Errors and Varieties

Here are a few excellent books on minting errors and varieties. Variety books specific to particular denominations or series are listed on the individual denomination pages linked in the table near the bottom of this page.

The Error Coin Encyclopedia (4th ed.) by Arnold Margolis and Fred Weinberg. Published 2004.

This authoritative reference on mint striking errors is a compilation of information and data gathered by the authors over 36 years. Dozens of different types of striking errors from clipped planchets to folded strikes are explained. Updates to the previous edition include additional text and newer pictures. Several chapters have been completely rewritten. 476 pages.

The Error Coin Encyclopedia (4th ed.). Hard bound. Regularly $39.95, Our Price $35.95

"Cherrypicking" refers to finding coins that are priced below their true market value.  Usually, it means finding valuable die varieties which have not been attributed as such by the seller.  Many collectors also check pocket change, bank rolls and bulk lots of coins.  Searching for die varieties can be fun and profitable.

Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties, 4th edition, Volume 1, Spiral bound, Published 2000 by Stanton Books & Supplies, Inc. Regularly $34.95, Out of stock.

Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, 4th edition, Volume 2, Hard cover with internal spiral binding, ISBN 079482053-0, Published 2006 by Whitman Publishing. Regularly $39.95, Our Price: $30.95

The Official Price Guide to Mint Errors (7th ed.), ISBN 978-0-375-72215-8. Soft bound. Regularly $21.95, Our Price: $17.95

Close out sale on our remaining copies of the 6th edition!

The Official Price Guide to Mint Errors (6th ed.), Soft bound. Sale Price: $10.00

Over Mintmarks and Hot Repunched Mintmarks by Kevin Flynn and John Wexler. Published 2003 by Brooklyn Galleries.

The authors present detailed info and crisp, high magnification photographs for each of the 48 known over mintmarks in all series of U.S. coins. Similar coverage is provided for selected "hot" repunched mintmark varieties, including those punched over horizontal and inverted mintmarks, as well as misplaced mintmarks. The book opens with a section on how die varieties are made. 183 pages.

Over Mintmarks and Hot Repunched Mintmarks, Soft bound, ISBN 0-9679655-3-5. Regularly $33.95, Our Price: $26.95

A compact guide that can be conveniently referenced wherever coins are available for cherrypicking. Diagnostics, high resolution photographs, rarity and prices in several grades are provided for more than 120 misplaced date varieties of greatest interest. 144 pages.

A Quick Reference to the Top Misplaced Dates. Spiral bound. Regularly $24.95, Our Price: $19.95

The Cud Book by Sam Thurman and Arnold Margolis. Published 1997.

Dies used to strike coins eventually begin to suffer fatigue, and portions may fracture or break off entirely. Pressure at the time of the strike forces metal into the vacated space, forming a raised area on the coin that Del Ford likened to a chew or cud of tobacco.  The bulk of this book is devoted to pictures and identifications of more than 2500 of these highly collectable errors on nearly every denomination of U.S. coin, plus tokens and foreign coins. 220 pages.

The Cud Book. Soft bound. Regularly $24.95, Our Price: $23.95

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