Here is a 1956 Roosevelt dime designated MS68 full bands by PCGS. Link...https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1956-10c-fb/85112/68 (The PCGS "Full Bands" designation for Roosevelts requires that both the upper and lower pair of bands on the torch be distinct and show full separation. The line dividing the bands must be complete and unbroken). It appears to me on this coin the top band is broken. Browsing through PCGS, I've found lesser designations with what appeared to be better strike quality. What am I missing here? In short I am trying to compare with this coin...(below) and am having trouble understanding which qualities the formentioned MS68 posses to earn that designation.
I don't trust the PCGS photos. I think they use stock photos that are not representative of the designation title.
I was wondering if there was a difference also but they say..." requires that both the upper and lower pair of bands on the torch be distinct and show full separation" https://www.pcgs.com/news/pcgs-to-add-full-bands-designation-for-roosevelt-dimes
You wanna get even more confused, go look at what NGC says for the same designation. As for questioning if a coin is worthy of the designation/s or not, (NGC and or PCGS), that's a game that'll drive ya nuts if you play it. While NGC is more strict with all the special designations than PCGS is, when it comes to assigning those designations, there are just as many coins in both companies slabs that are questionable of being worthy of the designation to begin with. And there's really no rhyme or reason to it ! 'Course that's why it'll drive ya nuts if you play that game of trying to figure it out.
That's what I have seen from the beginning of the services, showing it on the label. I think a lot of the time the grader got it right but the label was printer wrong. It's tough to image some of the designations in a way that others can see it. The coins that are just wrong just float around out there on the market. Few will mess with fixing the slab. Crazy stuff.
IMO there is no way that coin should have gotten a FB notation. Based upon the photograph, the top band appears to have something on it, blocking the line from being a clear separation.