My New R7+ TOP POP.....................***THANK YOU DIMEMAN!!!***

keyman64

Only 4 have been graded at PCGS. None have been graded and included in the ANACS population report although 1 of the 4 known examples (AU58) did come from a mid-1980s ANACS Photo Cert that I owned for a short period of time. I'm not sure about the other TPGs. I have never seen a raw example, even low grade, while searching thousands of coins. Since I have been searching for this coin for close to 2 years and there are others that have been searching years longer, I can safely say that this is a rare coin and I am very happy to have it. I am thankful for the kindness of our one and only DIMEMAN that let me have it in trade. He took my AU58 example and a number of other things off my hands. Thank you, Jon!!! I had at first left his name out of the thread since so many people do not wish to be identified but after a couple of inquiries and Jon's blessing...he is in this thread as he should be!

The current population looks like this: AU58, AU58, MS63FB and my MS66FB.

stealer

How much is an unknown R7 variety like the one in the OP worth? I know there are many varieties in all different series that are R6 or rarer that are worth moot even in graded plastic. Just curious.

On another note, congrats!

keyman64

<< <i>How much is an unknown R7 variety like the one in the OP worth? I know there are many varieties in all different series that are R6 or rarer that are worth moot even in graded plastic. Just curious.

On another note, congrats! >>

Thanks stealer.

It all comes down to demand. You can have an R8 but if no one cares then it just isn't worth much. Currently there are only 5 active Mercury Dime Complete Variety Set builders. 4 of those people have one of these. So, if a new example came up for auction and the current 4 people were happy with their example...then there would not be much of a bidding war for the new example....kind of depends upon what the reserve was set at and that would determine if the new one sold I guess.

Not trying to beat around the bush here really, just putting out the cold facts.

I am actually writing a Mercury Dime Variety Price Guide that talks about a lot of this and way more. The guide will be coming in the next few weeks...and will be posted on the forums for free.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>and will be posted on the forums for free. >>



awe, come on. can't you charge us like $5-10 and donate like 1/2 or 3/4 to YN promotions and such?

In either event, I know I'm looking forward to it
.

keyman64

<< <i>

<< <i>and will be posted on the forums for free. >>



awe, come on. can't you charge us like $5-10 and donate like 1/2 or 3/4 to YN promotions and such?

In either event, I know I'm looking forward to it
. >>

Trust me, I could use some money and that sounds like a great idea but I would rather get it published with the knowledge shared to as many people as possible than do that I think. I do not want to create a barrier to the knowledge. I would rather increase the interest in the Mercury Dime Varieties. Demand for the guide will be low already and I do not want to force the demand lower by putting a price tag on a 50page-ish PDF. Maybe if people want a printed copy, that would be different. Cardinal put out a great publication, "Portraits of Liberty: The Large Cents of the United States Illustrated by the Cardinal Collection" and he gave me one for free. I will always consider him to be a real stand-up guy that is trying to improve the hobby by sharing his knowledge and collection. I would like to do something similar but for Mercury Dime Varieties. Then it would be really neat to collaborate with the professionals from other series, possibly providing them with the format for my publication so they can tackle the same thing for all of the other series.

I became very interested in writing this thing because the Cherrypickers' Guide pricing and rarity information for the Mercury Dimes was WRONG more than it was right. Early last year I offered up pricing info for the Mercs to the publisher of the CPG and they were not interested...........so this is how we got here. I have nice examples of almost all of the varieties and hope to include nice photos of them in the guide. It will be fun.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>Trust me, I could use some money and that sounds like a great idea but I would rather get it published with the knowledge shared to as many people as possible than do that I think. >>



That is a great attitude. The dissemination of knowledge is something I am behind in a big way. It is why I enjoy TED so much and very soon your Mercury Dime Guide ;-)
.

Wolf359

If you like it, that's all that really matters.

