The Cherrypickers’ Guide is the book that taught a generation of collectors to find valuable die varieties hiding in plain sight, and its Fivaz-Stanton (FS) numbers are quoted by every major grading service. Volume I of the sixth edition covers all U.S. series from half cents through the nickel five-cent pieces across 448 spiralbound pages, with detailed photo enlargements, diagnostics, values in multiple grades, and appendices on doubling classes, the minting process, and magnifiers.
Key Features
- FS numbering system
- photo enlargements
- values in multiple grades
- doubling and minting appendices
- spiralbound for desk use
Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, Volume II Review
An Essential Reference for Variety Hunters and Serious Coin Searchers
For collectors who enjoy looking beyond ordinary date-and-mintmark collecting, the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins is one of the most important references in modern U.S. numismatics. This volume is designed for collectors who want to identify valuable die varieties hiding in plain sight — the kinds of coins that can sometimes be found in dealer boxes, old albums, inherited collections, or even ordinary rolls.
The sixth edition of Volume II continues the long-running tradition of the Cherrypickers’ Guide series by focusing on collectible U.S. die varieties, showing collectors what to look for, how to recognize it, and why certain varieties command collector premiums.
What This Book Covers
This volume focuses on rare and desirable die varieties in U.S. coinage, with clear photographs, descriptions, and diagnostics to help collectors identify them. Rather than simply listing coins by date and mintmark, the book teaches collectors to look for the details that can make one example far more valuable than another.
Depending on the coin series and variety, that might include:
Doubled dies
Repunched mintmarks
Overmintmarks
Die markers
Hub doubling
Strong variety diagnostics
Pickup points visible under magnification
Rarity and interest among specialists
For collectors who regularly search through coins, this kind of information is extremely valuable. Many important varieties are not immediately obvious to the casual eye, and a standard price guide often does not give enough detail to properly identify them.
Why It Matters for Coin Collectors
The appeal of cherrypicking is simple: sometimes a coin’s true value is hidden in the details.
A dealer may price a coin as an ordinary example. A seller may not know a variety exists. A collector may inherit a group of coins without realizing that one piece has a valuable doubled die, repunched mintmark, or other important diagnostic. The Cherrypickers’ Guide gives collectors a practical roadmap for spotting those opportunities.
This makes the book especially useful for collectors who enjoy the hunt. It rewards patience, careful observation, and a good loupe. For many numismatists, that is part of the fun.
Strengths
The strongest feature of this guide is its practical approach. It is not just a theoretical discussion of die varieties. It is built around identification: what the variety is, where to look, and how to distinguish it from ordinary coins or minor machine doubling.
The photographs are one of the book’s biggest advantages. Variety attribution often depends on small details, and written descriptions alone are rarely enough. A good image can quickly show the collector what matters.
The Cherrypickers’ Guide series also has strong name recognition within the hobby. For many collectors and dealers, being listed in Cherrypickers’ Guide can increase awareness and demand for a variety. That makes the book useful not only as an educational reference, but also as a market-oriented tool.
Best Uses
This book is especially useful for:
Collectors searching dealer inventory
Roll hunters looking for valuable varieties
U.S. type coin collectors who want to understand varieties
Collectors building advanced sets
Dealers who need quick attribution help
Online sellers describing variety coins
Anyone learning how to spot doubled dies, RPMs, and other diagnostics
It is also an excellent companion to a magnifier or microscope. The book tells you what to look for, while your loupe or scope helps confirm what is actually on the coin.
Limitations
The main limitation is that this is a specialized reference. A brand-new collector may find it more advanced than a basic Red Book or beginner coin guide. It assumes that the reader has some interest in close inspection, attribution, and variety collecting.
It is also not a complete encyclopedia of every variety known. The Cherrypickers’ Guide focuses on selected rare and collectible varieties with strong collector interest. Specialists may still want additional references for specific series, such as Lincoln cents, Buffalo nickels, Morgan dollars, or Washington quarters.
Finally, market values can change. The book is most valuable for identification and diagnostics, while current prices should still be checked against recent auction results, dealer listings, and grading-service data.
Verdict
The Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins, Volume II is a must-have reference for collectors who enjoy the detective work of numismatics. It helps turn ordinary coin searching into a more informed and rewarding process by showing which small details can make a coin special.
For a coin and numismatics website’s resources section, this is an easy recommendation. It is practical, respected, and directly useful to collectors who want to find better coins, understand die varieties, and sharpen their attribution skills.
Recommended for: Variety hunters, roll searchers, U.S. coin collectors, dealers, online sellers, and collectors who enjoy cherrypicking.
Not ideal for: Collectors who only want a basic price guide, or those with no interest in close-up coin diagnostics.
