Editor's Note: Daniel Sassa discovered this collection of raw mint errors sold decades ago by John Devine, AKA Lonesome John. He wanted to share this with the readers of Mint Error News. Error coins with the Lonesome John pedigree are always of interest among mint error collectors.

This incredible group of over 40 raw mint errors resided in a collection since the early 1980s. These were purchased directly from the historic mail order service of John Devine, AKA Lonesome John.

John Devine was a legendary pioneer in the error coin hobby who founded the Error Coin Museum and was a founding member of CONECA. He was the first full-time error coin dealer and was famous among numismatists and collectors for his inventory of major mint errors.

Several of the error types in this collection included die caps, clipped planchets and late stage brockages. Many of these were preserved in a signature Lonesome John blue flip.

One of the highlights in this collection is a rare 1943 steel cent that was double struck on both the obverse and reverse. I submitted it to PCGS to be authenticated and certified. It was determined to be AU55 double struck.

Major mint errors on wartime steel cents are coveted because the 1943 production was a unique 1 year only event due to the copper shortages during World War II. Any major mint error on a 1943 steel cent is rare and very collectible.

More of these mint errors will be submitted for authentication and grading and I will share these with the readers of Mint Error News once they are returned to me from the grading services.