Should the Large S mintmark of 1941 be included in varieties sets?

RGL

The Large S mintmark of 1941 -- the noticeably larger mintmark used for '42 and succeeding issues, but only instituted late in 1941 -- is hailed by Fivaz and Stanton's Cherrypickers (and recognized by Breen) as an under appreciated and relatively uncommon coin in nickels, dimes and quarters. While I do not believe circulated examples to be worth much of a premium (I have more than one-half roll of circulated Large S Jeffs and one XF Large S Merc), I do believe them to be underrated in BU. I can't speak to Mercs and Washingtons, but just try finding a BU Large S on the Jefferson. As Frank "Mr. Jeff" Corso agrees, it is a hard coin to find. I can only speculate that the numismatists and horders of the day put away their 1941-S rolls early in the year when they still were minted with the Small S mintmark and thus created a scarcity of coins put away late in the year with the Large S. After some searching, I have a BU Large S 1941 Jeff, but PCGS of course does not attribute the variety -- which is a no-brainer to recognize. This leaves me with an ANACS slab, potentially, or a PCGS without the attribution. What say you?

merz2

RGL
If they do they'd have to include the 1928 Lg S and the 1928 Small S.

NIckelCollector

I think PCGS is missing an opportunity to satisfy collector demand and increase thier revenue at the same time. A no brainer?

I have several Jeffersons varieties including the 1941 large S that I am considering submitting to NGC. NGC recognizes all Cherrypicker varieties.

David Hall has indicated PCGS is reconsidering their variety policy. Maybe I will wait?

GoYankees

I did a search and revived this thread because I've never seen this variety before this week and I've been seeing quite a few on eBay...

1941-S Nickel - Large "S" (1)

Large "S" (2)

Large "S" (3)

Large "S" (4)

Is this Large "S" a rare variety?
Are there other "S" sizes outside of "large" and "normal"?

cladking

It seems that all the varieties are getting more collector attention, especially those
which are dramatic and/ or can be found in circulation.

Murphy

Since Coppercoins posted about the multiple varieties of S mint marks for the 1941, 44, 45 and 1946 Cents, I have been searching high and low for them.

koynekwest

Some of the major doubled dies should be listed as well. They are much more dramatic than Mint mark variations.

stephunter

I agree that the 41-S, large S, should get the designation. I sent a nice bu coin to Ngc just so that i could get the designation on it. What has even been more fun is trying to find a full step coin that has the large S.

GoYankees

The 4th link in my earlier post has an MS66 ANACS at the start price of $240. I'm not sure that it will sell for that. I wondering if this is a trendy variety. If so, it seems to me that the market for this coin hasn't been established at any grade, yet.

GoYankees

I'm checking the Hertiage Auction Archives.

I only found one...

1941-S 5c "Large S"

ANACS MS65: Sold for $89.70 (11/02/2004)

GoYankees

Whoops, forgot to look in current auctions.

Found one.

This auction is an NGC 2-coin set with Large and Small "S" varieties.

Great pics of both MMs in this link.

Linky

stephunter

"I'm checking the Hertiage Auction Archives.

I only found one...

1941-S 5c "Large S"

ANACS MS65: Sold for $89.70 (11/02/2004)"

I like this one. Its now at Ngc for a crossover.

seanq

A bunch of those went up on eBay and sold for ridiculous prices right after the Fourth Edition of the Cherrypickers' Guide came out. J.T. added the variety but mistakenly listed it as a URS-5, which IIRC is 8-16 known. I owned more than that personally when the book came out. Anyway, some folks got the idea they were rare and paid moon money for them on eBay. I still have one or two in mint state, cherrypicked back when I was a full-time stephunter. I also briefly owned one with a nice class-II doubled die reverse, visible on AMERICA and UNUM, but I sold it back to the dealer after he plead sellers remorse.

Bill Fivaz has published a great study of the various San Francisco mintmark varieties of the WWII era, I know it was in Errorscope a few years back, and I think it was reprinted in the Numismatist as well.

I agree with others onthis thread, that there are very nice doubled dies which should be added to the Registry sets before this coin. I suggest the 1955 proof tripled die reverse for starters.


Sean Reynolds

keets

the rarity estimates on the 41 Large "S" are way out of whack and i would suggest that any interested collectors proceed with caution. while us collectors might know that, the coins are routinely listed for sale at the rarity number quoted by Sean. at last weeks Cleveland Show, a dealer had a nice ANACS holdered AU53 or AU50 that was priced at $200. he had the rarity as less than 16 known on the sticker, yet before i even flipped the holder over to loupe the MM he had offered it at $100!!!!!!!!! i think i've seen about 20-30 coins listed on eBay in the past several months, so what about that rarity estimate???

i tend to think about this MM variety as i do other Jefferson varieties----it's probably only scarce in actual numbers, but rare in Mint State. however, i think it's long term potential for appreciation in all grades is good, not much downside. the whole thing turns on what's spent to acquire the coins.

al h.

FullStepJeffs

FYI... For all... I just asked a very similar question to David Hall... his answer is listed here.

Sounds like the change is finally coming.

I got good news in the thread... and bad news... par.

Steve