Question for Everybody ....

[Die Varieties]

Lately I was asked by member Chris if I was going to do Volume II of my book. I answered his question in another post that at this time I didn't know and gave reasons why.

 

However -- for a while I have been thinking about something else.

 

We do know now, or at least it certainly appears that the new edition Volume II of the CPG Guide is slated for release this coming late April or early May. I know we all have been a LONG TIME waiting for that Volume II. I would assume that Whitman Publishing acquired the copyrights.

 

Now with that said, it was also that we had a few years ago a Cherrypickers' News (CPN) that was published by J.T. Stanton on a bi-monthly basis. This CPN newsletter kept readers up-to-date with new and recently reported various die varieties on all denominations. It was very popular with collectors and had quite a membership following.

 

I have tons of various die varieties for all types of denominations photographed in my files with many never heard of or never published anywhere. Some of you have my Volume I book and have seen my photos and articles in Numismatic News. What I'm thinking about is starting something that would be on the similar lines as the old CPN newsletter. It would have photos of the particular die variety, brief descriptions, any pertinent upcoming news and events, so forth and so forth. Additionally, if any major new discoveries came out (like the Wis. quarters or nickel DDO's, things like that) I could quickly put them in the newsletter.

 

Now here's my question for everybody: In no way have I yet decided to do this but what I would like to know is IF I DID do one -- would you subscribe? What I want to know is before I would attempt to do this newsletter, how many would want it??? If nobody cares then I'm not going to beat my head against the wall so-to-speak.

 

Again, I'M NOT SELLING ANYTHING HERE. I'm NOT soliciting for any pre-publish discount.

 

The question is: would you subscribe? YES or NO. And it's not a maybe either. If your a maybe -- then that's a no in my book. Also -- please feel free to pass this info around.

[errorist]

Hey here is a great Idea. Since CPG only has die variety coins in it why don't they place a variety of different coins in it such as the PMM? I would think if the book would place a variety of different coins in it it would sell much more. Any thoughts ever given to this?

[errorist]

And yes I would subscibe but only if my PMM was in it!!! I would be a happy customer!!!!

 

[IGWT]

Hi Billy -- I think that you have a good idea that might be better implemented on the web (a virtual newsletter) than with a paper publication. Just a thought.

[gmarguli]

I'm going to say no. With the CPG, a new variety gets a CPG # and the grading services will slab it. Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested.

 

Better to contact Whitman and ask about updating the first half of the CPG. It hasn't been updated in a while.

[Bruceswar]

I like the idea.... I think it could really do some good for the variety and error market... will it work is another thing... I would subcribe to see how it is.... but I must be honest... I am not sure how long I would subscribe as errors for me would be cool, but are not a top prioty of mine...but I sure would love to read about them

[cpm9ball]

I would subscribe, and, yes, I'll take the pre-publish discount.

 

Chris

[vumc409]

I agree with IGWT. An internet or email based newsletter would generate much more interest these days. It would probably save you some time and money also. You could still charge a subscription service rate similar to what the news agencies do these days.

 

Michael

[Die Varieties]

I'm going to say no. With the CPG, a new variety gets a CPG # and the grading services will slab it. Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested.

 

Better to contact Whitman and ask about updating the first half of the CPG. It hasn't been updated in a while.

 

Thank you all who did reply. Since there were over a 100 views with few replies -- I have my answer.

 

I sincerely appreciate the suggestions about using the internet or via e-mail too.

 

Greg: Your, "Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested." is right on the money. Granted -- a tuff pill for me to swallow, but your statement is the truth. Of the few replies -- yours was the most important one of them all. Thank you for being candid.

 

I will return to my little corner and play with varieties and let all of you get back to your regularly scheduled posting.

 

Have a great day ....

[errorist]

I still think you would double yor sales if you placed my PMM in your book.

[cpm9ball]

I'm going to say no. With the CPG, a new variety gets a CPG # and the grading services will slab it. Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested.

 

Better to contact Whitman and ask about updating the first half of the CPG. It hasn't been updated in a while.

 

Thank you all who did reply. Since there were over a 100 views with few replies -- I have my answer.

 

I sincerely appreciate the suggestions about using the internet or via e-mail too.

 

Greg: Your, "Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested." is right on the money. Granted -- a tuff pill for me to swallow, but your statement is the truth. Of the few replies -- yours was the most important one of them all. Thank you for being candid.

 

I will return to my little corner and play with varieties and let all of you get back to your regularly scheduled posting.

 

Have a great day ....

 

I'd have to say that it would be one book that I'll miss from someone whom I respect very much.

 

Chris

[IGWT]

I'm going to say no. With the CPG, a new variety gets a CPG # and the grading services will slab it. Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested.

 

Greg: Your, "Unless you have the same clout, I don't think many would be interested." is right on the money. Granted -- a tuff pill for me to swallow, but your statement is the truth. Of the few replies -- yours was the most important one of them all. Thank you for being candid.

 

The CPG is a wonderful resource as far as it goes. It is a general variety reference book, and the authors did not pretend to catalogue nearly all the varieties for the various series. There is an unfortunate tendency among dealers, collectors, and third-party graders to devalue a variety -- even to the point of thinking that it doesn't "exist" -- unless it appears in the CPG (or other recognized attribution guide).

 

It's true that NGC doesn't attribute varieties unless they appear in CPG. So, even though I have die varieties in my collection that are more dramatic than many that appear in CPG, they don't have an FS (or F, or VAM, or Snow number). So what. And, for the varieties in my collection that have been attributed by either NGC or ANACS, the TPG has screwed up a large percentage of those attributions.

 

My interest in varieties is not limited by the CPG; and what the TPGs do with varieties matters even less to me. IMO, variety collectors couldn't care less about TPG recognition or "clout" with those services. Instead, they care about studying varieties as a way to learn about the minting process, finding examples of known varieties, and discovering previously unknown die varieties. Perhaps they care even more about the fun of sharing their studies, finds, and discoveries with other collectors.

[vumc409]

Billy,

 

As I don't have a CPG or any of the variety guides for that matter, I truly appreciate your input on this forum. I am not a big collector of varieties but I can say as a forum newbie I've learned more from your posts on this forum than any others I've come across so far.

 

BTW - I bought an NGC graded 1993D Lincoln MS68 with 3 obverse die fractures on Lincoln's head I'd like you to give me your opinion on. The picture is not great at all (it's not sharp enough to see the breaks accurately) but here is the link to my registry file. 1993D Lincoln MS68 . I think I have described them well enough that you might be able to pick them out. It was a first for me and a happy suprise given the item description didn't even mention the breaks. What do you think?

 

Thanks,

Michael