I have been wondering about this list for a long time? Who actually came up and maintains this list? Is there a process to add and remove varieties from these list? Are these lists ever revised? As a Jefferson Nickel variety collector I am trying to collect all the varieties I can find reguardless of a list but looking at the list I think why would that variety be on the list or more often why in the world is this not in the top 100? I quess if you only collect coins on these lists and pay a premium because they are in the top 100 you don't want the list forever changing! Just wondering out loud?
I'm only familiar with the Top 100 list for Morgan dollars. Is that what you're referring to? I can answer some of those questions... but for all I know, there's a top 100 list for every denomination.
Nickel: There is a Top 20 for Jeffersons for varieties, a Top 100 form Morgan VAM's a Top 50 for Peace dollar VAM's. etc. All lists are actually unofficial, and just the opinions of the writers, just like my list of under valued Barber dimes, quarters and half dollars.
...and a Hot 50 list for Morgans, a SuperCD list for Morgans, and a Hit List for Morgans. The Top 100, Hot 50, and Top 50 lists are recognized by PCGS and have thousands of collectors following them. If your original question was about the Top 100 Morgan list, the book was written by Dr. Michael Fey and Jeff Oxman. They continue to maintain the list. There have been changes, coins dropped, and coins added. edited to add: PCGS also has Registry Sets for the three lists mentioned.
I was talking in general about all these list but in my specific case the Jefferson nickel Top 100. When ever one is sold on eday the seller is sure to mention that it is a top 100 to try to get top dollar. But, these list (general) are not set in stone, I mean a new variety can be reported today that knocks your socks off, well in order to go on a "top" 20, 50 or 100 list something else has to get the boot. When this happens the premium of that coin just dropped as well. For Jeffersons CONECA is the keeper of "The List" I was just wondereing what decisions went into the orginal list and how the list is updated. This list as well as others that are followed and collected. http://conecaonline.org/content/Top100Jeffs.htm
Ohhh.... well the Top 100, Hot 50, and Top 50 lists for Morgan and Peace dollars are fixed... or semi-fixed. There are too many people going by these lists, PCGS now slabs them with the variety on the label, and there are folks competing for top registry sets. I say "semi-fixed" because it was realized that one coin did not exist. It was replaced with another variety. A few others have changed their designation, but they are still the same coin. People realized certain dies were used and they just re-assigned the variety a new designation that better fit the numbering scheme. Also, some were found to be counterfeit. Not sure where these ended up. Folks talked about replacing them after PCGS announced they would not slab them. It's hard to get a coin that PCGS will not slab into the PCGS registry set.
Hi Nickelman, I am also a collector of Jefferson varieties and as for the coneca list, I have to agree with you that there are some that they just do not put up on the the list that in my opinion get left off. That said I do not sell any of my coins I am a collector so a premium does not enter in to my searching for varieties .I use the coneca list and search out other web sites for other finds from members who post there finds and if I think it looks good I copy a picture and add it to my list. The people keeping these list should add each and every new find to the list and if it gets to be the top 10000000000 list then so be it just keep your own list and collect for you. BRUCE.
