How can you tell which coins PCGS considers a "major" variety (i.e. no attribution charge)?

slimbert

Does anyone know for certainty how to tell which coins PCGS will denote the variety without using the variety attribution service charge?

For example, I believe a 1955 Doubled Die cent will have the DDO noted on the label without using the service.

But, will a 1974-D DDO Kennedy Half be likewise treated as a "major" variety?

The PCGS variety attribution FAQ page does not mention anything about which coins do not need the variety attribution service charge.

I found this PCGSCustomerService comment on a forum post:

" This is the response I recieved from Ron Guth:

"If the coin is listed on the main date listing page ... it is considered a Major variety. If not, it must be submitted under the variety attribution service, regardless of the length of the PCGS number." "

...but that thread is over a decade old.

Can anyone confirm that if a coin is listed on the CoinFacts main date listing page, then it is a Major variety that does not the variety attribution service?

Thanks!

LanceNewmanOCC

you will see them in the pop reports with short cert numbers whereas the attribution fee level shows a coin number with several more digits.

also, when you view the pops, the free attributed varieties don't need to expand the + sign in order to see them.

lermish

They have been charging me for the Chopmark variety on US T$s.

yosclimber

I believe that answer is still good, but I don't have experience that confirms this.

I am pretty sure that if the PCGS Coin Number is 4 digits, that is a very major variety and part of the regular grading service.

If the PCGS Coin Number is more than 4 digits, that is potentially something that would require variety attribution service.
Several coins with coin numbers more than 4 digits are shown in the index page for Lincoln Cents,
so the question in my mind is if they cost extra to attribute.
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/half-cents/lincoln-cent-wheat-reverse/type-1-wheat-reverse-1909-1958/668
The 1955 DDO has a 4 digit PCGS Coin Number.
But the 1917 DDO has a 5 digit PCGS Coin Number.

oih82w8

From what i have seen, if its in the Red Book, it's a major variety, no charge for the attribution. If there is a FS number or Die Variety, there is a fee.

MetroD

This page identifies the varieties that PCGS recognizes, and the numbers used to identify them. In the 'Pop Report', look for the extra 'number/ identifier'.

Example: Liberty Seated Half Dollars are identified by WB number. For the 1842-O:
~ 6238 and 6242 would not incur the extra fee, because there is no WB number.
~ any of the lines that include "WB-X" would incur the extra fee, because there is a WB number (e.g., 572015, and 801849).

Source: https://www.pcgs.com/pop/detail/liberty-seated-half-dollar-1839-1891/121

Edited to Add:
The "coinfacts" approach described above by @oih82w8 works just as well, if not better.

Keeping with the same example:
~ go to the "coin facts" page for 6238.
~ click "Show Related Coins and Varieties"

Source: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1842-o-50c-small-date-rev-1839/6238

6238, a "major variety" is highlighted in green. Its two "die varieties", complete with WB numbers, are also listed. The "die varieties" would cost extra.

~ now click "1842-O 50C Medium Date, Rev 1842" (i.e., coin number 6242).
~ again click "Show Related Coins and Varieties"

Source: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1842-o-50c-medium-date-rev/6242

6242, a "major variety" is highlighted in green. Its eleven "die varieties", complete with WB numbers, are also listed. The "die varieties" would cost extra.

DollarAfterDollar

You can call them to confirm.

slimbert

Thanks for the responses, everyone, and thanks to @MetroD for walking through some examples.

Based on what everyone is saying, it does seem like this info is still correct:

"If the coin is listed on the main date listing page ... it is considered a Major variety. If not, it must be submitted under the variety attribution service, regardless of the length of the PCGS number."

I wish the PCGS variety attribution FAQ page made this more clear, and had questions such as...

What is the different between a "major" variety and a "minor" variety?

Is the variety attribution service necessary for major varieties?

How can I tell if PCGS considers a variety to be major or minor?

Some additional clarity:

While it appears most 4-digit PCGS coin numbers are major varieties, there are also plenty of 5-digit and 6-digit PCGS coin numbers that are also major varieties.

While it appears that most varieties listed in the RedBook are PCGS major varieties, there are also plenty of PCGS major varieties not listed in the RedBook.

Here's a sampling of some Kennedy Half Dollar varieties:

Note that some of these Kennedy Half Dollar coins may have minor varieties. For example, the 1964-D/D RPM has multiple different Cherrypicker FS numbers. If you wanted the FS number on the label, you would need to pay for the PCGS variety attribution service.