LanceNewmanOCC

.
dang,

did i even take the time to say your coin is the cat's meow AND

YOU SUCK!
.

frnklnlvr

<< <i>Early last year I offered up pricing info for the Mercs to the publisher of the CPG and they were not interested >>



Did you contact Ken Potter and Bill Fivaz? They were looking for help from variety collectors/experts for the 5th Ed. Vol. 2 CPG and I think they would have been interested in your input for Mercury dimes.

keets

looks like perhaps a dropped letter in the viewers left reverse field, though it's probably an optical illusion since it seems too small. what a nice, frosty looking coin!

RadioContestKing

Congrats on your acquirement, I too am hooked on all these, varieties just doing the Washington Quarters, and also believe without all the things other members have posted in the past 2 years I would not have known about if not for the members who do try and teach others, There is no point in hoarding one variety and I say share the knowledge and the wealth and again congrats on a Pop ! Enjoy tom Back to picking : } I also have found it more fun to stay within your series picking at first heck I just found another quarter yesterday that may take over another variety Top Pop its fun.........

kaz

Congrats on your Top Pop, and thanks for sharing your knowledge with everyone else. High Five!

lasvegasteddy

congrats...nice merc

keyman64

<< <i>

<< <i>Early last year I offered up pricing info for the Mercs to the publisher of the CPG and they were not interested >>



Did you contact Ken Potter and Bill Fivaz? They were looking for help from variety collectors/experts for the 5th Ed. Vol. 2 CPG and I think they would have been interested in your input for Mercury dimes. >>

Yes I did. I have emails that I sent them close to a year ago...and emails back from them saying they will get with me if they need the information or that they do not need it etc. Their pricing info is almost all wrong or they have N/A listed. This is not true! I should know since I have been building my set and buying them for the past two years. N/A is frequently false because I have the data. A lot of their RARITY numbers are wrong as well. It just does not make any sense. Here's an example:

1944-D FS-501
They list the RARITY as URS-5(R6 or R7) which translates into 9-16 examples known!!! PCGS ALONE HAS 57 OF THEM IN THE POP REPORT. This is probably a URS-10(R3) coin at best. That is just one example but probably the worst from the series.

keyman64

<< <i>looks like perhaps a dropped letter in the viewers left reverse field, though it's probably an optical illusion since it seems too small. what a nice, frosty looking coin! >>

Thank you. That doews happen to be an optical illusion.

crypto79

Is there really any such thing as a R7 Mercury dime? That said Congrats on the hunt and low population piece to your set. Guys like you lay the foundation for future specialists

keyman64

<< <i>Is there really any such thing as a R7 Mercury dime? That said Congrats on the hunt and low population piece to your set. Guys like you lay the foundation for future specialists >>

Thanks!....and yes I see the humor in your post but it's true; some Mercury Dimes are very RARE. I found that this is a niche of collecting that I can compete in and it is a niche where knowledge is more important than the size of your bank account. I like it!

STONE

I'm surprised an RPD like this is so rare, especially when presumed 10,000's were produced!
Then again, maybe a lot less were produced! I doubt a finer example will pop up any time soon,
and maybe not ever.

Congrats on another sweet acquisition

keyman64

Thanks Stone.

There are only 5 active Mercury Dime Variety Collectors when it comes to the Registry Set...and there is a rumor that it might be dropping to 4 soon!

Granted, there are lots of people looking for different things but with such a small HARD CORE group of people searching for a few years...things just have not been found. I would very much like to have a couple of hundred people looking for TOP POP Merc Varieties but it just isn't so. It would allow me to finish my varieties a lot easier! The populations would GO UP, interest in this niche of the hobby would GO UP and the hobby would be greatly improved. As you know, rarity can change over time and I would love to have a lot more of this material found..........as long as I can always have the TOP POPS!

ricko

Very nice Merc and unique as well.... Cheers, RickO

keyman64

<< <i>Very nice Merc and unique as well.... Cheers, RickO >>

Thanks RickO!

dogwood

<< <i> I found that this is a niche of collecting that I can compete in and it is a niche where knowledge is more important than the size of your bank account. I like it! >>



You are fortunate to have found your niche, and your statement sums up a great collecting life.
I recognize your newp only as a frosty 66FB Merc, but congrats on it being a huge one for you.

