Coin Varieties – Major, Minor or Extremely Minor

We have all looked at clouds and tried to make imaginary shapes out of them at one time or another. Well, the fact is, this happens in the coin industry too.

We hear this way too often, "my variety is very rare or a new discovery, so it should be worth tens of thousands of dollars." So, we say "OK, let's see it." We then pull out our five-power glass to try to examine it and the collector stops us and says "No, No, No! You can't see it with that; you need a 30-power microscope to see it."

As one of the PCGS Price Guide editors, I hear this often, especially since varieties have become extremely successful in the past couple of years. Some varieties are so minor, that you have to use your imagination to even try to see them.

There are a lot of collectors who believe their varieties are worth a fortune. Unfortunately, sometimes we have to break the news and let them know their variety is not as rare or as valuable as they think and many times they are just too minor.

An example is the 1955 Doubled Die cent. This variety is unquestionably a major and well-recognized variety by most dealers and collectors. Because of the dramatic doubling on the coin and its popularity, it commands a very high premium in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending on its condition. PCGS has graded thousands of 1955 Doubled Die cents.

There is a also a more minor 1955 Doubled Die cent with much less doubling which requires some imagination to even see. This second, less dramatic doubled die cent might actually be harder to find in the marketplace than the more major 1955 Doubled Die cent. However, it is not necessarily rarer or more expensive. It might just be that since the variety does not command a high premium as the more dramatic 1955 Doubled Die cent, fewer people are actually out looking for the less dramatic variety. PCGS has only graded eight total 1955 minor Doubled Dies. However, it is definitely not rarer or worth more than the more famous doubled die.

Other times, there are reports of new varieties where some collectors immediately assume it is the next big discovery that will shock the coin industry. Sometimes collectors will even tell us "I will let you grade my coin and announce it to the numismatic world, if you grade it for free." In most cases, we don't even recognize these varieties or errors since they are too minor or what we like to call imaginary varieties.

Finally, when pricing new varieties or very minor varieties, it is always best to use common sense, as with the 1955 Doubled Die cents. Should a minor 1955 Doubled Die cent be worth more than the more famous doubled die because it is much harder to find or fewer have been graded? Not necessarily, as it just might not be worth people's time to look for the variety or submit them for grading.

Some coins are considered major varieties and as a rule of thumb, you should be able to see them with the naked eye. Minor varieties are usually a bit harder to see but with a five-power glass, you should be able to spot them.. Extremely minor varieties do require a ten power glass and sometimes even more to spot them. Hopefully after reading this, you will be able to at least get an idea of what major, minor and extremely minor varieties are.