2003-W First Flight Business Strike Question.

fcloud · May 5, 2010 11:38AM

I was told by a dealer friend during the Central States show in Milwaukee there are two types of 2003-W Unc Wright Bros/First Flight $10.00 gold coins. Has anyone heard of this and if so how do you tell them apart? He said about the first 2000 or so coins were produced with a different set of dies from the rest.

LanLord · May 5, 2010 12:08PM

Never heard anything like that. I'd like to know, is there anyway to put your dealer friend under the 3rd degree to get the information?

TomB · May 5, 2010 12:11PM

This is news to me, but I have always liked that commem.

fcloud · May 5, 2010 12:19PM

In hindsight I wish I would have taken more time to talk with him about it.

coolest · May 5, 2010 3:28PM

I also am ignorant, but want more info.

Let us call for photos maybe we can see something?

CaptHenway · May 5, 2010 3:47PM

I have never heard that.
TD

Broadstruck · May 5, 2010 4:16PM

I've also never heard anything like this

It's also my favorite modern gold commem design, but to justify owning one I needed an error!

ricko · May 5, 2010 9:33PM

Looks like the wing was hit with flak...

Cheers, RickO

ebaytrader · May 5, 2010 9:36PM

Makes sense, tho. Modern gold dealers have been bidding this issue up to the moon.

MFH · May 5, 2010 10:58PM

This is one of the few Commem gold issues
that I have bought - have a PR & MS versions.

jessewvu · May 5, 2010 11:20PM

Interesting, I would like to know more if true. This coin was the very first gold coin I have ever purchased. I'm in the flight test community so it really appeals to me.

Eagleguy · May 5, 2010 11:31PM

I too like the Smothers Brothers commemorative

Never heard of the separate dies mentioned in the OP.

JH

fivecents · May 5, 2010 11:55PM

I love the First Flight $10 in uncirculated (mintage 10,003) and have been buying mulitples for a while now. I really need to know the PUP on the different dies. I may have a good chance on owning one of the 2000.

The uncirculated first flight $10 is the biggest sleeper of ALL the modern commemoratives...even at $900 greysheet bid.imho

7Jaguars · May 5, 2010 11:55PM

LOL. I knew they reminded me of somebody and could not think of who it was...

CaptHenway · May 6, 2010 12:01AM

"Boil that cabbage down, boys!
Boil that cabbage down!"

LindeDad · May 6, 2010 1:04AM

Well I'm glad one of the coins I got is going up in price.

Overdate · May 6, 2010 1:27AM

<< The uncirculated first flight $10 is the biggest sleeper of ALL the modern commemoratives...even at $900 greysheet bid.imho >>

It has a slightly lower mintage than the 1995 $5 Olympic Stadium commem, which is selling for over $2,000!

wondercoin · May 6, 2010 1:54AM

Then again, the FF has roughly an 11% HIGHER mintage than the Smithsonian $5 (mintage 9,068) and the Smithsonian sheets for nearly 14% LESS money than the FF!

IMHO, the modern Gold Commem market is a very tricky market these days. There are factors entirely outside of mintage figures that directly contribute to sheet values and dealer buy/sell prices.

And, don't get me wrong... I also like the FF coin, but have never heard of the 2 "different dies" theory.

Wondercoin

fivecents · May 6, 2010 3:14AM

<< Then again, the FF has roughly an 11% HIGHER mintage than the Smithsonian $5 (mintage 9,068) and the Smithsonian sheets for nearly 14% LESS money than the FF! >>

Yes, but the First Flight $10 has twice the gold content of the Smithsonian $5.
The uncirculated Smithsonian $5 is also one of the best sleepers of ALL the modern commemoratives.

coolest · May 6, 2010 6:25AM

<< Makes sense, tho. Modern gold dealers have been bidding this issue up to the moon. >>

All of the modern gold commems with near 10,000 mintage have gone to at least low earth orbit.

Overdate · May 6, 2010 6:57AM

<< All of the modern gold commems with near 10,000 mintage have gone to at least low earth orbit. >>

Not all. 2009-W Anna Harrison First Spouse $10 gold uncirculated - mintage 3537, recent price $890 in NGC MS70.

wondercoin · May 6, 2010 7:13AM

Fivecents: My statement related to a comment comparing the FF to a Stadium with the equal amount of gold as the Smithsonian I mentioned.

Wondercoin

dpoole · May 6, 2010 7:17AM

Anyone have a few of these they can look at to compare the die impressions? We just gotta know...

wondercoin · May 6, 2010 8:38AM

"Makes sense, tho. Modern gold dealers have been bidding this issue up to the moon."

While the coin has moved up about $300 since late last year (along with a number of other gold commems), I am informed that the highest bidder(s) over the past year were in no way, shape or form focused on the possibility of the existence of two dies as a factor for that rising price. It remains to be seen if there really are two major varieties of this coin. I hope there are... that would be a great "shot in the arm", price-wise, for the rarer variety.

Wondercoin

LanLord · May 6, 2010 8:40AM

<< Anyone have a few of these they can look at to compare the die impressions? We just gotta know...

>>

We should have enough people here with examples that we can shoot and post to see if there's any differences.

How about everyone try to get their's posted by the weekend and we do a systematic review.

May the force be with your camera!

dpoole · May 6, 2010 9:47AM

Here's mine:

CaptHenway · May 6, 2010 10:08AM

<< I was told by a dealer friend during the Central States show in Milwaukee there are two types of 2003-W Unc Wright Bros/First Flight $10.00 gold coins. Has anyone heard of this and if so how do you tell them apart? He said about the first 2000 or so coins were produced with a different set of dies from the rest.

>>

Bob Lecce is one of the major players in modern commems. I asked him is he was aware of any variety in the Unc. FF's, and he said no.

Therefore, I doubt that one exists.

TD

savoyspecial · May 6, 2010 10:22AM

hey, does that eagle above the plane have boldly detailed tail feathers? (Cheerios redux)

fcloud · May 6, 2010 10:22AM

Thanks for all the replies. I wish I would have asked more details when I spoke with him at Central States. He had three examples with him. The coin I looked at had flawless surfaces and he said the details on the first type were better than the later type, but I didn't ask him to elaborate. He sells mostly gold coins, so I took him at what he said.

derryb · May 6, 2010 10:24AM

If true, might have been done with one of the final run being produced with an unpolished proof die since both coins bear the W mintmark. A problem may have developed with the uncirc. die during the run and a proof die was used for the remainder. Might even explain the lower mintage. Long shot, but a possibility. A comparison of unc. and proof coins and any differences might give a clue of what to look for.

fivecents · May 6, 2010 8:22PM

<< Fivecents: My statement related to a comment comparing the FF to a Stadium with the equal amount of gold as the Smithsonian I mentioned. >>

Oh OK. I misunderstood what you said Mitch. My bad.

As you stated the Smithsonian pricing compared with the Stadium pricing proves how out of whack the prices are right now.

LanLord · May 9, 2010 5:57AM

2003-W First Flight Business Strike Question.

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