Question by *E*: i need help with coin collecting and values and such...?
Okay ythis is the deal i have a 1969 s- lincoln penny and i want to know how i can really tell if it's a double die obverse?
And second how do i go about putting it in an auction for coin collectors?
Would i need to pay someone to see if it's legit or not?
Best answer:
Answer by Aron R
One option might be to take a really close-up photo of the obverse, with the best quality macro mode that your digital camera can offer. Then review the photo, blown up large on your computer screen, to see if there is obvious evidence of a doubled-die. Another option is to use a high-powered magnifying glass in bright light.
If there is obvious evidence of doubling, you might consider putting the coin up for sale on eBay, with a modest initial price of just $ 0.01 or $ 0.99 or so, along with a reasonable shipping cost. That way, collectors can put their own value on the coin, bidding in a free and open marketplace. You can list any item there for just $ 0.15, so you won't lose much if the coin doesn't sell.
Before you list the coin, you might also wish to view the prices - and pictures - of completed listings for similar items. Here's how to search completed listings on eBay:
http://pages.ebay.com/completedlistings/
Here's a "canned" search you can try, to search for double-die pennies in completed auctions on eBay:
http://search-completed.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&dfsp=1&catref=C6&guest=1&saaff=afdefault&fcl=3&frpp=50&from=R6&saslop=1&saobfmts=exsif&fss=0&satitle=%28double%2Cdoubled%29+%28cent%2Cpenny%2Clincoln%29&sacat=11116%26catref%3DC6&sadis=200&fpos=94564&sabfmts=1&fis=2&sacqyop=ge&sacqy=&saprclo=&saprchi=&sass=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D2&fgtp=
From a quick scan of the results of this search, double-die Lincoln cents dated 1968-S, 1969-S, and with similar dates and San Francisco ("S") mintmarks, were selling at prices ranging from around $ 0.99 to $ 15, prior to adding shipping costs. (Some sellers might also have gained additional profits by marking up shipping over their costs, although eBay discourages excessive shipping costs.) It should be noted that some auctions didn't attract any bids.
One other benefit of doing a 'completed items' search on eBay is that you can view photos of other pennies with doubled dies and compare them to your own, to see if yours might be similar.
Finally, you can also call local coin dealers to ask if they might wish to view the coin in person, and if so, on what terms and whether they might charge you for an assessment. Their responses will likely depend on whether they believe they might have buyers for these error coins and can make a decent profit on their resale.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
