Error coins guaranteed to please

It is too bad that the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America doesn’t have more members.

Is it the long name? Does that intimidate?

Members call it CONECA for short.

I have been privileged to share a meal with members at the annual American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in years past.

They are a fun group. They are interesting. I like how they do things.

CONECA, however, has membership numbers that always run far lower than reader interest in error coins.

Every time I publish one of Ken Potter’s error stories and post it online, numbers jump.

It seems nearly everyone has a coin that is just like the one being written about except for some small detail. I am even getting inquiries in Spanish about recent stories regarding the discovery of the small-date 1982-D cent struck in copper.

There is only one such copper piece. We will find out what it is worth when it goes up for auction during the ANA convention. I am kind of antsy to know the amount that will go to a hardy circulation finds kind of collector who found it.

Whatever the dollar number is, I expect it will be large. I hope it will encourage more and more people to look at cents and all other denominations. But it probably won’t.

Looking at coins is time consuming. The heyday of the circulation finds era is long past. The veterans of that era, myself included, have aging eyes.

What each new error discovery does do is call attention to the interesting things that occur in the coin field.

Error coins are solid gold for me even if I never find one. Simply being able to run Ken’s reports from time to time keep me interested and excited. My interaction with the public also is positive.

Certainly I remember well when my eyes allowed me to search through huge numbers of coins rapidly. Nowadays I greatly appreciate Ken’s enlarged photographic images. I hope you do, too.

Take a look at his timely reminder on Page 7. There are two sides to a coin. Not all errors occur on the obverse. As collectors we are drawn to the date side of coins. That is why the doubled-die cents of 1955 and 1972 are so appealing.

But just because you aren’t likely to find a headline-grabbing rarity that can be sold at an ANA auction doesn’t mean you won’t find something in circulation.

Give it a try. Join the CONECA group. Not everyone can go to their dinner at ANA, but most collectors can visit their website. Here is the link:
http://www.conecaonline.org

Take a look. You might see something you will like.