Error coin specialist Mike Chambers of California passed away recently. Mike Chambers was one of the original old-time collectors of mint errors. He assembled one of the greatest collections of all time. His timing was perfect since most of his purchases were in the 60s, 70s and 80s, before prices and demand exploded in the 90s. Mike attended many coin shows throughout the decades buying and selling mint errors with his favorite dealers and collectors.

One of my fondest memories of a transaction with Mike Chambers occurred in 1975 when he purchased one of the most expensive mint errors from my 1975 catalog. John Devine, aka "Lonesome John," had just published my catalog and Mike immediately contacted me and purchased the unique $20 1851 struck on a Large Cent planchet. I had just purchased this mint error and other mint errors from Fred Weinberg. Fred had just bought the Bolt Collection of mint errors and this $20 Liberty off-metal originated from it.

Mike and I also did several large deals in the early 2000s when I purchased his Walking Liberty Half on a Dime planchet, his double struck Peace Dollar, (3) 1944 Steel Cents, and a large group of proof errors. But the $20 Liberty off-metal was both my favorite and Mike's, and has become one of the most famous and valuable mint errors of all time.