We've all heard of Rarity Ratings on coins and found this scale. I was wondering if it was accurate in it's estimates. Bone R-1 (Common) = 1,000+ known R-2 (Slightly Uncommon) = 500-1,000 known R-3 (Scarce) = 201-500 known R-4 (Very Scarce) = 81-200 known R-5 (Rare) = 31-80 known R-6 (Very Rare) = 13-30 known R-7 (Extremely Rare) = 4-12 known R-8 (Unique or nearly so) = 1-3 known
I would like to know for sure... I have a R2 and a R8 coin....that are maked as such....or listed in books as such... here are the lists I have... R1--1 know R2--2 R3--3 R4--4-6 R5--7-9 R6--10-15 R7--16-24 R8--25-37 R9--38-57 R10--58-87 R11--88-132 R12--133-199 R13--200-300 R14--301-451 and so on.... I also have a URS URS0-0 known URS1-1 known URS2-2 known URS3-3-4 known URS4-5-8 known URS5-9-16 known URS6-17-32 URS7-33-64 URS8-65-125 URS9-126-250 URS10-251-500 URS11-501-1000 and so on.... Speedy
There are lots of rarity scales, and some only apply to certain coins. Here are a few - Fuld rarity scale for token coins: GEORGE FULD RARITY SCALE FOR TOKEN COINS RARITY ESTIMATED NUMBER IN EXISTENCE R - 1 Greater than 5000 (Relatively Common) R - 2 2001 to 5000 R - 3 501 to 2000 R - 4 201 to 500 R - 5 76 to 200 R - 6 21 to 75 R - 7 11 to 20 R - 8 5 to 10 R - 9 2 to 4 R - 10 1 Only The Sheldon Scale R-1 Common R-2 Not So Common R-3 Scarce R-4 Very Scarce (population est at 76-200) R-5 Rare (31-75) R-6 Very Rare (13-30) R-7 Extremely rare (4-12) R-8 Unique or Nearly So (1,2 or 3) The Universal Rarity Scale by Q. David Bowers URS-0 None known URS-1 1 known, unique URS-2 2 known URS-3 3 or 4 known URS-4 5 to 8 known URS-5 9 to 16 known URS-6 17 to 32 known URS-7 33 to 64 known URS-8 65 to 125 known URS-9 126 to 250 known URS-10 251 to 500 known URS-11 501 to 1,000 known URS-12 1,001 to 2,000 known URS-13 2,001 to 4,000 known URS-14 4,001 to 8,000 known URS-15 8,001 to 16,000 known URS-16 16,001 to 32,000 known URS-17 32,001 to 65,000 known URS-18 65,001 to 125,000 known URS-19 125,001 to 250,000 known URS-20 250,001 to 500,000 known From the degrees of Rarity as defined in Scholten in Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories Scholten Description C Common N Normal S Scarce R Rare RR Very Rare RRR Extremely Rare RRRR Of the utmost rarity Michael Marsh in his book The Gold Sovereign expands the last rarity. Marsh Description R4 15 to 25 examples known R5 9 to 14 examples known R6 4 to 8 examples known R7 Highest rarity known Andrew Pollock in his book US Patterns uses the rarity as, Marsh Description R1 over 1250 examples known R2 500 to 1250 examples known R3 201 to 500 examples known R4 76 to 200 examples known R5 31 to 75 examples known R6 13 to 30 examples known R7 4 to 12 Highest rarity known R8 2 or 3 examples known English Rarity Scale - from The English Silver Coinage from 1649 by Seaby & Rayner. R7 - only 1 or 2 examples known R6 - 3 - 4 R5 - 5 - 10 R4 - 11 - 20 R3 - Extremely Rare R2 - Very Rare R - Rare S - Scarce N - Normal, neither scarce nor common C - Common C2 - Very Common C3 - Extremely Common As for accuracy, it depends on when the scale was devised for one thing. Some rarity scales are quite old, and in the time since they were made more examples may have been discovered. And in all cases, the scales are based on the opinions of the authors - so they may not be statements of absolute fact. But as a general rule - yeah they're fairly accurate.
I am familiar with the Sheldon Scale for rarity. Hmmmmmm, where else have I heard of a Sheldon Scale.......????? LOLOLOL
