Rattlers with white foam insert

blu62vette

Anybody have info on these? I have been told they were part of the first 50 done, others have said they were temporary while waiting for different sized gaskets. Post your thoughts or conspiracy theories here.

llafoe

David Hall's 50 favorite coins?

P.S. That's not foam!

Broadstruck

Most I've seen have had IHC or small Patterns.

commoncents05

I've seen Patterns and Flying Eagle Cents with them before.

-Paul

LindeDad

Wasn't there a lawsuit about them?

ThePennyLady

I have owned several of these over the years, all of course containing pennies. But I haven't heard anything about them being the first ones produced by PCGS. Here's one I currently have.

holeinone1972

I got one! Maybe they are all AU 55

Broadstruck

<< <i>Wasn't there a lawsuit about them?
>>



Why, what, when... As Air-Tite holders use the same foam w/ no issues.

Russ

The only one I've ever handled was a pattern. I think they were a temp fix when they ran out of regular ones.

Russ, NCNE

TomB

I've seen far too many of these to believe that only 50 were produced. If I recall correctly, they were always used with copper. I would think they had a shortage of regular inserts and used these. I also do not believe they were the first coins encapsulated by PCGS.

blu62vette

Here is another:

Russ

Russ, NCNE

BillJones

It was always my understanding that the white inserts were a way that PCGS used to try to combat the moisture problem in slabs for copper coins.

Kove

I believe BillJones is correct. I have only seen copper and copper/nickel coins with foam inserts. I've heard the "ran out of slabs" reason before, but I've seen different sized coins in them, including cents in quarter-size holders, and half cents in half dollar-size holders with foam. Did they run out of multiple sizes, but only for copper and CN coins?. In addtion, my flying eagle serial number is 3129250, whereas there are much later serial numbers like Charmy's 711xxxx. Since the coins were slabbed so far apart in time, I'd be surprised if they ran out of slab inserts multiple times. The "ran out" argument would make more sense to me if the SNs were all very close together, coming at the same time, with all the same size coin in them, and if there were other silver and gold coins in foam, not just copper/CN.

My theory is that the foam was an attempt to preserve the color of copper and CN coins as best as possible. The rattlers were some of the least airtight slabs around, but once moisture/humidity got in, it is tough to get out. A secondary (long shot) theory I had was that the foam was a way to prevent smooth-edged coins from rotating and rattling around in these holders. The rattlers did have prongs to try to hold reeded-edge coins in place for a while, but they often broke and ended up rattling. The prongs didn't work too well with smooth-edged coins.

Lakesammman

Interesting to see a S9 proof flyer in a MS holder - whatever you do, don't break it out!

2ltdjorn

This thread should be revisited, very interesting. I have never seen one!

keets

so where does this fit into condor101's analysis??

2ltdjorn

<< <i>

Russ, NCNE >>



Awesome!

etexmike

<< <i>This thread should be revisited, very interesting. I have never seen one! >>



I have several rattlers in my collection but never knew these existed. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.


Mike

dizzyfoxx

Thanks for bringing up this old thread on this subject. Very interesting reading. I'm certainly leaning towards BillJones and Kove's interpretation as to the reason for the foam insert. Makes the most sense due to the fact that it's primarily copper coins and the serial #'s on the rattlers are from various time periods during the rattler generation.