I'm back again....hopefully everyone will not be so harsh this time since I'm still learning about coins and error coins..... I have a 1992 Lincoln Cent I cannot tell if this one would be considered a close AM....I have attached another photo from images I've found on the Net to compare.....but I'm still not sure....I've looked at so many I think my eyes and brain are playing tricks on me! Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
The best thing I learned for this, from the guys here, is also use the Initials on the right side of the Memorial. If the Initials FG are close to the Memorial then the AM is wide. If the Initials are farther from the Memorial then the AM is close. 1992 for the special one look for the close AM and the 1998,1999 and 2000 look for the wide AM. Think I got that right. Keep on a hunting like me, we will find one!!!!!!!
Your efforts are commendable. I'm sure you will find something soon enough. I recommend you expand your horizons to other coins such as dimes and nickels. You can find silver dimes and buffalo nickels and that can be quite rewarding. Here's a few pictures of stuff that I currently have or had over the years.
If you don't have the cherry pickers guide you should get it. I think it is very informative and has a lot of pics and close-ups to identify errors. I too am still learning but its fun to learn about errors and its like finding a needle in a haystack when you find something. I really haven't found anything major but I have found some nice coins while searching.
WAM. Here's a pic I made. I think it's helpful to show both reverses together. You can copy it to your pics to refer to if you like.
Look at the picture of your coin. You see the space between the A and M? Your's is a regular Wide AM. Easy as that
Take that coin you have and keep it. Use is as a comparison. You can do this for the 1998, 99, and 2000 "AM" varieties. Like I did with mine in my profile picture.
Make sure you get BOTH volumes of The Cherrypicker's Guide AND get The Error Coin Encyclopedia by Arnold Margolis. I started with Alan Herbert's Error Coin book in the 70's and just keep adding to my library. If your Public library ever has used book sales you may find an older edition for cheap, then just keep your feelers out for the newer editions as they are printed.
Also...The State and National Park Quarters (especially if you can get rolls) are a wealth of errors!
I have a 2000 but I haven't found any other dates. So why is the 2000 so common and yet took me a long time to find one.
Another easy tip...look at the gap between the "M" and the "E". On the "Wide AM's" they will be the same distance. The near AM's have a big difference. This helps on worn coins or from worn dies. The letters want to flatten out making the gap much smaller. Look at "wide" and "near" AM's and see what I am talking about.
