I was browsing eBay recently for graded Mercury Dimes and came across at least a couple that seemed to have Full Separated Bands, yet didn't have that designation by PCGS. For those types of designations, FB, FH, FS, PL, DMPL, do you have to ask PCGS or NGC to grade them as such, or are they automatically given? I'm guessing that if they are automatically given then you probably don't have to pay anything extra, correct? I know FBs have differnt PCGS #, so what would happen if you submitted a coin under the Full Band #, and it didn't have FB? Would they just put it under the non-FB date #? Also, are coins that display mostly FB, that aren't given that designation worth more than ones that are completely flat?
I know that NGC gives those attributes automatically, and you don't have to pay for the service. I don't know about PCGS, but I would assume they do the same. Chris
I dont know if you have to spend extra to get the designation but i believe, and correct me if im wrong, that NGC requires all three bands to be fully split while PCGS just requires the middle bands...
Both require only the center horizontal pair of bands to be split and both will add strike designations automatically and without fee for Franklin halves (FBL), Standing Liberty quarters (FH), Mercury dimes (FB), Roosevelt dimes (FT) as well as the copper color designations and PL-type designations on business strike issues and CAM-type designations on proof issues. Mercury dimes with the FB designation sell for more than those without the designation.
NGC automatically, and for no extra charge, attributes "Full Torch. http://boards.collectors-society.co...ds=full+torch&topic=0&Search=true#Post5776593 I assume that it is the same for "Full Bands". There has been a recent thread here that NGC did not always automatically attribute these, so there may be some older slabs with full bands/torch that are not labeled as such.
Hmmmm - did they change their policy Tom ? In the past it was always all 3 bands had to be clear and distinct. From what I can find they still do - Collectors with a penchant for perfection prefer Mercury dimes with “full split bands”, completely visible lines in the bands around the fasces. (underlining is mine- and it says bands, not band) http://www.ngccoin.com/NGCCoinExplorer/SubCategory.aspx?SubCatID=31&PopSubCat=Mercury-Dimes And they do have a similar policy for FT where they require both the upper and lower bands be clear and distinct.
