Few books have excited the coin-collecting community like the Cherrypickers’ Guide. Since the first edition burst onto the scene in 1990, thousands of hobbyists have been searching for the rare die varieties described inside. This handy book tells you how to “cherrypick”—that is, how to examine coins that look normal at first glance, but have unusual characteristics: doubled and tripled dies, overdates, repunched mintmarks, and other features that can reveal a common coin to be a rare and valuable variety. With the close-up photographs and descriptions inside, you’ll learn exactly what to look for. That kind of knowledge truly is power!
The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties, sixth edition, volume III, covers die varieties for half dollars through federal gold denominations, bullion coins, commemoratives, and the Philippines. It has been fully updated, with revised information for some of the most popular U.S. coin series; more than 700 images; updated information on more than 310 varieties (including 120 newly published ones); market values in multiple grades; detailed photo enlargements to show you what to look for when cherrypicking; and, for the first time, Greysheet-based pricing and GSID numbers that identify and link a coin across the entire family of Whitman Brands products, such as the Greysheet online pricing tool, CDN Exchange, and the Greysheet mobile app. The book is the result of many years of cumulative research and finessing by the lead authors, Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton, in cooperation with many collectors, scholars, dealers, and others in the numismatic community. It presents information unavailable in any other single source.
The sixth edition, volume III, includes:
- Descriptions of die varieties for Liberty Seated, Barber, Walking Liberty, Franklin, and Kennedy half dollars; Liberty Seated, trade, Morgan, Peace, and modern dollars; gold dollars through double eagles; classic commemoratives; and bullion coinage
- More than 700 images
- Expanded introductory narrative on die varieties
- Updated content for more than 310 unique varieties
- Over 120 newly published varieties
- New content covering “Long Nock” Morgan-dollar VAM varieties, and additional text for Presidential dollar edge varieties
- New chapters on Draped Bust half dollars and dollars, Capped Bust half dollars, and Philippine coins
- Market values in multiple grades
- Detailed photo enlargements to show you what to look for when cherrypicking
- Information on types of doubling, how to examine your coins, collector clubs, and other beginner and advanced topics
- Cross-references to specialized standard guides
- Greysheet-based pricing and GSID numbers that identify and link a coin across the entire family of Whitman Brands products, such as the Greysheet online pricing tool, CDN Exchange, and the Greysheet mobile app
Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, sixth edition, volume III · By Bill Fivaz and J.T. Stanton, edited by Larry Briggs, forewords by Q. David Bowers and Kenneth Bressett · ISBN 0794850677 · Black and white, illustrated · 6 x 9 inches, spiralbound hardcover, 328 pages
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Dedication to Robert Lawson vi
- Foreword by Q. David Bowers vii
- Foreword by Kenneth Bressett viii
- Preface ix
- Credits and Acknowledgments xii
- Introduction to Die Varieties xvi
- How Doubled Dies and Other Varieties Occur xvii
- Cherrypicking Today xxii
- The Future of Cherrypicking xxiv
- How To Use the GSID xxv
- HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
- Symbols Used in This Book xxvi
- Abbreviations Used in This Book xxvi
- Pick-Up Points (PUPs) xxvii
- Variety Value and Normal Value xxvii
- Factors Affecting Value xxvii
- Market Values for Actively Traded Varieties xxviii
- The Registry Set Phenomenon xxviii
- The Fivaz-Stanton (FS) and Greysheet (GSID) Numbering Systems xxviii
- Rarity Factor xxx
- Interest Factor xxxii
- Liquidity Factor xxxii
- Other Numbers and Abbreviations xxxiii
- Treatment of New Variety Listings xxxiv
- VARIETY LISTINGS
- Draped Bust Half Dollars 1
- Capped Bust Half Dollars 3
- Liberty Seated Half Dollars 9
- Barber Half Dollars 31
- Liberty Walking Half Dollars 37
- Franklin Half Dollars 49
- Kennedy Half Dollars 75
- Draped Bust Dollars 102
- Liberty Seated Dollars 104
- Trade Dollars 111
- Morgan Dollars 120
- Peace Dollars 172
- Modern Dollars (Eisenhower, Anthony, Sacagawea, and Presidential) 186
- Gold Coin Varieties 203
- Gold Dollars 205
- Quarter Eagles 207
- Three-Dollar Gold Pieces 209
- Half Eagles 210
- Eagles 219
- Double Eagles 223
- Classic Commemoratives 234
- Bullion Coinage 242
- Philippine Coin Varieties 247
- APPENDICES AND RESOURCES
- A: Doubled Dies vs. Other Forms of Doubling 259
- B: Popular Varieties From Proof and Mint Sets 265
- C: 1979-S and 1981-S Proof-Mintmark Varieties 268
- D: Recommended Reading 269
- E: Fivaz-Stanton Numbers Cross-Reference Chart 271
- About the Authors and Editor 277
- Image Credits 278
- Index 281
- CONECA Membership Application 283
- Collector Resources 284
