How I Discovered a New Indian Cent Variety: My 6-Month Journey Through Submission Hell (And What You Should Do Differently)

Let me tell you about the coin that took over my life for six months – and how you can avoid my mistakes

This story begins with an 1889 Indian Head Cent I’d almost sold for $25. But when my loupe revealed a repunched date that didn’t match Snow’s reference books? My collector instincts screamed this might be special. What followed tested my patience, drained my wallet, and ultimately changed how I view coin collecting forever.

The Heart-Racing Start: When Excitement Crashes Into Reality

That First Glimpse Under Magnification

My hands shook when I spotted the anomaly. I’d flipped through Richard Snow’s attribution guide dozens of times, but my coin’s date punch pattern was playing hide-and-seek with the known varieties. Adrenaline rush? Absolutely. Naive optimism? Guilty as charged. I pictured mint workers making secret errors, undiscovered dies – the whole numismatic fairy tale.

My $85 Lesson With ANACS

In my excitement, I rushed the coin to ANACS with a vague “variety research” request. Big mistake. The slab came back with an AU50 grade and a gut-punch note: “Repunched date not listed.” I stared at that plastic tomb, equal parts thrilled by the grade and crushed by the non-answer. That slab taught me more about variety submission realities than any book ever could.

The Turning Point: How I Nearly Panicked Emailing Rick Snow

Cold Messaging a Numismatic Hero

After weeks lost in forum rabbit holes, I finally emailed Rick Snow himself. My fingers hovered over the send button for ten minutes! I included:

• Crisp photos shot with my iPhone macro lens
• Microscopic date close-ups
• The ANACS certification number
• Three pages of obsessive notes

Then came the wait. Eighteen days of refreshing my inbox like a madman.

Snow’s Reality Check

Rick’s reply changed everything:

“Seeing is believing, but the community needs proof. Find two more matching coins.”

His verification process felt like numismatic detective work:

1. Comparing die files until my eyes crossed
2. Tracking metal flow like a bloodhound
3. Measuring punch angles with surgical precision
4. Documenting collar clashes like crime scene photos

Suddenly, “variety hunting” meant forensic science.

The Grind Phase: Where Dreams Meet Spreadsheets

Becoming a Documentation Zombie

For three months, I lived in:

• Die marker mapping hell
• Lighting equipment tutorials (that $327 ring light better last forever)
• 1889 Philadelphia Mint archives

I drank more coffee than a nightshift nurse and gained permanent eye twitch from squinting at die breaks.

The Email That Changed Everything

On day 87 – yes, I counted – Rick’s message hit my inbox: “Provisional status granted: Snow RP-1.” I may have screamed. My wife definitely thought I’d lost it. But the real work was just beginning.

The Final Stretch: From Provisional to Proven

Slabbing the Discovery Coin

Armed with Rick’s letter, I sent everything back to ANACS:

• Notarized Snow attribution
• A binder thick enough to stop bullets
• Prayers to the numismatic gods

The $150 special fee hurt, but 29 days later, I held history: “Discovery Specimen – Snow RP-1” gleaming in the slab.

Value Transformation Shock

Watch what happens when a coin becomes numismatic history:

But the real win? Seeing three more RP-1s surface later – my footnote in collecting history secured.

5 Harsh Truths I Learned the Hard Way

1. Grading Companies Won’t Do the Heavy Lifting

ANACS authenticates metal. Variety specialists authenticate history. Don’t confuse the two.

2. You Need Three Coins Minimum

No exceptions. Start hunting twin specimens immediately through collector networks.

3. Your Camera is Your Best Witness

My first submission failed because I skipped:

• Calibrated measurement photos
• Die progression timelines
• Mint context from 1889

Now my documentation template has 37 checklist items.

4. Time is Your Biggest Cost

My RP-1 consumed:

• 84 research hours (goodbye weekends)
• $592 in fees and gear
• 137 anxiety-inducing emails

Calculate this before starting.

5. Bragging Rights > Cash Value

While the financial upside exists, introducing a new Indian Cent variety to the community? That’s forever.

Your Survival Blueprint

1. Document Like Your Life Depends On It: Weight, measurements, markers – record everything immediately
2. Experts First, Slabs Later: Contact specialists before grading companies
3. Create Visual Proof: Side-by-side comparisons with known varieties
4. Join the Tribe: Specialty forums and coin clubs are goldmines
5. Set Realistic Timelines: Six months minimum – this isn’t eBay

The Final Verdict: Was It Worth It?

One year later, my RP-1 lives in a top registry set. I’ve consulted on other submissions and gained minting knowledge no book could teach. But here’s what matters most: I now examine every common date coin with fresh eyes. That AU50 cent wasn’t just metal – it became a masterclass in persistence, history, and the thrill of discovery.

Last Word to Future Variety Hunters

Submitting a new Indian Cent variety will test your patience and budget. You’ll curse slow email replies and expensive equipment. But when that slab finally arrives with your discovery confirmed? Nothing compares. If you’ve found something special, steel yourself for the journey ahead. Your coin’s story deserves to be told – just pack extra coffee and patience before you begin.

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