DIMEMAN

Very nice coin....if I do say so myself!

Baley

what was the average die life for a mercury dime die? how many coins were struck from each? how could there only be a handful surviving from any given die? or is it just that the rest of these extant have not been identified (yet)?

I'm genuinely curious about the answers to these questions

oreville

Even if one is not a variety collector, one has to appreciate the awesome luster (ok lustre for you Canadians) on that lovely dime.

By the way, when looking at the dime mint mark with unaided eyes, does the D mint mark look like a "partially filled" D mint mark for purposes of quick searching/identification?

Congrats to keyman64!

Congrats to dimeman for making it happen too!

melvin289

You know what I love about this place is the willingness of people to help each other and share their knowledge.
Remember we have The Smithsonian Institute because an Englishman that had never been to The U.S.A. left his fortune to the United States for, "The increase and diffussion of knowledge."

By the way, nice dime and congratulations on getting it.

Ron

keyman64

<< <i>Even if one is not a variety collector, one has to appreciate the awesome luster (ok lustre for you Canadians) on that lovely dime.

By the way, when looking at the dime mint mark with unaided eyes, does the D mint mark look like a "partially filled" D mint mark for purposes of quick searching/identification?

Congrats to keyman64!

Congrats to dimeman for making it happen too! >>

Thanks oreville! Nope, not partially filled. It is a very easy coin to identify in hand, not like some varieties. Just look to the top right hand corner of the D.

keyman64

<< <i>what was the average die life for a mercury dime die? how many coins were struck from each? how could there only be a handful surviving from any given die? or is it just that the rest of these extant have not been identified (yet)?

I'm genuinely curious about the answers to these questions >>

Excellent questions, Baley. I'm have ideas about some of the answers but will not spew craziness here...just yet. I am researching those things and will get back.

keyman64

<< <i>You know what I love about this place is the willingness of people to help each other and share their knowledge.
Remember we have The Smithsonian Institute because an Englishman that had never been to The U.S.A. left his fortune to the United States for, "The increase and diffussion of knowledge."

By the way, nice dime and congratulations on getting it.

Ron

>>

Thanks Ron! I had forgotten all about the Smithsonian Institute and how it came to be.

MFH

Greg,

I have to admit it - that is a nice looking coin - even if I couldn't see the MM
with the naked eye ... but - it's an unusual OMM - almost doesn't look like a D.
Maybe a D/s ?

Nice to see Jon giving you a coin from his birthyear !

keyman64

It is a clear D/D. My macro photography stinks...I did the best I could. You can see this RPM easily with a 10x loupe. Not like some of the crazy Merc Varieties where a 20x helps little on a few of the DDOs.

I'm not so sure Jon "gave" this to me exactly...but he was nice. We worked on getting this trade done for close to 4 months off and on.

golden

Cool coin.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>and will be posted on the forums for free. >>



@!!!
.

fcloud

Good job Greg, and kudo's to Jon.

The one I used to have was au58

it is now in someone else's set.

keyman64

<< <i>

<< <i>and will be posted on the forums for free. >>



@!!!
. >>

Sadly, you did not miss it. It is not done, the project was put on the shelf for a while. I hope to get back to it soon. Different ideas have also come about so the project has morphed a bit. It is something I could likely finish in a month.................if I just had a month worth of "SPARE TIME."

keyman64

<< <i>Good job Greg, and kudo's to Jon.

The one I used to have was au58

it is now in someone else's set.

>>

Thanks Tony! Wow, it looks like you missed this thread on the first go around back in April.

Harry779

Very Very Nice RPM...Congrats on a nice pickup.

joeykoins

Nice pick-up Greg. Beauuutiful Merc ( also,Rare! ). Com'on buddy,finish the book! We're all pulling for ya man.