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Full split band mercs

IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
in PCGS Set Registry Forum
The other day in here I made a comment that in grading mercs, the only band considered for grading full split bands was the center one. Some of the merc registry guys told me all of the bands had to be fully split. Please read Rick Montgomery's post, they only grade the center band for the FB designation. Hope this clarifies it once and for all.

Comments

  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,424 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Irish Mike:

    I did not see that discussion but you are Exactly correct. The Middle Band is the only one that counts when the FB designation is given. Strange that the Middle Band is suppose to define a Full Strike then other parts need not be struck up. One of the late 20's coins is quite common with the Top Band not being struck while the Middle band is. The Date escapes me right at the moment.

    Ken
  • gripgrip Posts: 9,962 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think it's the 28-S that comes weak in that area.Al
  • IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    Ken, it came up in the discussion of a merc, raw I believe and the comment was made that it would not grade FB, because the other bands were in bad shape. I made the comment that I thought it was only the middle band, and was quickly corrected and as it turns out incorrectly. But never argue with a merc collector, right. image
  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,424 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would have stuck up for you on that point. Many people do not realize that the Middle one is the only one that counts. When a Dealer pointed this out to me years ago I thought he was crazy but found out he was absolutely correct.

    Geez I guess Merc Collectors are Human. image

    Hey AL I will look it up but I believe you are correct.

    Ken
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,466 ✭✭✭✭✭
    PCGS does the same thing with full step Jefferson's, grading only the first 5 steps. Certainly the majority of Jeffersons don't exist with 6 steps, there are a few that do have 6 steps.
    But as a full step collector myself and despite the fact that PCGS only grades the first 5 steps. This doesn't interfere with my desire to locate that 6 step coin. I would think that this would ring true
    with you Full band Merc collectors despite how PCGS grades full bands.
    And if this holds true. I would think the guy who buys the coin would possess some resentment towards the guy who buys the slab. Especially if the guy held the #1 position. Of course, I don't have an idea if this is true but only in a hypothetical sense.

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • python1python1 Posts: 789
    leo,
    that is exactly the way I feel about the bands, reguardless of what PCGS does on the bands, if the top or botton is NOT there, than its NOT full bands to ME. But that is just the way I buy coins.....thanks for your insight...I too like the 6 step jeffesons, and have a few in my completed RAW sets.
    Dennis

    My Dimes

    << If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right the first time! >>
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Perhaps the middle band is the qualification for a FB designation, But when

    I used to collect Dimes, I always looked for examples with all bands fully struck.

    Bears sometimes can get very finicky in our tasts. Any way, an informative thread. Bear
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    The grading and collector preferences for the FB Mercury dimes is somewhat similar to that of FH Standing Liberty quarters - many quarters make the FH designation but have striking weaknesses in other areas, most notably, the shield and its rivets. I know many collectors who want those coins well struck in all areas and not just on Ms. Liberty's head.

    In a way, this illustrates how arbitrary some of these designations, which many people blindly (pun intended) seek out, are.
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