Coin Videos

Note: Listed below by date of publication

If you are searching for errors and varieties, you need to know the process used at the U.S. Mint. Otherwise, you will think damaged coins are valuable errors. This video shows each stage of the process, from the artist’s creation to the bagging for distribution by the Federal Reserve. If you know how coins are made, you will soon realize that errors and varieties are rare, no matter what clickbait social media states. The US Mint has strict quality control. All hobbyists need to know this process.

If you want a quick refresher of the major types of doubling–hub, machine and die deterioration–view this video. It will help you identify those types with audio explanations by Michael Bugeja.

Michael Bugeja, founder of Proxiblog.org, has compiled answers to the most asked questions on Facebook about coin collecting.

Proxiblog’s Michael Bugeja showcases the various die markers so you can discern whether your 1909-S Cent is a fake. This is a must watch video for those who have such a coin in their collection and for others who want to bid on or buy this coveted key date … which just happens to be the most counterfeited US coin.

Roll hunters looking for silver half dollars may be overlooking repunched mintmarks, doubled dies and other varieties of this popular Kennedy Half Dollar series. See this video for die markers.

Learn how to find the extra leaves and trees of Wisconsin and Minnesota State Quarters.

The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and the Committee of the Fine Arts of the US Treasury created one of the worst designs in the history of the US Mint. View the Jovita quarter that looks like an error, and you will see details of this awkward design.

You may have inherited a coin collection or decided to sell some or all of your coins. It is essential to know how to sell your coins; otherwise, you could be low-balled or scammed. Follow these 7 steps, and you reduce the odds of being taken advantage of. And be sure to visit Proxiblog.org, one of the top coin sites on the internet. Subscribe and get our free weekly newsletter.

Etsy, a major seller of coins, has house rules that prohibit fakes, and yet is one of the major distributors of counterfeits and replicas. That, in itself, is not the problem. Scam sellers on Facebook coin sites and online auctions purchase these replicas and then try to pass them off as authentic, hoping to bait new hobbyists who do not know any better.

1982-D Small Date 3.1 SCAMS! To date, after 40+ years, only two transitional errors have been found in 2016 and 2019. And yet, every day on Facebook coin sites, members announce that they found the ultra rarity. It is even worse on eBay and other coin venues with dozens of lots claiming to be the rarity, too. Proxiblog created a video to show the sad evidence along with how to avoid being scammed by these unscrupulous sellers.

Close/Wide AM Die Markers for Error Coins

6 TYPES OF 1934 WASHINGTON QUARTERS

In 1934, the U.S. Mint just couldn’t get the design right with three types in the Philadelphia facility, plus a doubled die, and two types at the Denver facility: 1934 Light/Medium/Heavy Motto, 1934 Doubled Die, 1934-D Regular Strike and 1934-D Heavy Motto.

7 WAYS TO USE A COIN MICROSCOPE

This video explains when to use a coin microscope, encouraging users to: Know (a) how coins are made, (b) correct numismatic terms, and (c) errors and varieties actually recognized by top third-party grading services. Realize that most valuable errors can be seen with the naked eye or a loupe with only a relative few requiring up-close analysis. View surfaces of coins for evidence of cleaning, distinguishing the differences between hairlines, slide marks and dipping. Identify dates, types or devices that are indistinct because of wear or acid treatment. Document flaws of doctored coins whose sellers used PhotoShop or AI to hide flaws. Research die markers to identify counterfeit, replica and restruck coins. Photograph coins without investing in expensive light equipment, lenses and cameras.

WAR NICKEL DOUBLED DIES

If you are a roll hunter or auction bidder, you want to focus on the 1943 DDO and the 1945 DDR. Collect the pair separately because these are the two major doubled dies of the series. They make a great obverse/reverse pair and are plentiful enough to still discover in rolls, and also valuable in higher grades.

3-LEGGED NICKELS: GENUINE OR FAKE?

The 1937-D 3-legged nickel is one of the most desired and valuable coins in the series. It is also one of the most faked coins in numismatics. Telling the difference is easy, and it has nothing to do with the leg but with the motto “E Pluribus Unum.” There are other diagnostics when the motto doesn’t touch the back of the buffalo. These are likely reproductions.

ROOSEVELT DIME ERRORS AND VARIETIES

Look for: 1946 DDO FS-101/102, 1982 No Mintmark – Weak/Strong The Roosevelt Dime series in general has been well struck, and so there are few errors and varieties worth searching for. Conversely, you can assemble a set of these four. See these illustrations to identify.

ERROR AND VARIETY DIRECTORY

This is a comprehensive list of business strike errors and varieties across popular denominations. Each series links to PCGS CoinFacts showing examples and prices, important when determining errors and varieties. If you intend to submit your error or variety to a holdering company, it is important to identify specific types. In addition to the major types listed below, PCGS for an additional fee will also slab off-center strikes, rotated dies, struck-through, double-struck, mules, brockage, broadstrikes, wrong planchet, clipped planchets, and multiple strikes.

1976 BICENTENNIAL QUARTER ERRORS

The 1976 Bicentennial Quarter is one of the most sought-after modern coins being collected today, and that fact increases the value of any variety, error or design deviation on any of the clad Philadelphia/Denver and silver San Francisco mint. See this video to search for those valuable errors. Only 60 have been holdered by PCGS, but estimates are 850 examples still out there in rolls and sets!

