It has taken me 30 years to complete the only possible complete mint state grading set of 1942 zinc

oreville · July 22, 2014 1:59PM

in 1982, I started with a raw circulated 1942 zinc plated steel pattern cents ( J-2054) which took me 5 years to locate.

These were the prototype zinc plated steel planchets used for our 1943 cents. These were struck in the Philadelphia Mint in November 1942.

I kept looking and missing chances to upgrade to mint state versions of these througout the 1980's and 1990's. I finally found a mint state piece after 2000 and traded up for it.

Andy Lustig had the finest graded piece which was graded NGC MS-64 and was stunned that he had it!! I acquired it at the 2009 (?) Coinfest show.

I truly believe that one day, these patterns will compete with their 1943 copper cents brothers for fame!!

Here are great pics taken by Todd. I am looking for the MS-63 picture!
Note that the PCGS 62 graded pattern is now CAC stickered.

NGC MS-63 obverse
NGC MS-63 reverse

Plus a bonus picture that I believe should be graded AU-55.

DIMEMAN · July 22, 2014 2:06PM

Nice! If they ever compete with the 43 copper cents in price.........you will be one rich dude!

oreville · July 22, 2014 2:10PM

Note that PCGS is arguing with itself as to the PR vs MS designation!!!!

ThePennyLady · July 22, 2014 2:26PM

Very very cool!! Thanks for sharing these.

LochNESS · July 22, 2014 3:46PM

<< Note that PCGS is arguing with itself as to the PR vs MS designation!!!!

>>

The MS seems to have more of a matte field IMO. A flat finish. Personally, I don't see the proof strike quality but I definitely see the MS.

Cameonut · July 22, 2014 8:04PM

Thanks for sharing - I didn't know they even existed...

crypto79 · July 22, 2014 9:36PM

Amazing set and achievement. That said I doubt they or much of anything will ever compete with the 43 coppers for stardom, just too much build up and Hollywood with those. 70year head start of Americana pop culture head start is hard to overcome IMO as seen by the price difference with just the 44 steelelies

MrEureka · July 22, 2014 10:29PM

Cool stuff!

Also, none of these are proofs. I'm confident that PCGS would change the designation to MS, if asked.

GritsMan · July 22, 2014 10:44PM

I didn't know about these either. Very cool. Could you explain a little more about why this is a "set"? Have you obtained one in every grade, or are these all different finishes or treatments?

Congratulations!

Kaline6 · July 22, 2014 11:55PM

Holy cow, what a fantastic set! That is history!!

That obverse is beautiful and dignified, I really like it.

Thanks for sharing these, they are new to me as well.

messydesk · July 23, 2014 12:11AM

Very cool set!

SkyMan · July 23, 2014 1:11AM

Congratulations! That's neat.

numisma · July 23, 2014 2:13AM

One of the best threads I have read here in awhile. Very cool patterns! Congratulations on accomplishing your goal.

dbldie55 · July 23, 2014 2:48AM

What a cool set of coins. How many of these exist?

oreville · July 23, 2014 3:12AM

<< What a cool set of coins. How many of these exist? >>

The various publications and auction houses state that a half dozen (6) exist in all grades but I already own 6 and am aware of at least 3 or 4 in various grades including 1 raw one.

So I would state that there are 10 in existence that I am aware of.

123cents · July 23, 2014 3:22AM

Very cool and a nice achievement. Congrats!

dpoole · July 23, 2014 3:55AM

Wonderful and exciting achievement! Congrats, Oreville!

DaveW · July 23, 2014 4:54AM

so that's where they all have been hiding

AMRC · July 23, 2014 4:57AM

Nice coins and neat idea, but the genuine coin does not seem like it belongs. If the purpose is a "grading set," and you want to include "Details" examples of what to look for, then I would think you would need one each with the various problem types.

Just saying.

LochNESS · July 23, 2014 5:03AM

I'm pretty sure that PCGS Registry Sets allow for the inclusion of Genuine slabs, with the provision they receive zero points. My point, I guess, is that you can have a physically complete set despite not all of the coins having an assigned numerical grade.

If I were trying to complete a set of rare pattern, etc. and one of them were Genuine, I'd be thrilled to have the Genuine example. Especially if it were the only one on the market for decades. Love the one you're with ...

DorkGirl · July 23, 2014 5:53AM

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

ChangeInHistory · July 23, 2014 6:03AM

Great post, thanks for sharing it.

SeattleSlammer · July 23, 2014 8:49AM

Very cool and interesting.

