My PCGS MS66 Buffalo Nickel Set (Updated 10-15-24)

Have been working on this for a while - Bill Shamhart got me interested in it. He had both PCGS and NGC 1938-D Buffalo nickels graded MS66 in a box he had been collecting and I bought it at a Vegas show. Since the toughest coin is either the white rattler or the NGC black, I decided to pursue only PCGS since there wasn't a Gen. 1.0 NGC holder.

As of 5-10-21, the MS66 pop is 32,252 with 2934 finer. The highest grade is 68+, pop 3.

I'm using the Condor101 numbering system for generations - Sorry - just used to it!

Gen. 1.0 and 1.1 - still no MS66 known in a 1.1 holder.

Gen. 1.2, the old green rattler.

Gen. 2.0, the 2 piece holder, no PCGS at the top.

Gen. 2.5, PCGS now at the top.

Gen. 3.0, the Doily.

Gen. 3.5, similar to Gen. 2.5, now with coin number shifted to the left of the barcode left margin.

Gen. 4.0, the coin number to the left of the bar code, 2 piece holder, PCGS lower right in the field rather than on the edge.

Gen. 5.0, OGH with the small numbers above the bar code.

Gen. 6.0 - None seen to date - the Gen 6.0 isn't really a generation after all - it was a simple appearing blue label for coins that didn't have an established coin number at the time of slabbing.

Gen. 7.0 - 1st of the blue label holders, coin Number and series added to the front, bar code on reverse.

Gen. 8.0, bar code added to the front, old square PNG logo on reverse.

Gen. 8.1 - newer style hologram sticker.

Gen. 8.2, different hologram, CLCT below the coin.

Gen. 9.0, front of label simplified, less busy. Space between : and CLCT on hologram.

Gen. 9.1, space no longer between : and CLCT.

Gen. 10 - finally found a place holder, still looking for one graded MS66.

Gen. 11, front label changes with blue at top, white at bottom. Comes with and w/o the gold shield.

These are still Gen. 11 but with the double holder without and with the gold shield. Thought it would be fun to have at least 1 generation with the double holders AND the D/D and D/S varieties.

Gen. 11.1 - different reverse label that was used for gen. 12 but with an older style hologram instead of the Dupont hologram.

Gen. 12, several changes to the holder, the most obvious the reverse Dupont hologram.

Gen. 12.1 - use of the older hologram.

Gen. 13, holder revised again with different hologram, QRS code on reverse. What follows was copied from my PCGS Generations thread.
In Mid-May 2015 Don Willis announced a new style of PCGS slab. New features announce by him include:
1. The bottom of the holder fits into the top with a complete weld - the slab is slightly thicker as a result.
2. The holder is sturdy enough that it needs to be destroyed to remove the coin - decreased chance of reuse.
3. The plastic is reformulated - clear and scratch resistant.
4. New reverse hologram baked into the plastic- no tearing off like the old Dupont hologram.
5. Plastic "tagged" with a detectible component that can help differentiate real from counterfeit PCGS holders.
Note the lack of the "studs" through the label compared with Gen. 12.0
BlueCC was the first to post the new holder on the PCGS forum 5-22-15

Gen. 13.1 - Similar to 13.0 but missing the QRS code on the reverse.

Gen. 13.2 - Addition of the gold shield to the reverse. I was unaware of the change until Sandman70gt pointed it out to me. I had thought that it was used only if submitted for secure service with a gold shield on the obverse but Sandman70gt noted that he received one with a routine submission April 2019. He thinks its a change in the PCGS logo in general and that may be the case.

Gen. 13.3 - Gold shield with the chip symbol on the reverse. Have chosen to keep it as part of Gen. 13 as the obverse hasn't changed although the technology has. It's basically a Gen. 13 slab with an extra fee paid for the chip and gold shield obverse.

Gen. 13.4 - the chip symbol has been added to the front lower left corner, in the plastic.

Other related holders:

PCGS offered retro holders to commemorate the old white, green, doily and blue holders.

Another retro holder offered for PCGS's 30th Anniversary.

A commercial piece that doesn't fit in any generation but fits well here.

While it's fun to keep up with the different holders that PCGS comes up with, it is a PITA to pay more for the reholder than the coin is worth after shipping, handling, etc. This label issued in 2021 for the 35th year in business for PCGS.