Mike Byers is president of Byers Numismatic Corp., a California corporation dealing in numismatics and the largest dealer of the world's rarest mint errors. He specializes in U.S. and World Major Mint Errors and Die Trials. He has been a professional numismatist for 28 years and has handled major coin collections, and attends every major coin convention. Byers Numismatic Corp. carries an extensive inventory as well as solicits want lists and is always looking to purchase fresh inventory and collections.

In the last decade, Mike Byers has made more discoveries of major mint errors both in the United States and around the world than any other dealer. He is now the largest dealer of the world’s rarest mint errors. In 1999, mikebyers.com was launched and today it is considered the most widely viewed and informative mint error web site. The web site has over 600 pages filled with articles, discoveries, breaking news and thousands of images of the most spectacular and dramatic major mint errors available on the market today.

Included in his premier inventory of U.S. and World major mint errors and die trials are many discovery pieces which have been featured on the front page of Coin World, the world's #1 publication for coin collectors. Coin World published the following coins that Mike Byers discovered as front page articles:

• 1999 State Quarters Struck on Experimental Planchets Certified by PCGS

• Transitional Sacagawea & SBA Dollars Certified by PCGS

• Martha Washington Cent Test Piece Certified by NGC

• Canadian Cent Struck with Two Reverse Dies Certified by PCGS

• 1910 Lincoln Cent Uniface Test Strike Certified by PCGS

• Unique 1920 Buffalo Nickel Struck in Copper Certified by NGC

Other discoveries by Mike Byers that were also featured in Coin World include:

• State Quarters & Other Denominations Struck on Feeder Finger Tips Certified by PCGS & NGC

• Additional Martha Washington Test Pieces in Several Different Denominations Certified by NGC

• The Only Known State Quarter Dual Date, Dual State Certified by ANACS

• An Assortment of World Coins Struck with Either Two Obverse or Two Reverse Dies Certified by NGC & ANACS

Additional discoveries by Mike Byers featured as cover stories in different issues of Mint Error News Magazine include:

• Unique 1866 $2½ Struck on a 3 Cent Nickel Planchet Certified by NGC
• 1804 $2½ Capped Bust Double Struck Certified by NGC
• 1806 $5 Capped Bust Triple Struck Certified by PCGS
• Canadian Cent Die Cap with Two Reverse Dies Certified by PCGS
• 1971 ½ Pence Great Britain Struck with Two Obverse Dies Cu-Ni Certified by NGC
• Unique Jefferson Nickel Die Trial by Di Francisci Certified by PCGS
• Unique Five Piece "Two Tailed" Euro Set Certified by ANACS
• 1989-D Lincoln Cent Transitional Double Struck on Bronze Planchet Certified by ICG
• Unique 3¢ Nickel Struck on 1¢ Stock Certified by NGC

In 2003, the Mint Error News web site (minterrornews.com) was launched, which was initially sponsored by Mike Byers and ANACS. Due to the popularity of mint errors and the magazine it is now sponsored by Mike Byers and several other mint error dealers. It is a web site devoted to bringing the latest mint error news and information to the collector. There are now over 400 articles, features, discoveries, news stories, and mint error related info from the United States and around the World. This web site became so popular that a print version, Mint Error News Magazine, was created and is read by thousands of readers.

Mike Byers was a consultant to ANACS for Mint Errors from 2000 through 2006. He is the Editor and one of the Sponsors for minterrornews.com. He is also the Publisher and Editor of Mint Error News Magazine.

Mike Byers is a life member of ANA since 1985, a charter member of NGC and a featured dealer/member of PCGS. He is a founder member of the California Coin & Precious Metals Association. He is also a life member of the Central States Numismatic Society, the Florida United Numismatists and a member of ICTA. He is member A71 in the Certified Coin Exchange (CCE).

Mike Byers was the featured author in the October 9, 2009 issue of The Coin Dealer Newsletter (Vol. XXXIV No. 10) with a front-page article on mint errors.

In 2009, Mike Byers published his first book, World's Greatest Mint Errors. This book combines stunning imagery with the most accurate information available to provide anyone interested in mint errors with the latest information on mint error coins from the United States and around the world. Hundreds of spectacular mint errors are pictured. Each error coin photo is presented in full color, and enlarged to enhance the smallest details. Some of the error coins featured in this book have never been seen by the public before, and each is described in great detail as to the type of error, the assigned grade, rarity and estimated value. Click here for more information and to puchase.

When Mike Byers isn't at coin conventions buying and selling mint errors he is usually in his office with customers or editing the next issue of his magazine or catalog.

His other interests and hobbies include snow skiing, playing the piano, traveling in Europe and racing sports cars. Below is his latest set of wheels, a Lamborghini Gallardo with 500 HP and a top speed of 192 MPH.

q.

What you have is called a "magician's coin." This is a novelty piece and can be purchased at a magic shop. These have no numismatic value and are for entertainment only. There are approximately thirty genuine two-headed or two-tailed coins that have been authenticated by ANACS, PCGS and NGC. There are only four known "Two Tailed" U.S. coins: three Quarters and one Dime. One of the Quarters recently sold for $80,000. There are six known world coins that were struck with either two obverse or two reverse dies. Two of these are Canadian Copper Cents that were struck with two reverse dies and authenticated by PCGS. I purchased these in a Canadian Mint Error Collection and they have since been featured in a front page Coin World article.

I collect mint error coins but I am confused by some of the abbreviations used by the grading services when describing the error. Could you please help me out?

Here is the generally accepted list, and primarily used by ANACS, PCGS & NGC:
O/C - off center, D/S - double struck, T/S - triple struck, M/S - multi struck, F/O - flipover, B/S - broadstruck, DBL DENOM - double denomination, CB - counterbrockage, FRAG - fragment, BROCK - brockage, TRANS - transitional, EXP - experimental, PLN - planchet, TR - trial, ADJ - adjustment, STK - struck, PC - partial collar, BND - bonded, MTD PR - mated pair, T1 - type 1.

I just found a state quarter that looks like it's golden or brass. Is this made out of the same metal as the new golden dollar?

Chances are your state quarter has been plated after it left the mint. Check to see if the edge is the same color as the rest of the coin. If it is the same color, the coin has been plated. If the edge is copper colored you might have genuine a mint error. Please e-mail a picture to allow us to evaluate your coin. There are approximately 15 known 1999 State Quarters struck on Experimental Planchets. All five states in the 1999 series (DE, PA, CT, GA and NJ) have been discovered. These Experimental State Quarters have sold for as high as $10,000 each, depending on which state, the coin's condition and which type of experimental composition was used. There are four known types of experimental compositions which have been discovered so far on 1999 State Quarters.