Hunting for Full Split Bands on the torch...Raw Roosies

LucyBop

Interesting...... I have every Roosie pulled from Mint Sets and many toned coins that I have purchased over the years.. I also went to two coin stores...... In search of the full split bands...... These are really tough to find..... The Philly mints are very tough, followed by Denver and to my surprise, I have found many S mints that I believe will get the designation..... This is going to be a very interesting journey as coins are graded and pop reports start reflecting which issues will be the rarities.... I'm excited about the upcoming ride......

At this point in my searching, S mints which in Franklins were weakly struck, are struck sharply on the torch.... I realize this could all change quickly, just my preliminary observations. More Full Torchie for me!

edited to add I am talking about Roosie's from 46-64, the silver issues.

mdwoods

I have one FB Rosey. I got it from wondercoin.

littlewicher

So, do any Roosie experts know the rare dates to begin with?

LucyBop

My uncirculated 53d Full Split Band hopeful:



My uncirculated 62p pulled from a mint set



Both of these coins are sharply struck and have very nice luster, they are both brilliant. This is lost in the scans.

AbesNeighbor

Lucybop!,

At what point do you determine its worth the grading fees to submit them? Do you get a few opinions or just make up your own mind?

Dan

LucyBop

Grading fee's are of no concern to me, I'm not in it for the money, however, it would be nice to hit on what may become a conditional rarity.

My very sharply struck 51s, this coin is a stunner!

MadMonk

Those coins certainly look like hopefuls hepkitty.
Wish you lot's of luck.
I guess I need to look through my "stuff" as well.

Colorfulcoins

Lucy's right on the money - its many of the P mint coins that are going to be the hard-to-find FB coins.........and some of them are very common coins at that - just uncommon in FB. Perhaps, the toughest S mint coin may turn out to be the 55S - last of the S mint coins. Many many of the coins I've seen in MS66 and MS67 holders do not only lack FB, they don't even have bottom bands at all - just a flat spot - and that goes for the entire bottom of the torch also.

While many will disagree, I think PCGS is doing the right thing by NOT releasing FB pop's until 7/1 even though grading starts 4/1. Hopefully, they'll be enough of a pop to curtail opportunistic profit-taking of the few......and the pop's will give some indication of those coins that are truely scarce. Given all the "free" submission for registry set holders - even given the Looooonnnngggg turn around times, we should get a reasonable perspective on FB coins.........I hope.

Ronyahski

Lucy - Your find is very interesting. Are the "S" dimes you are finding better struck in the earlier years? Are you finding any difference in strike between the earlier "S" dimes vs. the later? Generally, the Frankies got worse as the years went by, as did the Jefs. I'd guess the dimes would've followed.

LucyBop

I am finding the Dimes to stay roughly the same... They seem to be better struck then the Franklins... Unless I am getting very lucky with what I am finding..... With what colorfulcoins said, I'm going to search for a 55s........ As far as S mint Franklins, I have a 49s that is a super strike with very bold Bell Lines, which should be expected as it was the 2nd year of the master die... I don't have a slabbed 51s or 52s as the ones I have seen the lines are very weak..... My 54s has some decent Bell Lines.....

The S dimes may not suffer from weaker strikes, the dies in San Franciso in this series may have been better as far as S mints are concerned. Again, what I am finding is very early in the game, But I'll tell you, the two coin stores I went to has tons of Roosies.... I saw an awful lot of them today.. After searching through mine....... I am going to hit another coin store tomorrow.....

onlyroosies

Lucy, I'll tell you this much. You have a winner with the 51S. Now try and find one of these 3 dates in full bands.
1949S, 1953, 1956. If you want to know all the tough dates in FB you'll have to ask in a PM pretty please.....

Nick

LucyBop

I've got a 53p, and I have 5 51d's that I think will pass. All the 51d's have a very solid strike..... My 56 Roosies the bottom band is barely even there.......

onlyroosies

Lucy, I have found almost all of the "D" mints to be easily found in FB especially the ones in the 50's

Morganluver

Wow, I just went through a nice high grade BU roll of 61-Ps, a complete BU set of nice toned Dimes in a Capital holder, and about 20 high grade slabbed white and toned Dimes and only found a 46-S and a 53-S that would come even close to FB or FT. I've got another 10-12 rolls to go through, but so far it doesn't look good. You guys are either lucky or I'm unlucky. This sounds like fun but I'm getting the feeling that these may be even harder to find than FB Mercs. Has anyone decided what the exact criterion will be for designation yet?

LucyBop

The criteria is posted on PCGs's main page... The Full Band Torchies are tough to find.... I have gone through hundreds and have around 18 to show for my troubles....... AND ANY THAT YOU FIND ARE MINE!

Morganluver

LucyBop,

Why don't you tell me how you REALLY feel.

LucyBop

Sometimes the HepKitty feels like all the dogs are ready to pounce..



MORE FULL TORCHIE FOR ME!

airplanenut

I got an FB in change today... 2002-P

Morganluver

LucyBop,

Where do you find that stuff?

Gilbert

The criteria AND a picture were published in the latest NN. Not only must there be full split bands, but the vertical lines in the torch need to be distinct too.

Funny, when the term "full torch" was furst used, in my mind I kept thinking only about the "flame." That is why I was so perplexed at this new designation. Now that I've seen the article, it makes more sense. Silly me.

LucyBop

http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=3795&universeid=313

Here is the link to the PCGs requirements. No mention whatsoever of the vertical lines being distinct on the torch. Simply the bands must be fully split, The line dividing the bands must be complete and unbroken. At this link they even have some pictures.... Though I am finding in mine that the vertical lines are complete also.

Gilbert

After looking at PCGS homepage article, I see you are correct Lucy; no mention of the vertical lines.

I emailed info@PCGS to let them know what is in the NN article and they should either correct them or correct the homepage. We'll see what happens.

mact

do any post 1965 dates/mm tend to have a weak strike?

matt

Colorfulcoins

Matt, I just sold off a big piece of a post 1964 Registry set - two dozen or more coins (not a full set by any means - all MS67 or 68) and I found just a handfull of FB coins in all. That's certainly LESS than I found when selling off that same owners set of pre 1965 silver dimes - leads me to belive they are HARDER to find post 1964......and I've seen that same statement made by knowledgeable collectors.

mact

thanks craig

cladking

This makes me wish I had spent a lot more time looking at dimes. If they're
anything like the quarters then there will be a few dates that are almost im-
possible with a good strike.

These are exciting times, indeed!

BigD5

If I spend one nanosecond "looking" for a full band, or full torch Roosie, I know I have WAY too much time on my hands.

LucyBop

<< <i>If I spend one nanosecond "looking" for a full band, or full torch Roosie, I know I have WAY too much time on my hands. >>



More Full Torchie for me!!!