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Explanation of Full Torch and Full Band Roosevelt Dime designations from the major services

Several questions have popped up about Roosies in the last few days and I wanted to take this opportunity to post what the criteria is for both NGC and PCGS on their particular designations. The main difference appears to be that NGC also looks at the vertical bands on the torch, while PCGS focuses only on the horizontal bands:

NGC Full Torch (FT)

NGC began certifying Full Torch (FT) Roosevelt Dimes April 14, 2003. The designation FT for Full Torch will be applied to Roosevelt Dimes having both upper and lower pair of horizontal bands split as well as the vertical lines of the torch being defined. The FT designation will not apply to proof coins. The addition of the FT designation comes at the overwhelming request from NGC’s collector and dealer base.

The following image illustrates what is required to receive the FT designation. Note the upper and lower set of horizontal bands that are required to be split without major interruptions. Notice also the vertical lines on the torch are also defined without major interruptions.
The FT designation will be included when applicable during the normal course of grading, and no special fee or service is required when submitting uncertified coins to NGC. For those having Roosevelt Dimes already certified by NGC that may qualify for the FT designation, these may be submitted for review of their status under NGC’s Designation Review service at a fee of $10. This includes the cost of reholdering the coin. Coins holdered by other companies may be submitted to NGC under its Crossover Service, and their FT status will be evaluated in the course of grading the coins.

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PCGS Full Band (FB)

Newport Beach, CA) - Responding to collectors' requests, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) will add a new designation for Roosevelt dimes, "Full Bands."
"In every survey we've conducted, customers have asked for the Full Bands designation on fully-struck Roosevelt dimes. The Roosevelt series, from 1946 to date, is a good entry level collectible, and finding coins with Full Bands is a popular collecting specialty," said PCGS Vice President Michael Sherman. PCGS will begin using the designation on April 1, 2003.
Beginning September 1st, the Full Bands designation will begin appearing on PCGS's population report and anyone registering a coin with the Full Bands designation in one of the Roosevelt dime categories in the PCGS Set Registry(TM) will receive bonus points for that coin. According to B.J. Searls, PCGS Set Registry Director, "It will be the same bonus structure we use for Full Bell Line Franklin half-dollars and Full Band Mercury dimes."
The PCGS "Full Bands" designation for Roosevelts requires that both the upper and lower pair of bands on the torch be distinct and show full separation. The line dividing the bands must be complete and unbroken.


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Comments

  • Excellent thread Frank. It will be interesting to look at the pops a year from now to get an indication of a census of date/mm/grade scarcity.
  • LucyBopLucyBop Posts: 14,004 ✭✭✭
    I can catch these with a naked eye but, here is were a Loupe will be helpful to many....
    imageBe Bop A Lula!!
    "Senorita HepKitty"
    "I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
  • Lucy:
    I would recommend a 10x Peer Hexagonal or a Bauch and Laumb. 18mm -20mm would be ideal.
    I use that for my bands on Mercs as well. Low distortion is the key.
  • I posted these yesterday - but they seem appropriate today as well - it's the Full Band Pops and Full Torch Pops for PCGS and NGC. You'll note that the pops for NGC are much lower - I don't think it's because people aren't sending coins to NGC, I believe it's because of the tougher criteria:

    PCGS FULL BANDS BY YEAR/MM:

    1950-D 183
    1959-D 129
    1959 128
    1946-S 114
    1954-D 104
    1953-D 84
    1955-D 81
    1958-D 73
    1946-D 72
    1962-D 67
    1949-D 66
    1952-D 61
    1948-D 60
    1962 54
    1946 49
    1954 46
    1951 45
    1948-S 43
    1951-D 42
    1947-D 34
    1947-S 34
    1951-S 32
    1960-D 32
    1964-D 32
    1952 31
    1964 28
    1952-S 28
    1948 27
    1960 27
    1954-S 26
    1957-D 25
    1961-D 24
    1956-D 23
    1947 22
    1950 22
    1950-S 21
    1953-S 18
    1955 16
    1953 15
    1949 13
    1956 10
    1949-S 10
    1963-D 10
    1957 8
    1961 8
    1955-S 8
    1963 7
    1958 5

    NGC FULL TORCH BY YEAR MM:

    1950 D 31
    1948 22
    1946 S 19
    1948 S 18
    1964 D 14
    1946 D 10
    1951 D 10
    1962 9
    1953 D 9
    1955 D 9
    1959 D 9
    1952 8
    1947 S 7
    1952 D 7
    1952 S 7
    1957 D 7
    1951 6
    1964 6
    1948 D 6
    1950 S 6
    1955 S 6
    1958 D 6
    1946 5
    1957 5
    1959 5
    1949 D 5
    1954 D 5
    1961 D 5
    1962 D 5
    1950 4
    1947 D 4
    1951 S 4
    1953 S 4
    1954 S 4
    1956 D 3
    1960 D 3
    1954 2
    1947 1
    1949 1
    1953 1
    1955 1
    1960 1
    1961 1
    1963 1
    1949 S 1
    1963 D 1
  • Very helpful thread, Frank! Thanks!
  • Thanks for the info Frank. I have an almost complete unc. roll set of silver Roosies and hope to make an impact on the pops soon. image Yes I do collect some moderns. image
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  • Wow Lucy! Yours are are beautiful AND keen! image
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website

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