Wexler's Coins and Die Varieties

IMPORTANT UPDATE (4/2/2023): All attributions, except 5c doubled dies to Brian Ribar, are temporarily held until the website is fully transitioned to the new team. We hope to have the new attribution guidelines up soon.

If you have coins that you suspect are doubled dies, RPMs, OMMs, or other die varieties and would like to find out if they are indeed genuine die varieties, or if you know that they are die varieties and would like to find out if they are listed in the Wexler Die Variety Files, you can send them for attribution (examination). Note that currently all attributions except those by Brian Ribar are temporarily held. The full guidelines are left below (as the system will reopen in the future) but until explicitly stated, the attribution services are closed.

When coins are sent for attribution they are examined first to determine whether or not they are actual die varieties. Often times people think they have a doubled die or an RPM, but examination shows that it is one of the other more common forms of doubling that can be found on coins such as mechanical doubling (also referred to as strike doubling and machine doubling) or die deterioration doubling. These other forms of doubling generally have no extra value and many serious doubled die collectors view them as a form of coin damage rather than a collectible form of doubling.

If you do have a genuine die variety, we then check to see if it is listed in the Wexler Die Variety Files. If it is listed, we will let you know what the listing number is for the variety. If it is not listed, we will list it in the files and take the appropriate photos to document the important aspects of the variety.

All photos taken are copyright John A. Wexler and are used for future reference to help with future attributions and/or for publication purposes. Sometimes we are able to use the new discoveries in our Coin World. They will of course appear on this website. The photos may also be used in any books that we author or coauthor.

When your package of coins arrives here, it is placed in a processing line according to the postmark dates. The packages are processed in the order of the postmark dates (i.e. packages postmarked Feb. 1, 2011 are processed before packages postmarked Feb. 2, 2011 and so forth). The only exceptions to this are when individuals do not adhere to the guidelines below (see guidelines #2 and #3), or if there is the potential for a major variety discovery that deserves immediate attention in a major publication such as Coin World. Please note that although most people think that their discoveries are important, the ones that require immediate attention are few and far between.

Several years ago the Wexler Die Variety Files became too large for a single person. They are currently divided up among 3 attributers as outlined in the guidelines which follow. If sending varieties for attribution, please take care to make sure that you are sending them to the correct person.

Attribution Guidelines

If you have suspected doubled dies, RPMs, OMMs, DMMs, or IMMs, that you would like to submit for attribution, the following guidelines must be followed:

1. The fee for attributions is $5 per coin. Return postage and insurance is extra and must be included with any coins that are sent. The rule of thumb for return postage is that whatever it costs you for postage and insurance to send the coins to me, that’s the amount that should be included for postage and insurance to return the coins to you. Do NOT include any padded mailers or other mailing envelopes in your package. All packaging supplies for the return of the coins are provided as part of the attribution service. Payment can be made with cash, money orders, or personal checks.

2. You may send up to, but no more than 5 coins per shipment. If packages are sent with more than 5 coins, it will greatly delay their return. Five coins will be processed and the package will then placed at the end of the mail line until it comes up again. Once it reaches the front of the processing line again, the next five coins will be processed. This process will be repeated until all of the coins in the package are processed.

3. Do NOT send any additional shipments until the previous shipment has been returned. This will again result in significant delays as additional packages won't be put into the processing line until the first package has been processed and returned.

4. NEVER send coins by Certified Mail. If they are lost or stolen in the mail you will NOT be able to recover any of their value. Certified Mail does NOT carry any insurance. Coins with an estimated value of less than $500 should be sent by First Class Mail in a padded mailer with insurance if you can verify the value. If the coins have an established value of $500 or more, they should be sent by Registered Mail.

5. If you would like to receive a notice that the coins arrived here safely, you can take advantage of the delivery confirmation services available through the Post Office, and also the return receipt services available from the Post Office.

6. Make sure that you package your coins very carefully. If they can move about in the package, they might be able to tear out of the package and become lost. I recommend shipping in a padded mailer available from the post office, Wal-Mart, Staples, etc.

7. Please send your coins in plastic or vinyl flips from which they can easily be removed. Do not send the coins in 2x2’s that have been stapled.

8. We do NOT attribute foreign coin varieties – only varieties on U.S. coinage.

9. Once the coins arrive they will be processed as quickly as possible. Due to large demands on the attributers, it may take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks before the coins are processed and returned. It is usually less than that but we do ask your patience once they are sent.

Where To Send Your Coins

Send all U.S. doubled die varieties EXCEPT 5¢ doubled dies to: Temporarily Unavailable

Send all U.S. 5¢ doubled die varieties to: Brian Ribar, 2053 Edith Place, Merrick, NY 11566-3306. E-Mail: bribar@optonline.net

RPM Attribution Bulletin: Temporarily Unavailable

Send all 20th century overdates to: Temporarily Unavailable

Die Variety Encapsulation

If you are seeking to have your die varieties encapsulated (slabbed) with the Wexler Die Variety File numbers, ANACS is currently the most "die variety friendly" of the third party grading services. ANACS will encapsulate die varieties with the Wexler File numbers when they can be verified. When sending die varieties to be encapsulated with the Wexler File numbers it will help to include any documentation to help ANACS verify the listing. This could include reference to one of the many books that I have authored or coauthored, reference to varieties listed on my website, or a copy of any letters that are included when the coins are returned from being attributed. http://www.anacs.com/Default.aspx