What's the difference between a variety and an error?

[Robert]

What's the distinction?

[coppercoins]

There are three different classifications with three different terms...

1. variety - A small change in the design for a given year that is intentional, but not necessarily meant to be noticed. Small date - large date. Small motto - large motto. Type 1 - type 2.

2. error - An anomaly in the manufacture of a coin that is usually not repeated. The one exception to this is when the anomaly exists on the die itself, such as a CUD or a broken die. Typical errors include clipped planchets, off-center strikes, broadstrikes, struck-throughs, and many others.

3. die variety - an anomaly in the design on a die that is a result of the manufacture of the die. All coins minted with the die show the anomaly, usually associated in one way or another with doubling of the design. Doubled dies, repunched dates, overdates, repunched mintmarks, over mintmarks.

Another common confusion is in the term "type." This term is used to describe different designs for the same denomination, such as buffalo and Jefferson nickel types. It is also used to describe noticeable changes in a design, such as the arrows and no-arrows seated coinage.

Where confusion sets in is when "type" is used to describe a mintmark or a specific design engraving used on a single year's coinage...type I and type II mintmarks for 1979 and 1981 proofs, or the type I and type II reverse cents of 1998, 1999, and 2000. These, however, are actually "varieties" - not "types."