1ST Generation PCGS "Rattlers"

Greetings Everyone,

I have had to slow down in Numismatics of late as that "hateful" time of year approaches for those that are in business for themselves. Yes "Tax D-Day" is coming soon and with our new President, I fear it will only get worse. Anyway enough politics. I always have a 70+ table coin show to look forward to the last weekend of May which helps to forget this time of year.

As I said I have slowed my coin buying and the only coins I have picked up of late have been a couple "two roll sets" of the new Lincoln cent and still waiting for my new Lincoln Silver Dollars to ship. I have 3 uncs. and 2 proofs on the way soon. (The run may be sold out as per "Numismatic News" that I got today, there were 26,549 left out of 500,000 total mintage, with 50,000 reserved for the special sets coming out with the four proof Lincoln cents) And press time for the mag was maybe a week ago. Good luck to those of you who will try to get one. P.S. Just read a post from yesterday that they are sold out.

Also purchased what appears to be an undergraded ICG 1852 Gold dollar. Says AU 55 on the cover but looks 60-61 to me. I plan to crack it out and have NGC take a look. (did I say that out loud again?) Oh well, it will be what ever they say it is. It's fun to take the chance and see what happens. In this case there is minimal downside risk. I picked this up for a little over a hundred dollars and it is my first gold dollar. It will be one more "check off" on my overall gold "type set".

My most exciting find of late is almost the least expensive one. It is an absolutely beautiful "blast white" 1939-D full band mercury dime. I am putting together the "middle set" or the large "short set" 1934-1945 and I am buying all 1st generation PCGS "rattler" slabs. All the coins are "green holders" with only two being the 2nd generation green holders.

I have fourteen now and the first six I bought from Blanchard out of New Orleans in the early 90's. These were some of the first graded coins I ever purchased. I remember not even wanting them but the sales assoa. I was working with then almost gave them away. I remember paying either ten or twelve bucks per back then. They are not worth much more now and the ones you see on the market today are very inexpensive in the MS 65 and lower range. Anyway all of mine are MS-65 full split bands except one and it's a 66-FB.

NGC is by far my favorite grading company but it has been fun attempting to assemble a set with nothing but the "old green" rattler holders. The coins all look to be undergraded and the old slabs of both NGC and PCGS have a tendancy to grade up a point or two when cracked out and resubmitted. I will keep on the way I am going 'til I complete it with the slabs I have described. It will take some time and a few dollars but it is a "labor of love" and I do love this hobby. Take care and Happy Collecting to all of you! WKF