Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1936 lincoln cent error

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Expert: - 3/2/2010


Question

1936 lincoln cent obv
I have a 1936 lincoln cent where the left leg of the R in Liberty is missing and the Y is more of a blob in appearance.  Is this a known die error, or anything that's in demand?  It doesn't look like damage, and I'd call it VF-XF in wear, with good details and practically full wheat lines, and I can't see any doubling.  I haven't been able to find anything about it online so far.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Jack:

Thanks for giving me the opportunity on answering your question.

You actually have coin with a minor die hub error where the left leg of the R in LIBERTY is broken. This is a die marker for one of the three major obverse doubled die errors for this date. You may want to look more closely at the date of your coin to determine if it may be a doubled die. See: http://coppercoins.com/lincoln/diestate.php?date=1936%26die_id=1936p1do002%26die...

Unfortunately, the "normal" 1936 cent, with the broken R in LIBERTY, but without the doubled die, has no real added numismatic value. It is an interesting conversation piece, and allows you to tell your coin was made from a specific obverse die.

Your coin may be sometimes listed as a minor hub variety in the error category on eBay. You may want to check EBay listings under US coins in the error category to see if your cent is listed and what the coin is going for. You may also want to check out these links on error coin values to see what errors bring:
http://www.coinsite.com/html/USErrorPrices.asp
http://www.minterrornews.com/priceguide.html

Errors are educational, fun, and can be profitable. Check out our national error club at: http://www.conecaonline.org/

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.  

Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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