My latest addition to my Wash. Collection

wondercoin · August 21, 2004 2:14PM

I thought it was a pretty cool pattern mixing the bust of Washington on the obverse with the Rays Shield Nickel design on the reverse.

Wash

Wondercoin

RBinTex · August 21, 2004 2:37PM

Very COOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

BNE · August 21, 2004 2:38PM

I like it!! I wonder why no CAM?

wondercoin · August 21, 2004 2:50PM

Thanks guys.

I believe PCGS did not designate CAM or DCAM for a number of years. This particular earlier style holder may or may not have been before the designation was actually initiated. Interestingly, PCGS still does not recognize CAM or DCAM in the population report for patterns. I personally think it would be a good idea for them to consider doing so at some point.

And, of course, even if the coin deserved the cameo designation, it would require a reholdering and loss of the older style green holder. To date, I have elected to not disrupt any of my older style nickel pattern holders, even if upgrades were potentially warranted.

Wondercoin

cointime · August 21, 2004 4:21PM

Mitch,

Interesting coin and a very good price. Patterns are really neat and undervalued. I don't collect these, but find many of them super coins and very rare.

One thing I think would be neat is a Dynamic Registry set for patterns (I think I spelled that right). What I mean is as a collector adds coins, then the data base makes an entry for the coin and adds(expands) the required coins needed to complete the set (like a set in progress). I would think a different set should be created by denomination and additionally have sets created by each metal comp. like alum., silver, nickel ect.... Just an idea.

I'm sure David Hall has had so many sets to create and has been asked a few times for a pattern registry, but how to create it? That is where I think a dynamic set that changes/expands as coins are added would be a great concept and they could be the 1st on the block to support this new concept.

Again, cool coin mitch

Ken

wondercoin · August 21, 2004 11:39PM

Ken: I do like your idea.

One things about the patterns - when I decided to assemble a pattern nickel collection a few years ago I realized that it was a collection that was impossible to "complete". I didn't double check, but one of the co-writers of the new pattern book told me back then that there were something like 400-500 known pattern nickels in the series. Yet, my quick review of the PCGS and NGC known pops showed me that only around 1/3 or so of these patterns have ever had a single coin (or more) graded at either service! So, it is a collection where nearly 2/3 of the coins are impossible to purchase, absent a sale by the Smithsonian, etc. That is why your idea Ken is sound in my opinion.

You might want to suggest your idea to DH at some point.

Wondercoin

BNE · August 22, 2004 1:09AM

They are fascinating to look at. You can really see the artistic concepts develop, and they inevitably get you wondering what might have been

quattrocoins · August 22, 2004 1:24AM

Very

RKKay · September 23, 2004 8:52AM

That is one of my favorite patterns, Mitch. I also agree with you and cointime that a "Dynamic" pattern registry would be a great idea. And, as you know, PCGS is still looking for ideas for finalizing a pattern registry, so I'm sure HRH is receptive.

wondercoin · September 23, 2004 11:14AM

Rick: Presidential patterns like this one are among some of my favorites as well. I am sure you saw this coin at auction - amazing surfaces and one of my favorite patterns, quality-wise, thus far.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I am neither lobbying for nor protesting against a pattern registry. If it happens, it happens. Ken's idea is a good one I believe, as is TDN's idea of having several different pattern registries similar to variety and non-variety collections in order to give collectors a choice to collect extensive pattern collections or smaller unit sets.

In addition to the "Rule of 5" applied to variety coins, PCGS has also excluded rarer coins from the Registry on occasion, such as 1964 SMS coins, with estimated mintages of a dozen or two specimens. I do not recall seeing those coins added to the various registry sets, but I could be wrong. Yet, I seem to recall that coins such as 1913 Lib nickels find their way in other registry sets. In other words, I assume PCGS has great flexibility to structure pattern registry sets.

Personally, I will continue to collect the pattern nickels whether I can register them or not in a registry. But, if PCGS does forumlate a pattern nickel registry, I suspect I will participate. After all, I only have roughly (22) active registry sets right now - why not upwards of (30)

Wondercoin