Cherry Picking Modern Proof Sets

Editor: aikencoins

Due to errors occuring during the striking process, cherry picking of coins in modern proof sets can add value and profit to your collection.

Most new collectors associate the term "Cherry Picking" with dealers and other collectors picking the best coins from a group before offering the items to customers. However, "Cherry Picking" is actually a subset of the coin hobby involving errors and varieties. When one "Cherry Picks" Modern Proof Sets, the individual is in fact looking for undiscovered or lesser known errors and varieties of the coins.

J.T. Stanton and Bill Fivaz are well known within the coin industry for their publications "The Cherry Pickers Guide to Rare Die Varieties" and "The Cherry Pickers Newsletter". Both of these publications have enabled an ever growing number of collectors to enhance their collection, and often their wallets, by looking for lesser known coins.

Modern Proof Sets are especially ripe for picking because of the vast number produced each year. The larger production numbers increase the likelihood of a mistake along the way creating a desirable Double Die, Clashed Die, or other minting variety.

The main area of focus on Modern Proof coins should be the Mint Mark and the Motto of the coin first, with the reverse areas of the coin being secondary. The only exception to this rule is the 50 States Quarters where the reverse of the coin is the prime focal area due to the varied designs.

The most common types of errors on Modern Proof coins are not actually errors but minor problems caused by the striking process and machinery. This includes filled dies and strike through where contaminants become lodged between the die and the planchet during striking, and cracked dies or spikes. Cracked dies occur due to the immense pressure exerted on the die during striking and the long production runs for each series.

Filled dies can easily be spotted by the incomplete design on the coin, and are most common on Lincoln cents. Die cracks appear as raised metal on the surface of the coin normally running in an erratic pattern from the edge of the coin toward the inner surfaces. The raised metal is caused by the metal flowing into the crack itself during striking.

Until recently the United States Mint held firm to their statements that Double Die coins were impossible on modern coinage due to the use of a single squeeze type press during minting, however that position has changed.

Double Dies will often appear as a notching along the lettering of the Motto or the Mint mark itself. This notching must be 3 dimensional or "Shelf Like" according to JT Stanton. Otherwise flat doubling on modern coinage is caused by mechanical doubling and it does not command a premium.

Some of the most notable Modern Proof Sets for Cherry Picking are 1972 Proof Set with several varieties of Double Dies, the 1970 Proof Set with Small and Large Date Cents and the 2004 Proof Sets with the Double Die Jefferson Nickels. For those who like a great challenge and an even greater reward, look for the ultra rare "No S" proof coins in the 1970, 1971, 1975, 1983, and 1990 proof sets.

Good luck and happy hunting!

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