be listed as a DDR#2 at another service, DDR#3 at another and perhaps as DDR#6 at yet another. When word came out that the Professional Coin Grading Service was going to attribute the 2005 Minnesota "Extra Tree" quarters by die-number, the various attributers recognized the importance of unifying to make sure that each variety bore the same number at all the services. As new varieties are reported they are placed on a private web page so that all attributers know what the number is. PCGS will also pull its numbers from that page, and for once, we will see unity in what each of those numbers represents! The attributers have also agreed that any images needed by any of the attributers may be used free of restrictions. So for anybody who suggested we'd never be able to work together, this is just one more of several examples in recent years, of our group banding together for the advancement of a common cause. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Collectors
Finding Doubled Dies!
July 11, 2006 -- According to a story in the July 18 issue of Numismatic News, (mailed out to subscribers on July 7), Troy Watkins of Garrett, Ky., has reported what specialists have now determined to be the first known doubled-die state quarter! His find, on the reverse of a 2005-P Minnesota quarter, shows what is best described as a possible section of an evergreen tree floating free in the field within a stand of trees to the right of the state outline. This area of "design" represents the virtual dead center of the coin’s design. This is an important key to its possible attribution because specialists who feel the coin has possibilities of being a doubled die believe it could be the result of a tilted hub that was seated into proper position during hubbing. See The Rest Of The Story Here August 12, 2006 -- At least seven more doubled die varieties have been found on the Philadelphia issue while another has been reported on the Denver issue of the Minnesota quarter. The first six varieties can be viewed now while the balance of varieties will be posted next week. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Florence M. Schook Passes
Hobby leader and one-time CONECA member, Florence M. Schook passed away April 2, 2006 at the age of 88. While most folks knew Florence from her work within the ANA, in particular as the ANA's long-time coordinator of the Young Numismatists Program and as an ANA Governor, past Vice President and President, she was also a past member of CONECA. During the 1980s she held the position of CONECA Michigan State Representative. She also made sure that anytime a CONECA member needed a suite for a seminar on error-variety coins at the Michigan State Numismatic Society's conventions that it was arranged for. Florence was a recipient of the ANA's Farran Zerbe Memorial, Medal of Merit, Outstanding Adult Advisor and Club Representative awards; Numismatic News' Numismatic Ambassador Award; the Great Eastern Numismatic Association's "Woman of the Year" award; and the City of Detroit's Ambassador Award. She served as President of the Michigan State Numismatic Society in the late 1970s. She will be missed. For More Stories Visit
Our Article Index At: What Is A Major Die Break (or
Cud)?
Collectors more often than not refer to a major die break under the slang term "Cud." The term has it roots in the early error-variety hobby when the use of nicknames was more prevalent than today. This is one of the few slang terms that has stuck. No matter what you want to call it, a Major Die Break or "Cud" always involves a breakage of the die that includes a portion of its shank and field and or design areas. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Matte Unc 2005-P Bison Five-Cents
Collectors who believed that the Mint stopped making doubled dies in the
late 1990s are in for an eye-opener! Long-time collector, Lonnie
Helton of Ohio found a new doubled die obverse variety when he opened his
2005 Westward Journey Nickel Series Coin Sets on the day they arrived!
He ordered three sets in the last week of September and received them on
October 11th; all contained the doubled die on the Philadelphia issue
Bison coin. This is an error
type that the Philadelphia Mint has repeatedly denied can be made with the
current single-squeeze hubbing presses in use there since the late 1990s. See the rest of the story here For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Bahamas 1975-1973 Dual Dated 5-Cent
Variety Discovered
Perhaps one of the more enigmatic modern coins to come down the pike in recent years is the dual-dated 1975-1973 Bahamas five-cent piece sent in by error-variety specialist Joe Rizdy of Chicago. It's a coin that hints at the possibility that it may have just opened up the door for many more varieties of its kind be discovered! It’s a coin that comes from a series that along with its other fractional cousins has been largely ignored over the years. That's about to change! There is finally something to look for! For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: Is My 1958
Cent ...
