How I Discovered and Submitted a New Indian Cent Variety (A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting It Certified)

That Frustrating Moment When Your Coin Doesn’t Exist (And How I Fixed It)

Picture this: an 1889 Indian Cent sitting on my desk for years, its date clearly repunched but matching nothing in the Snow or Poliquin books. I’ve lost count of all the dead ends I hit trying to identify it. But here’s what finally worked when I decided to submit this new Indian Cent variety for recognition – and exactly how you can do the same without wasting years like I did.

Step 1: Why You Need Professional Grading First (My $200 Lesson)

I learned this the expensive way: certification isn’t just bureaucracy – it’s your foundation. Here’s why:

• Why it matters: Third-party grading (ANACS worked best for me) transforms your “maybe” into a legitimate candidate. Trust me, you want this done first.
• Real-world benefit: When ANACS slabbed mine as AU50, that “repunched date” note became my paper trail. You’ll need this paper trail later.
• The surprise twist: Even ANACS couldn’t match mine to known varieties. That frustration? Actually your golden ticket – here’s why.

Step 2: How Rick Snow Became My Secret Weapon

This is where my years of dead ends stopped cold. Rick Snow isn’t just an expert – he’s the Indian Cent variety detective. Here’s how our collaboration worked:

Why I chose Rick Snow’s eagle eye

• His “Ellenville Collection” books are the Indian Cent bible – nothing escapes his notice
• He actually examined my coin in person (yes, I mailed it with trembling hands)
• Discovered three diagnostic markers I’d completely missed on my 1889 cent

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