WaterSport · July 23, 2014 9:07AM

Very Impressive - Congrats on a hard earned accomplishment!

WS

morgansforever · July 23, 2014 9:31AM

Very kewl stuff. Weren't these also struck in plastic? Not sure you can even strike plastic. Thanks for sharing.

ms70 · July 23, 2014 9:37AM

Pretty darn sweet. Very impressive! Congratulations!

Mark · July 23, 2014 9:39AM

VERY impressive accomplishment. I think it's the mark of a true numismatist to set such a difficult to reach goal and then reach it. I hope your family is as proud of the tremendously historical set as they should be of you!!

kranky · July 23, 2014 9:51AM

Freakin' awesome, oreville. Like the 1913 Liberty nickels, once those go their separate ways, I don't imagine they'll all ever be back in the same collection again.

Congrats on a marvelous achievement!

Goldbully · July 23, 2014 10:14AM

Really cool accomplishment.....congratulations.

crazyhounddog · July 23, 2014 10:22AM

Congratulations and well done. They're all beautiful and a great piece of numismatic history .

CoinJunkie · July 23, 2014 10:35AM

Very nice, but the complete grading set requires non-stickered pieces as well...

Shamika · July 23, 2014 10:45AM

Awesome set!

Kaline6 · July 23, 2014 12:00PM

<< I'm pretty sure that PCGS Registry Sets allow for the inclusion of Genuine slabs, with the provision they receive zero points.

<< 

Wow, once in a while I realize I'm really right about the TPG biz being totally FUBAR. Points. Really!?! No points on a unique piece of history but a bunch on a 70 ASE?!? (No offense to the poster, I know you're just the messenger!)

On the other hand, without it, we're all without a stable hobby. I don't like it but I'm old enough that I can only imagine the chaos without.

breakdown · July 23, 2014 12:06PM

Now that's pretty cool.

LochNESS · July 24, 2014 11:22AM

<< Wow, once in a while I realize I'm really right about the TPG biz being totally FUBAR. Points. Really!?! No points on a unique piece of history but a bunch on a 70 ASE?!? (No offense to the poster, I know you're just the messenger!)

On the other hand, without it, we're all without a stable hobby. I don't like it but I'm old enough that I can only imagine the chaos without. >>

Kaline6, a couple things to clarify:

- the hobby was perfectly stable before PCGS Registry came along ... However, yes there was some mild chaos before grading became commercialized (slabbing)

- Points are not FU'ed ... without points, how would PCGS determine "highest graded" sets? Some points are for the completeness of a set, while other points are awarded for the grades. And these are all separate for each set. So an ASE set (is there even such a thing?) will have zero impact on the OP's set. They are in totally different categories and do not compete on any level.

You should read the PCGS.com info regarding registry sets. You may find it interesting and I may even be wrong about a detail or two (but I think I've gotten it correct).

CaptHenway · July 24, 2014 12:14PM

<< Note that PCGS is arguing with itself as to the PR vs MS designation!!!!

>>

I was going to say something about that......

Nice set!

Kove · July 24, 2014 12:55PM

Very cool seeing all of these together. Oreville, my friend, you collect some interesting stuff!

Coinsponge · July 24, 2014 1:00PM

Wow, I did not know that existed. Interesting pattern. No denomination is shown.

LochNESS · July 24, 2014 2:06PM

Probably to prevent them from being confused with circulating coinage? Denomination must be shown on all US coins. It's in the rules ... 31 U.S. Code § 5112 - Denominations, specifications, and design of coins

excerpt for those with click-aphobia: >> United States coins shall have the inscription “In God We Trust”. The obverse side of each coin shall have the inscription “Liberty”. The reverse side of each coin shall have the inscriptions “United States of America” and “E Pluribus Unum” and a designation of the value of the coin. <<

lostincoins · July 24, 2014 3:07PM

Sir I have been stunned into complete awe of your amazing set, no matter the value, to have such a significant and rare part of our numismatic history is nearly beyond my comprehension. Thank you so much for sharing this with us as people such as myself (low on the starting steps) would never get to see somethig such as these.

Treashunt · July 24, 2014 9:45PM

Wonderful, thanks for posting

oreville · December 12, 2014 2:56PM

Purchased an ANACS AU-55 and will post picture soon.

EastonCollection · December 12, 2014 8:00PM

Very very cool set - thank you very much for sharing your personal set with us.

lasvegasteddy · December 12, 2014 9:36PM

<< Purchased an ANACS AU-55 and will post picture soon. >>

maybe you can get a name change being you own almost all of that scant mintage to

1942 oreville pattern cents