Top Pop.... Clue An Old Guy In Please

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by Randy Abercrombie, Jun 20, 2019.

  1. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I struggle with 21st century acronyms. I hear this term used frequently on CT and tend to brush it aside. When I checked a recent purchase of mine on the NGC authentication site it showed me a banner that said "Top Pop". Is this alluding to the coin being one of the higher grades authenticated for that particular coin?
     
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  3. EyeAppealingCoins

    EyeAppealingCoins Well-Known Member

    Top pop = highest graded or tied for highest graded numerically by that service for that issue
     
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  4. I think it means that no coins have been graded higher, but not 100% sure. TC
     
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  5. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    I submitted this coin to NGC in 2005 and it came back as PF70UCAM Mint Error.
    2005-S KS Silver SQ.JPG

    Unfortunately, mint errors are not recorded in their Census. So, it remained unlisted for almost 7 years. Then, in 2012, the CPG added it to their list as FS-901 "Die Dent" which made it eligible for inclusion in the NGC Census. I resubmitted it to NGC for the designation, and it automatically became the "Top Pop" with no others. It has remained the only PF70UCAM for this variety graded by NGC. I have no idea if PCGS has graded any, but if they have, it would still be a Top Pop.

    Chris
     
  6. ldhair

    ldhair Clean Supporter

    If you see something called 1/0, the service has one graded at that level and none higher. If it's called 12/3, they have graded twelve at that level and three at a higher grade. Keep in mind that those figures are just for that service.
     
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  7. ddoomm1

    ddoomm1 keep on running

    And don't forget resubmits!
     
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  8. Jaelus

    Jaelus The Hungarian Antiquarian Supporter

    Don't forget mechanical errors and mistakes. Not all top pops are even legit.

    I know quite a few types where the top pops are really restrikes that got erroneously slabbed as originals. :banghead:
     
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  9. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    What does this have to do with being a Top Pop? The Census would still be updated...…....sooner or later!

    Chris
     
  10. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    This is another subject altogether.

    Chris
     
  11. ddoomm1

    ddoomm1 keep on running

    While I do have experience in this, I would assume that if folks keep cracking out high grade coins hoping to jump from a 65 to 66, or 66 to 67, etc. that would skew the total pop numbers. Potentially, if I had a 1/0 MS-67 and tried to get a MS-68, but it came back MS-67, wouldn't I technically have 2/0?

     
  12. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    Cracking it out would be the foolish thing to do in the first place unless you planned on submitting it to another service. In that case, it wouldn't change anything since each service maintains their own Census without regard for any other.

    Chris
     
  13. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    I also have a time with 21st Century acronyms, euphemisms and slang.
     
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  14. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    But at least now you have a place to look them up! Unfamiliar acronyms/euphemisms/slang were a lot more frustrating in pre-Internet days. Of course, you also got exposed to them a lot less frequently...
     
  15. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    True..... I often have to call my son to decipher the text he just sent me.
     
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  16. calcol

    calcol Supporter! Supporter

    Almost anyone can own a top pop coin. Just buy a recent issue MS70 or PR70; many are cheap. I have a MS70 ASE just to show non-collectors the top end of grading. Step into the 19th century, and it's a different story. Cheapest top pop in NGC or PCGS for regular US issues has to be at least $1K and most are probably more than $10K.

    Cal
     
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  17. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    And with every century even further back it gets more difficult. I used to own a top pop from the 14th century.

    That, and what's becoming a rather famous $5 bill, or at the very least mentioned a lot recently - will get ya cup of coffee ;)
     
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