I have also heard back from Howard Spindel of Shield Nickels .net Howard has informed me that the 1868 reverse of 68 is indeed a new Variety. 1868r68: The reverse of this coin is FS-902 (two broken letters) as you noted. The date has a repunched 18 north. It is a new listing for SNV (very similar to the existing S2-3006 but the engraved leaf is different). I will be adding it to the database and you will get a contributor's credit. The new attribution will be S2-3011 (the twelvth 1868r68 RPD listed).
To the YN'S and new collectors in this hobby. The most important statement above is in the last sentence . No not me getting the credit! But this..... "The twelve listed for the 1868 reverse of 68" Why???? Because in the type 2 reverse of 1868 there were only 870,000 nickels minted. Now there are 5.5 variety reverses known for the 1868 reverse of 68. That means if you divide 12 into 870,000 it equals 72,500 coins per the twelve known listings. Now with shield nickels that is not rock solid as before my new find there were 11. Who's to say there are not more? Taking that average of 72,500 even smaller. Now if you take all 5.5 known varieties known for the 1868 reverse of 68 the total mintage is 2,900,000. First Question how many have survived ? How many more varieties or sub variety coins are out there? More than you think..... and they are out there. You job is to find them. The hunt can be a long one or you may get lucky right away. But if you are a cherry picker the rewards will come. It will fire your passion for this hobby and you will learn something new every day. Never give up the hunt! In the words of Mel Fisher.... whom searched for the Spanish ship Atocha sunk off the Florida coast for years loosing his son and daughter in law in his quest.... " Today is going to be the day" Passion makes today your day! Paddy
Now ain't that sweet a nice congratulations from some very NICE PERSON! Yeah I know you're going to get me..... oh right get cha!
Oh boy you know what that means????? Yup somewhere there's a pony! Did you put him out in my back yard? Let me go look.... BRB!
On the phone with PETA now you done it.... some super model wearing only lettuce leaves is going to be knocking on your front door..... and if your wife answers.....you're gone to have a lot of explaining to do!
