7 Critical Bust Coin Errors Collectors Always Miss (And How to Prevent Costly Mistakes)

If I Had a Nickel For Every Time I Saw This…

After 30 years hunting coin shows and grading rooms, I’ve witnessed collectors make the same seven bust coin mistakes – often losing thousands in the process. Let me show you how to spot these errors before they cost you money. Trust me, even seasoned experts get tripped up by these sneaky details.

Mistake #1: Mixing Up Die Cracks & Planchet Flaws

Why This Mix-Up Costs You Money

Remember this panicked forum post I stumbled across last year?

“I don’t know. Something is happening here. Die crack, struck thru, some kind of lamination…I don’t know!”

The collector nearly sold a $1,500 die crack marriage for face value. Here’s what separates them:

Spot the Difference

• Die cracks look like lightning strikes – straight lines from design elements
• Laminations resemble peeling paint with jagged edges
• Die cracks sink in; laminations bubble up

How to Avoid This

Keep a trusty 10x loupe in your pocket. Tilt the coin under light – die cracks stay consistently deep while laminations play peek-a-boo with depth.

Mistake #2: Skipping the Edge Check

The $25,000 Lesson

Check out this collector’s heart-stopping find:

“My unlettered edge capped bust half dollar, ex: Dosier, Hilgard, Logan. Likely the second finest unlettered edge CBH of no more than a dozen known.”

Nearly missed because most collectors never flip coins sideways!

Your Edge Detective Kit

• Shine a flashlight across the edge at 45 degrees
• Look for doubling (like the famous 1818 O-107)
• Snap macro photos – your phone’s better than nothing!

Damage Control

If you’ve handled coins without checking edges, grab Sheridan’s reference guide tonight. Cross-reference your collection before you list another coin.

Mistake #3: Misjudging Off-Center Strikes

The Percentages Game

Watch how collectors debated this stunner:

“This is (I think) the largest offcenter large size bust quarter known…selling in the 25k range.”

Two critical errors here: measuring wrong and missing dentil clues of multiple strikes.

Measure Like a Pro

• Calculate missing design, NOT blank planchet area
• 5% vs. 15% off-center can mean $500 vs. $5,000
• Always hunt for secondary strike marks

Mistake #4: Overlooking True Double Strikes

The Telltale Tracks

Notice how this 1805 B-3 shows textbook dentil evidence:

“1805 B-3 Double struck…evident strongly on reverse”

Newbies often confuse this with machine doubling – a mistake costing five figures sometimes.

Authentication 101

• Seek zig-zagging dentil patterns
• Compare metal flow between impressions
• Bookmark the Cohen archives for comparisons

Mistake #5: Swapping Partial Collars & Broadstrikes

The 1835 Wake-Up Call

One collector’s near-miss with an 1835 LM-2:

“I was thinking broadstruck…later, I took detailed pics and got pros to describe it as partial collar.”

Quick tip: vertical rim lines? Partial collar. Pancaked edges? Broadstrike.

Mistake #6: Overlooking Provenance Power

The Hidden Value in Provenance

Notice how collectors drool over pedigree:

“ex Russ Logan, ex Stewart Witham”
“ex-Cohen…he had such an amazing collection”

That “ex-Cohen” tag can add 30% overnight. Track provenance through auction archives – it’s worth the homework.

Mistake #7: Sloppy Record Keeping

The Photo Mix-Up

Even experts blunder here:

“@BustDMs I think you have the wrong reverse photo…that crack is sign of the 1810 O-108 reverse!”

Set up a failsafe system:

• Photograph edges first – always
• Label photos with die numbers immediately
• Cloud storage is non-negotiable

My ERRORS Checklist (Save This!)

When you spot potential errors, run through my battle-tested system:

1. Examine under LED and natural light
2. Research recent auction comps
3. Reconcile with pedigree databases
4. Opinion from three graders minimum
5. Re-shoot photos at multiple angles
6. Store docs with your slabbed coins

Final Thought: Bust coin errors can empty wallets or fill bank accounts. Now that you know these seven traps, you’ll start spotting treasures others walk right past. Happy hunting!

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