VALUABLE 1945-S MICRO “S” MERCURY DIME

Every collector and roll hunter of dimes should search for the ever popular 1945-S Micro “S” dime, one of the keys to the series, especially with full bands. The 1945 dime had a mintage of 41,920,000, with about one-third of those featuring the micro mintmark, meaning you can still readily find them in rolls and even in lucky pocket change. Here’s how to tell the difference between a regular and micro “S.”

WHEAT CENT VARIETIES

There are not many coveted varieties in the Wheat Cent series, meaning you can assemble a set of them, including these: 1909 S Over Horizontal S (S/S) 1922 No D Strong Reverse 1942-S/S RPM FS-512 1944-D/S 1954-D/D/D RPM FS-501 HAPPY HUNTING!

6 DOUBLE DIE WHEAT CENTS

The dates are: 1909 VDB Doubled Die Obverse, 1917 DDO, 1936 DDO, 1941 DDO, 1955 DDO, and 1958 DDO. Photos below are taken from PCGS CoinFacts. Please consult this important directory for retail and auction value.

COLLECT THESE MUST-HAVE DOUBLE DIE CENTS

If you are going to collect error coins, looking in pocket change, be more strategic and find these 3 valuable ones you can find in circulation and see with the naked eye rather than a microscope.


VIEW OUR TOP THREE ARTICLES

Thousands of viewers have read “The Hunt for W Mint Mark Quarters,” “Bicentennial Quarter Errors and Varieties,” and “1982 Small/Large Date and Zinc/Copper Cents.” Learn how to acquire these valuable coins from pocket change, bank rolls and mint sets.

LEARN THE LINGO OF COIN COLLECTING

Proxiblog.org, a free educational coin site, features one of the most comprehensive illustrated encyclopedias of numismatic terms with more than 200 entries. Learn to spot cuds, die breaks, split dies, machine doubling, double dies, mules, patina, lamination and so much more! This video describes the basic and most used terms, using the Lincoln Memorial Cent with history of each term in the left-corner quote box. Subscribe at http://proxiblog.org and get a free newsletter with top reports about coin identification, holdering, bidding, buying, selling and detecting counterfeits. Operated by Michael Bugeja, one of the top numismatists in the country, who wrote for Coin World, Coin Update News, Greysheet and was a past member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee of the U.S. Mint.

HUNT FOR W-MINTMARK 2019/20 QUARTERS

The hunt for West Point quarters promotes the hobby of coin collecting with real incentives to search for 1999-2000 “America The Beautiful National Park” W-mint examples often found in pocket change and quarter rolls. This is a great way to be introduced into the hobby, especially since this rare quarters can be found in pocket change. There is also one 2020 issue in particular that has a Mint error, rare with the series, because the Mint at West Point practiced superior quality control.

HOW TO USE THE RED BOOK

The Red Book, otherwise known as A Guide Book of United States Coins (77th Edition), is an invaluable resource for coin values and information. But you can also keep it handy as a study guide to all manner of coins so that you can easily identify them while browsing online auctions.

IDENTIFYING DEEP MIRRORS IN MORGAN DOLLARS

This video considers three Morgan Dollars and tests to see if they meet the standard of true mirror reflections at 6 inches.

MANILA PATINA ON MORGAN DOLLARS

Morgan dollars kept in manila envelopes develop a special patina that looks dull but still has cartwheels. PCGS and NGC know this and do not deduct points for eye appeal.

ONLINE BIDDING WITH THE PROS

Numismatist Michael Bugeja shares tips so that you can become an expert bidder on coin platforms like Proxibid and HiBid.com.

PCGS AND QUESTIONABLE TONING

PCGS has had consistency issues from time to time in designating real from artificial or questionable toning. I still recommend it because of TrueView photos that really bring out rainbow toning.

PCI GREEN LABEL COINS GOING TERMINAL

I recommend keeping toned dollars in old green-label PCI holders rather than trying to cross them over to PCGS or NGC. PCGS used to grade these but suddenly have ceased grading “vintage” dollars with PCI toning. They continue to slab American Silver Eagles. However, many of these develop a mold-like olive discoloration. I recommend keeping toned dollars in old green-label PCI holders rather than trying to cross them over to PCGS or NGC. PCGS used to grade these but suddenly have ceased grading “vintage” dollars with PCI toning. They continue to slab American Silver Eagles. However, many of these develop a mold-like olive discoloration.

RARE FULL BELL LINES IN FRANKLIN HALF DOLLARS

The 1962-D Franklin Hal Dollar enjoys a large mintage, 35,473,281, the second highest total in the series after the 1963-D at 67,069292. But the 1962-D is a condition rarity in FBL with only 553 in MS65 through MS66+ holders by PCGS. NGC lists only 167 in MS65 FBL and a mere 10 In MS66 FBL.

RAW COINS AND HIDDEN FLAWS

Online auction photos often do not reveal flaws that only close observation will show with the coin in your hand under the right lighting. This video documents flaws on coins that we’re not worth bidding on but that I did … only to regret the purchase when I received and inspected two of these three Morgan dollars.

STAPLER AND PIN SCRATCHES

This video shows a typical stapler causing pin scratches and a numismatic stapler that minimizes risk.

TOMLOV COIN MICROSCOPE

This is a step-by-step video on how to use the TOMLOV DM201 Pro including its practical use in returning an eBay coin.

Numismatist Michael Bugeja shares tips so that you can become an expert bidder on coin platforms like Proxibid and HiBid.com.