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Variety Vista
Your online center for all things die variety

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Last Update: 02/02/2012

by James Wiles, Ph.D.

elcome to the latest incarnation of Variety Vista. The look and feel remain the same, but the content has been updated. It still features all the die variety categories including design varieties, mintmark styles, and the ever popular doubled die, and repunched mintmark varieties. In addition the site is now home to the CONECA Master Listing of Die Varieties (CML), which places all your variety information in one convenient location.

Updates to CONECA Master Listing and CPG Pages

Now that the newest CPG (Vol. 5, No. 2) has been published, we have updated the CONECA Master Listing of Die Varieties and the appropriate CPG pages on Variety Vista with the latest information. We will continue to add photos of the most popular CPG Varieties as we have opportunity. Many can be found in our 4 published E-Books, so if you haven't yet purchased your copies, please give them a lookover.

The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958
(Our Newest E-Book)
Is Available for Immediate Delivery

Nov. 28, 2011 – Dr. James Wiles announces the publication of The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958. Since the 1984 publication of The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die, collectors have been waiting for an updated edition. Their wait is over! For the first time in almost 30 years, all 635 listings in the CONECA doubled die files for Lincoln wheat cents are now available. Our new E-Book (website on CD) contains over 12,500 high magnification, color, digital photos, including marker photos for 667 die marriages in 853 die stages.

The Lincoln cent has long been the favorite of coin collectors, and this is especially true for variety collectors. The larger mintages of our smallest denomination coin mean that the probability of mishaps are increased. From the original 112 wheat cent doubled dies, the files have grown almost six-fold. Collectors have been busy for the last 30 years examining their coins and reporting their new finds. This new E-Book pulls together all those new finds along with enough photos to accurately identify each one.

Combine this E-Book with our previous publication, The Lincoln Cent RPM Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958 and you will have almost 20,000 wheat cent photos at your fingertips. No other combination of books or website comes close.

Furthermore, the E-Book format reduces the bulk (from an estimated 10 print volumes) and the cost (from an estimated $500) to a single entry on your bookshelf and an easy load on your wallet.

The Lincoln Cent Doubled Die Book, Vol. 1: 1909-1958 is available for immediate shipping and will arrive in time for the holidays.

And best of all, it's still just $30 + $4 shipping and handling. At that price why not buy two - one for you and one for a friend.

Check out The Book Store for additional savings.

More Changes to Variety Vista

We have also started a new category for listing detailed information on varieties found in the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins (CPG), by Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton. For years I have had repeated requests for help in identifying certain CPG varieties. This led me to add cross reference material to the CML. But even that has not always been enough to hone in on an accurate attribution. So in the weeks and months ahead, I will be adding photos to the pages in this section. If there is a particular variety you are having difficulty attributing, please let me know and I will try to give it priority standing in my research.

Furthermore, I get periodic requests for my duplicates list of die varieties for sale. I am more of a researcher than a dealer, so my duplicates are usually set aside for some special occasion. Fortunately for you they have grown too large for my storage space and need to be dispersed to new homes. I will add more to the lists as I have time, until they all get listed. You can begin your looking here. Most are one of a kind, so if you see a piece you are interested in, please email me to hold it for you.

Many readers may not be aware that I also provide a comprehensive attribution service for 20th/21st century U.S. die varieties, including a consultation service with ANACS in which they will place on the label the attribution I provide for your coin. Please see the Attribution Services page for more information.

Doubled Die Numbering System Uncoded!

After numerous requests to explain what the CONECA doubled die numbering system means, I have prepared a page describing each element. Please take a moment to read through it and offer any suggestions for how it can be explained in simpler terms or ask any further questions you may have. You can get to it through the Doubled Dies page or by clicking here.

You can email me at jameswiles@sbcglobal.net.

Current Postings

1935 1c DDO-003 Updated

1942-S 10c RPM-005

1946-S 10c RPM-021

1947-S 10c RPM-004 = FS-504

1968-S 10c DDR-004 = FS-802

1957 50c DDR-004 = FS-801

Previous Postings

1943-S 1c RPM-002 Updated

1950-D 1c RPM-003 Updated

1953-S 1c RPM-009 Updated