A question to ponder

[interest]

What would the conversation be around a table with Mr Ian McConnelly & Mr Fred Lever?

I ask this because in the latest Coin & Banknote magazine.
 Mr McConnelly writes in his article on Varierties, mainly Die cracks.
He writes &  I quote "The varieties on this coin are all Die cracks & This is another simple variety, a die crack, on a 1952 issue." [/u]unquote.

(copied from the May issue of coin & banknote pages 22 & 23)

Now in Mr Fred Lever's article.
He writes & I quote,
"Again there are no errors in these lists only the common die variations by date. Errors such as die cracks & mistrikes are not die varieties & have no place in a variety list & should not be referred to as "varieties". unquote

 (copied from the May issue of coin & banknote pages on pages 64 thru73)

Both articles are very well written & a pleasure to read as they are both informative & interesting.
But both men have a different view on what constitutes a variety.
Whilst two very learned men share such differing views on what a die crack is, what chance does a mere mortal like me have?

I'm just asking & not casting doubt on either gentleman.

[Fulvio]

My own view is that there are THREE different categories:

Varieties: Different versions of the same coin, eg: large/small dies, 3-1/2 claws, wavy 2's etc.

Errors: Cuds, cracks and other repeatable misstrikes.

Faults: One-off, individual errors, such as all planchet flaws, tilted collars, broadstrikes, etc.

So McConnelly is wrong.

[markn]

It's all opinion.  Fred has some cuds in his list of silver coins and not others.  I wonder why he's decided on some and not others.  Ian Mc has die cracks in his variety lists which is fine but I do not believe the list could ever be comprehensive and there's though given to the fact that some of his different varieties are the same die crack just further progressed.

I am sure Fred and Ian would have a lively discussion.

[Mister T]

Errors such as die cracks & mistrikes are not die varieties & have no place in a variety list & should not be referred to as "varieties".

I had a chuckle as I read that but I agree.
The early guides listed die cracks and other errors as varieties back in the day and I guess that definition has persisted somewhat.