I Tested All Methods for Submitting New Indian Cent Varieties: A Step-by-Step Comparison of What Works

My Year-Long Quest to Certify a New Indian Cent Variety

When I found an 1889 Indian Cent with a repunched date missing from Snow and Poliquin’s guides, I spent a year navigating the maze of coin authentication. I tested every submission method collectors recommended – grading services, specialists, online communities, and discovery certifications. Let me share real talk about what actually worked (and what didn’t) when trying to get my variety recognized.

4 Pathways I Put to the Test

Here are the four paths I explored to authenticate my coin:

• Basic grading through ANACS
• Specialist review with Rick Snow’s team
• Crowdsourced opinions from collector forums
• Official discovery specimen certification

Method 1: ANACS Grading – The Starting Point

How It Works

I sent my 1889 Indian Cent to ANACS with a “Variety Research” request ($45, 45-day service). The process involved:

1. Filling out their online submission forms
2. Including special handling instructions
3. Providing high-resolution photos upfront

The Good and The Not-So-Good

The win: Got an AU50 grade with confirmation of the repunched date. Having that official paperwork felt like solid progress.

The limitation: Their graders couldn’t match it to known varieties. Turns out ANACS alone can’t create new designations.

My Key Takeaway

ANACS gives you crucial third-party authentication, but you’ll need expert backup to establish a new variety.

Method 2: Rick Snow’s Specialist Review

My Experience Step-by-Step

After ANACS, I mailed my coin to Rick Snow’s team ($85 fee) for their detailed examination:

1. 20x digital microscope imaging
2. Date punch comparisons against their master catalog
3. Detailed die marker documentation

What I Learned

Breakthrough: They found three unique die markers missing from current references.

Reality check: My coin sat in a 14-week backlog before examination even started.

Why This Matters

Specialists create the documentation needed for recognition – but patience is non-negotiable.

Method 3: Crowdsourcing With Collector Communities

How I Approached Forums

While waiting for pros, I:

• Posted high-res photos on CoinCommunity forums
• Created side-by-side date punch comparisons
• Directly tagged known variety experts

What Surprised Me

Quick validation: Three seasoned collectors confirmed my find’s significance within 3 days.

Bonus effect: The discussion helped locate other potential examples of this variety.

My Verdict

Community input speeds up recognition but doesn’t replace formal certification.

Method 4: The Discovery Certification Endgame

The Final Push

With Snow’s documents, I resubmitted to ANACS for discovery status:

• Included notarized attribution letter
• Submitted microscope comparison images
• Formally requested “Discovery Specimen” status

The Bittersweet Outcome

Victory: Earned DS-1889-01 designation after 3 months.

Frustration: PCGS still rejects it as “unattributable minor variety.”

Let’s Break Down the Numbers

Your Action Plan Based on My Journey

5 Steps That Actually Work

1. Document First: Create notarized records before mailing anything
2. ANACS Baseline: Get that initial grade and variety note
3. Expert Eyes: Build your evidence package with specialists
4. Community Check: Scan forums for duplicate specimens
5. Final Certification: Combine everything for discovery status

Budget Reality Check


Total Cost (Based on My Experience): $255+
- ANACS First Look: $45
- Specialist Review: $85
- Discovery Submission: $125
- Shipping/Insurance: $50+


Hard Truths I Discovered

• PCGS won’t budge without published references
• Market recognition trails 2-3 years behind certification
• Minor varieties rarely boost value significantly

What Finally Worked – And Was It Worth It?

The Snow-ANACS combo delivered official recognition, while collector forums provided crucial support. Be ready for 6-9 months and $250+ in costs. For major varieties? Absolutely worthwhile. For subtle differences? Honestly – maybe not. Would I do it again? Only for a truly remarkable find.

Related Resources

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