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Variety Vista
Your online center for all things die variety

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Last Update: 05/04/2012

by James Wiles, Ph.D.

elcome to the latest incarnation of Variety Vista. The look and feel remain the same, but the content has been updated. It still features all the die variety categories including design varieties, mintmark styles, and the ever popular doubled die, and repunched mintmark varieties. In addition the site is now home to the CONECA Master Listing of Die Varieties (CML), which places all your variety information in one convenient location.

Fifth Anniversary Sale!!!

In just 30 days Variety Vista will be 5 years old. We have come a long way in these past few years. What was once thought of as a fool's dream has proven to be the next wave of numismatic publications. We have successfully published 4 E-Books (containing tens of thousands of photos) and 3 more are currently underway. The site is in its second generation of content, but still displays the same look and feel as the E-Books we publish. It is now home to the CONECA Master Listing, and my duplicate varieties have been listed for sale. A giant "Thank You" goes to all of you who have purchased books and coins. Without you our success would be limited at best.

With this upload, I am adding my used numismatic publications. All are one-of-a-kind and most are out of print. Once they're gone they're gone.

Our site counter shows we are just a little more than 3,000 shy of 60,000 total, or 1,000 visitors a month for our 5 years of life. I challenge you to tell a friend and together lets push it over that 60,000 mark!

So to celebrate our 5th anniversary, for the next 30 days (until May 18), all E-Books are $5.00 off the listed price. Furthermore, all coins are 15% off the listed price. So join the fun! Buy a book! Buy a coin! And celebrate with me the success of our first 5 years.

Two Exciting New Listings to the Doubled Die Files

Recently two coins crossed my desk for attribution, both of which were varieties I had not previously seen. The first from Joe Miller is on the reverse of a 1946 Jefferson nickel. It has extreme class VI extra thickness to all the lettering. But what really caught my eye was the almost complete second set of steps under Monticello. As you can see in the photo below, the class IV spread is huge. It would not surprise me to find that this variety makes the Top 25 list and depending upon rarity maybe even among the Top 10 in the series. Do you have one in your collection?

You can see the entire listing here.

The second coin is courtesy of Wayne Perry. It is a 2011 $1 ASE. It sports a nice obverse class VI, with extra thickness to the date, lower drapery, stars in the flag, and other areas. It came from the 25th Anniversary sets which the mint sold late in 2011. I have no doubt it will be another special collector's piece from this set. It can easily be identified by the thick date.

You can see the entire listing here.

Lincoln Cent Memorial RPM E-Book is Well Underway

The next E-Book on my schedule is the Lincoln Cent Memorial RPMs. I am heavily into its production and need to update several listings with new digital photos. I have compiled a list of coins I would like to re-photograph. Please check the list and if you can help, send me an email. You will have my appreciation and I am sure that of all RPM collectors.

ANA Summer Seminar is Right around the Corner

Once again I will be teaching the Modern Minting Process: Errors and Varieties class at the ANA Summer Seminar on the beautiful campus of Colorado College. The date is June 23-29. You can register by calling the ANA at 719-482-9850 or by visiting the ANA website at www.money.org and filling out the registration form.

The Modern Minting Process: Errors and Varieties

Explore the minting process and learn how each procedure can lead to the creation of collectible minting errors and varieties. Class discussion and presentations focus on accurate identification and description, value and the fine art of cherrypicking. Students are encouraged to bring their own errors and varieties. Included is a field trip to the Moonlight Mint, where students can watch firsthand the production process from design phase to post-strike finishing, and where they can press the button on a Grabener coin press (formerly used by the Denver Mint to strike commemoratives) to strike their own medallions. (Note: This class fulfills the “Modern Minting Process/U.S. Errors and Varieties” course requirement in the ANA Numismatic Diploma Program.)

Instructor: James Wiles, author of The Modern Minting Process/U.S. Minting Errors and Varieties: An ANA Correspondence Course

The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958
(Our Newest E-Book)
Is Available for Immediate Delivery

Nov. 28, 2011 – Dr. James Wiles announces the publication of The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958. Since the 1984 publication of The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die, collectors have been waiting for an updated edition. Their wait is over! For the first time in almost 30 years, all 635 listings in the CONECA doubled die files for Lincoln wheat cents are now available. Our new E-Book (website on CD) contains over 12,500 high magnification, color, digital photos, including marker photos for 667 die marriages in 853 die stages.

The Lincoln cent has long been the favorite of coin collectors, and this is especially true for variety collectors. The larger mintages of our smallest denomination coin mean that the probability of mishaps are increased. From the original 112 wheat cent doubled dies, the files have grown almost six-fold. Collectors have been busy for the last 30 years examining their coins and reporting their new finds. This new E-Book pulls together all those new finds along with enough photos to accurately identify each one.

Combine this E-Book with our previous publication, The Lincoln Cent RPM Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958 and you will have almost 20,000 wheat cent photos at your fingertips. No other combination of books or website comes close.

Furthermore, the E-Book format reduces the bulk (from an estimated 10 print volumes) and the cost (from an estimated $500) to a single entry on your bookshelf and an easy load on your wallet.

The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958 is available for immediate shipping and will arrive in time for the holidays.

And best of all, it's still just $30 + $4 shipping and handling. At that price why not buy two - one for you and one for a friend.

Check out The Book Store for additional savings.

Doubled Die Numbering System Uncoded!

After numerous requests to explain what the CONECA doubled die numbering system means, I have prepared a page describing each element. Please take a moment to read through it and offer any suggestions for how it can be explained in simpler terms or ask any further questions you may have. You can get to it through the Doubled Dies page or by clicking here.

You can email me at jameswiles@sbcglobal.net.

Current Postings

1946-S 1c RPM-034 Updated

1951-S 1c RPM-003 Updated

1952-S 1c RPM-003 Updated

1952-S 1c RPM-015 Updated

1953-D 1c RPM-024 Updated

1954-S 1c RPM-013 Updated

1958-D 1c RPM-007 Updated

1946 5c DDR-003

1937-D 10c RPM-001

1971-S 50c DDO-008 = FS-103