Without question, one of the more frequent questions we field in reference to doubled dies revolves around the 1958 Lincoln Cent. There is one key reasons for this -- it is an extremely valuable coin. In fact, we think it could exceed $100,000 the next time one of the two examples known goes up for sale! For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: 2005-S
Kansas Silver Proof Quarter
Some time ago I sent images of a 2005-S Kansas Silver Proof quarter with a hoof-shaped die dent to specialist to review. Although this dent is many times larger than others previewed as of late, some of those specialist began to draw comparisons of it to these other die dents suggestive that it was about the same in size. However, this was not accurate! For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: 1970-S
Small Date & Large Date
The scarce 1970-S Small Date Variety shown above is characterized by a more delicate date (as compared to the Large Date variety) and will exhibit a "7" that is relatively level with the rest of the date. The word LIBERTY is weak and indistinct (particularly on the E and TY) on all specimens of this variety including proofs. Caution: The LIBERTY may also be weak on a Large Date so this is a poor indicator of the type but a strong LIBERTY does indicate that it is NOT the scarce Small Date variety. For More Stories
Visit Our Article Index At: 2004-D Wisconsin
State Quarters I've been following the posts on Rec.collecting.coins on the new 2004-D Wisconsin die damage error or variety quarters (call them what you want, error or variety makes little difference), and I agree with Tom DeLorey's earlier comments 100% (his comments are copied at the end of this post). I received a set a couple of days ago from Bill Fivaz for examination and they confirmed my worst fears. 
For More Stories Visit Our Article Index
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How to order: While we attempt to keep an ample supply of certain items in stock such as books and supplies and rare-coin-reproductions, many of our coins, bars, medals and rounds are one-of-a-kind. To be 100% sure the items you are interested in are available, you may send an email to KPotter256@aol.com indicating the items of interest. I will set them to the side for you and confirm their availability via return email as promptly as possible. You may also call to check on the availability of items at the number listed below. You may also order without seeking confirmation of availability but you run the risk of some items being sold out. In this case a full refund will be issued for any sold out items. You may pay by check or money order. I also accept VISA and MasterCard though PayPal. Click on the PayPal logo below to get to PayPal. If you are new to the service and wish to sign up, hit the "Sign Up" button at the bottom of the PayPal page. If you are already registered, simply hit the "Learn More" button; this will take you to a "Log In" page with the familiar tabs at the top which allow you to transfer funds. My email address (kpotter256@aol.com) is my "account number" at PayPal.. PayPal is highly recommended, as it allows you to use a credit card without sharing your credit card information over the Internet with many dealers or going through the trouble of making many calls to assure the security of your credit card information.
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Note: The terms of sale on this page are the most up to date possible and supercede any others that may be out of date on other pages
Ken Potter
P.O. Box 760232
Lathrup Village, MI 48076-0232
Phone: 313-255-8907 Office
Phone: 313-268-3280 Cell
E-mail: KPotter256@aol.com
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Numismatist Since 1959 ~ Serving
the Collector Since 1973
CONECA's Longest Serving Doubled Die Attributer
Member of: ANA-LM CONECA-LM NLG
NCADD-FM MSNS-LM
NWDCC RCC WBCC BBCC I
Notice to Mints and Their Agents: Please note
that we are always interested in purchasing unusual items that were not previously
released or widely distributed that are of low mintage such as: Presentation Pieces,
Trial Strikes, Set Up Coins, Salesman's Samples, Error Coins, Pattern Coins, Lead Trials,
Off Metals (deliberate or in error), Mules, Overruns, Plasters, Significant Art, Working
Dies and/or Master Tools. If you have anything unusual with a low mintage and wish
to clear your vaults it will pay you to contact us.
Unless otherwise stated, all Photographic Images
are by Ken Potter. Copyright Ken Potter, 1991-2006. Use of images in any
manner is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the copyright
holder.
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