Welcome!

Log in or register to take part.

CONECA (pronounced: CŌ´NECA) is a national numismatic organization devoted to the education of error and variety coin collectors. CONECA focuses on many error and variety specialties, including doubled dies, Repunched mintmarks, multiple errors, clips, double strikes, off-metals and off-centers—just to name a few. In addition to its website, CONECA publishes an educational journal, The Errorscope, which is printed and mailed to members bimonthly. CONECA offers a lending library, examination, listing and attribution services; it holds annual meetings at major conventions (referred to as Errorama) around the country.

CONECA was formed through a merger of CONE and NECA in early 1983. To learn more about the fascinating HISTORY OF THE ERROR HOBBY and THE HISTORY OF CONECA, we encourage you to visit us our main site Here

If you're not a member and would like to join see our Membership Application

We thank everybody who has helped make CONECA the great success that it is today!

Register Now

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

1955-S BIE 1c w/Die Chip In 5. Cohen: 55-S-B650

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    1955-S BIE 1c w/Die Chip In 5. Cohen: 55-S-B650

    Every so often somebody finds a coin with a die chip in the lower loops of the 5 on cents struck during the 1950s and thinks it may be a D inside the 5. Not so! They are simply die chips and breaks.

    Here is one of many listed by Jean Cohen in her 600 page book, The Classification And Value Of Errors On The Lincoln Cent. She lists this variety as: 55-S-B650. This one also features a "BIE"; a die break that falls between the B and E of LIBERTY often making LIBERTY appear to be spelled LIBIERTY. The BIEs were extremely popular in the 1960s. They were so popular that several members of CONE (one of the predecessors or CONECA) formed the BIE Guild (Best In Errors) but this branch of the club eventually fell by the wayside as fewer and fewer BIEs were being produced by the Mint.

    The focus of the book is entirely on "minor" error-varieties such as die chips and breaks within the date, the so-called "Cracked Skulls", "Spiked Heads", BIE Cents (die chips in LIBERTY), "Clogged Letters" (die chips), etc.

    She only printed 1000 copies of the book in 1969 and it is now hard to find. I am the lucky owner of a very nice copy; autographed and hand-numbered #111.

    Last edited by koinpro; 05-13-2015, 01:36 AM.
    Ken Potter
    CONECA Public Relations
    Member of: CONECA-HLM, ANA-LM, MSNS-HLM, NWDCC, CSNS, NLG, IASAC, Fly-In
    Visit my website: http://koinpro.tripod.com
    Visit CONECA's Website
    Unless otherwise noted, images are by Ken Potter and copyright Ken Potter 2015.

    CONECA Notice: Any individual is encouraged to submit articles, opinions, or any other material beneficial to the numismatic community. Contributions should not be libelous or slanderous; ethics and good taste shall be adhered to. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the official CONECA policy or those of its officers. The act of submitting material shall constitute an expressed warranty by the contributor that the material is original; if not, source and permission must be provided.
    Tags: None
    • 1 like
  • #2
    Very nice writeup Ken! I have also (re)-discovered Cohen's reference in searching the BIE's I've found during 1950's BU roll searching. I ended up attributing most of the 1955-S BIEs by Cohen number. If anyone is interested in attributing their 55-S BIEs, take a look here:

    http://www.macrocoins.com/1955s-bies.html

    Click on the images to see full-size

    I have copy #400 of Cohen.

    I also found a die crack, a die break, and a die crack that are shown in Cohen. See them here:

    http://www.macrocoins.com/oddities-in-3d.html

    click on the images to see more shots of each.

    I'm hoping to continue collecting and attributing BIEs and other coins that Cohen lists. Once you have a book listing what is known, the urge to collect begins...

    Comment

    • #3
      I do think that is a book that I will seek out for my little hoard. Great shots of that coin. I have found the BIE cents in many years and MM's
      Proud Member: CONECA, TEC, HVNS, NS, ANA

      Comment

      • #4
        Ray,

        I'm glad to see somebody interested in these "minor" varieties besides me. I think finding a BIE is cool!

        I have a few in the half-bag (maybe full bag can't remember) of 1957-D OBW rolls that I've only gone one roll deep into. Other minor chips and Doubled Dies too.

        One day ...

        Ken

        Ps: Nice web site!
        Ken Potter
        CONECA Public Relations
        Member of: CONECA-HLM, ANA-LM, MSNS-HLM, NWDCC, CSNS, NLG, IASAC, Fly-In
        Visit my website: http://koinpro.tripod.com
        Visit CONECA's Website
        Unless otherwise noted, images are by Ken Potter and copyright Ken Potter 2015.

        CONECA Notice: Any individual is encouraged to submit articles, opinions, or any other material beneficial to the numismatic community. Contributions should not be libelous or slanderous; ethics and good taste shall be adhered to. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the official CONECA policy or those of its officers. The act of submitting material shall constitute an expressed warranty by the contributor that the material is original; if not, source and permission must be provided.

        Comment

        • #5
          I LOVE BIE's!

          I have been collecting BIE's since the 1960's. Al Maynard got me started when I was in college. I submitted coins to Jean Cohen before her book was published and she gave me credit under ACKNOWLEDGMENTS in the book (3rd name down) Michael D. Coulson. I have been in contact with her many times over the years. Great Lady! I am a fan of Ray Parkhurst and his BIE searching and discoveries.

          I would love to find a BU 1944D BIE Cohen #44D-401 on page 3. Jean told me I would never find one but I will never stop searching. Does anyone have one? Circulated? I have found many coins to add to Jean's book and numbering system. Ray will be photographing many for access by collectors.

          If you have BIE's please let us know. The more information we can gather the better informed we will be.

          Comment

          • #6
            Thanks to Michael, I finally opened the Cohen book I had in my collection for years after finding quite a few BIEs roll searching and could not attribute them.

            By the way Ken, the 55S B650 cross-references to 55-S RPM#4 Stage K. By that late die state the RPM is hard to see.

            Also, B650 is so dramatic that Cohen gave it the nickname the "Sausage" BIE.

            I would dearly love to find an intermediate stage between J and K. Stage J has the outline of the BIE-to-be but none really chipped-out yet. Finding a stage between would be very cool and would tell us how the chip actually happened. I doubt if it broke out all at once but perhaps so and there is not intermediate stage. If there is one, it probably did not exist for long.

            A while back I made an animation of the die stage progression RPM#4 Stage A/C/E/J/K. Here it is...



            Michael, I am humbled seeing your name in the acknowledgements in Cohen. Wonderful.
            Last edited by Ray Parkhurst; 05-14-2015, 01:10 AM.

            Comment

            • #7
              That is a very cool animation of the progression of the die chip..... great work
              Helping collectors find Coin Shows since 2008

              Comment

              Previous template Next
              Working...
              X