Full Bands or no?

Just wondering what the consensus is on this coin. I think it is at least close if not full bands but pictures can be misleading. I will update this thread once I have it in hand.

 

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I would love a close-up of the coin if possible before voting, thanks!!

 

If you hover over the image and then click that one, you can zoom in.

This should make it easier though:

 

Yeah I know. I was really hoping for a pic a bit more closer though. It's just that even a small cut or nick on one of the bands could withhold it from a FB designation. It's sort of the same way with the FBL designation. From the pics it really looks like it has FB but again I would need a closer pic.

Great coin btw!!!

 

I agree, but I do not have the coin yet, so this is the best I can do. There is some weakness on the center bands, that when viewed from a different angle may prevent the FB designation. With the current pictures though, it looks full bands to me. This coin is notoriously hard to come by with full bands and even if it is not, I am still pleased with the strike.

 

Yeah unfortunately because of that weakness you mentioned it probably won't qualify for the FB designation. It's slight and the strike is pretty strong for a micro S but unfortunately the smallest things make the biggest differences. If the price stays low enough though I would jump on the chance to get that piece. I'm also collecting mercs and one that nice shouldn't be passed up. Thanks, good luck with that one, and happy holidays!!!
-theSharpGun

 

I already purchased it. The auction closed last night. The coin is nice due to the toning. With the consideration of it being an MS67 with a strong strike, I believe I got a nice coin.

 

Also, in case anyone didn't know... The reason we have the "Micro S" is because the US was striking the US Philippine coinage in San Francisco at the same time. The US Philippine coins used a smaller s as a mint mark and one of the smaller punched was inadvertently used instead of the normal US mint mark punch. There are also US Philippine coins known with "Large S" mintmarks because of the same situation only reversed.

 

Nice! Congrats! Oh, by the way, I see some weakness. no FB. Pretty though.

 

That's about as close as it gets...

 

CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!
The toning is real stunning. And its a great addition to any collection!

 

A beautiful specimen of an almost "Full Band" dime which I would be proud to have in my collection. I immediately observed the S in your post, and questioned the "Micro S" designation. I've collected these anomaly coins for many years, where the Micro S virtually has a closed upper opening with the "Serif" tail touching the lower portion of the S. This Micro S design virtually creates a void island as shown in this old CoinTalk posted image. I didn't observe that condition in your image, which may be because of my limited capabilities, or the image size (both?). I appreciated your explanation. :thumb:

 

It could be that you are use to seeing lower grade examples.

 

MS67 Micro S Image

I'd previously posted VF grade images because the reflectivity of a higher grade "Mint State" coin doesn't readily allow the viewer to examine the dimensional and design differences between the "standard" and "Micro" S. I believe this mint state close-up image from a comparable coin to yours will profoundly show the upper "void island" and serif contact design of the 1945 "Micro S" dime. I can't remember an eBay auction of a comparable grade 1945 "Micro S" which showed a clear image of the mint mark.

That date and "Micro-S" design in the higher grade (e.g. MS67 FB) are uncommon, but one which I've appreciated and collected. :thumb:

 

When I expand the picture on my computer it looks exactly like the image you posted. I believe it will be hard to tell much else with the given pictures. I too have collected these for a few years and currently have 5 others in my inventory. I compared their mintmarks and found on two out of the five; the top serif did not completely close off like the image you mentioned. One of the examples was just barley touching while the other two were just as the first picture you posted. All of the mint marks are in the same location. It could be as simple as die attrition, that left some serifs touching and others not.

I will post on this thread what I find when I have the coin in hand, which may be awhile due to Heritages extremely slow shipping and the holidays.

 

Very, very close to FB, but I gotta say no.

 

It's a possible FBs , NGC is a little tougher on the designation than PCGS but to tell for sure I'd need better pics .

 

I voted no because of the hit on the lower diagonal band and on the two vertical bands in the middle...and that region - from the pictures posted - looks like it could be weakly struck.

Very nice coin!!! I like the toning.

 

A Definitive Difference!!

Thank you for your last post. Although the standard and Micro S are extremely different in design and size, the difference is difficult to view in a photo unless the optics, magnification, lighting, positioning, et al are optimum for this unique design. You said something that is generally unique to the 2 different style S, that I'd forgotten, "All of the mint marks are in the same location.".

The 2 different mint mark designs are located in unique locations relative to the last leaf on the branch. The large S is almost touching the leaf, where the Micro S is an appreciable distance from the leaf, as shown with Red arrows in my originally posted image.

These different positions are clearly visible with the eye, and obvious in your photo which doesn't clearly allow the S features examination.

You're correct that attributions/strike/die-wear could easily determine the termination features of the S top loop.

Thanks again for the observation which I'd overlooked, that more clearly defines the mint-mark. :thumb:

 

As with a few other designations, NGC and PCGS do not assign the "FB" designation in the same way. NGC only assigns the "FB" designation to Mercury dimes which exhibit both fully split, and raised/rounded uninterrupted bands. PCGS, alternatively, will assign the FB designation for any dime that exhibits fully split uninterrupted bands, even if the bands are not raised/rounded.

For illustration, I borrow a graphic from the February 2000 issue of the Numismatist:

PCGS would designate the two bottom illustrations "FB".

NGC would designate only the bottom illustration as "FB".



Even if the bands have an interrupted split, they appear to be pretty flat from the smallish pictures you posted. My guess is that either the pics are hiding something, or that you have a rather flat set of bands.

Hope this helps a little.