NEWP - Mercury Dime - 1937-S DDO FS-101 in PCGS MS66 (Top Pop for the non-FB) - R6 Coin

keyman64

I have handled 3 of this variety. There are only 8 graded by PCGS. The first example that I handled was a MS64. I bought it from fcloud (Tony) since it was his back-up...and I have since sold that one. The second example in MS66 (the one shown) was also acquired from fcloud when he retired his Top Ranking Mercury Dime Complete Variety Set just a couple of weeks ago. The third example that I handled (did not buy) was just yesterday at a small local show. A dealer had a lot of Mercs for me to look through and I found an unattributed 1937-S DDO in a 2x2. It was AU58 and had a bad hit in the feathers. The dealer had it priced as if it were Mint State and he had not noted the hit on the coin. I informed the dealer that I was not interested in Cherrypicking the coin from him but at least educated him as to what he had. He was very pleased. I told him that I thought the coin was AU58 and it also had a bad hit on it, which he agreed after looking at it again...and I told him there was no reason to change the price on the 2x2. He thanked me and I went on my way.

The latest version of the Cherrypickers' Guide lists this coin as a URS-4 (5-8 examples known). This is obviously WRONG since PCGS has graded 8 and I found one this weekend. It is probably a URS-6 (R6)....13-30 known. There are a ton of errors like this in the Cherrypickers' Guide, just in the Mercury Dime Series alone!!! This is why I am writing my own Mercury Dime book...to correct all of the false information that is out there. The pricing for this variety within the CPG is also wayyyyyyy wrong. It lists a MS65 example at $75 which is laughable...this might be for a raw example but even still the pricing is flawed. It will cost you close to $65 just to have a variety slabbed at PCGS including shipping both ways. I also bought AND sold the MS64 example for well above twice the figure of the MS65 listed in the CPG. It is sad to see so many errors in such a popular book. Oh well, I guess I can fix everything by writing my own book.

Technically, my example is a Top Pop in MS66 but that is only for the non-FB examples. There is a MS67FB out there and so I will continue to look for an upgrade. They are out there but they certainly are not easy to find. It warmed my heart that I was able to find one in the wild this weekend. That gives me hope for the future.

Photos are from PCGS CoinFacts.

SeattleSlammer

Very cool Merc! Looks like it has blazing luster.

fcloud

Cool coin.

I know there are upgrades

keyman64

"know"???

You have my address, ship it down here!

DIMEMAN

Nice Merc Greg!!

keyman64

<< <i>Nice Merc Greg!! >>

Thanks! It is a bit crustier than I like but it will certainly work until I find a higher grade example...in regards to that, it seems our friend, fcloud, found a cleaned one last week...and since I found one this weekend...there have to be more of them out there. I just need a 67FB. One day....