A rarity in the Roosevelt variety series.

Ever since I had a top pop MS 66 FS-802 (VP-002) dime variety graded, I was envious over anyone that would have a FT example of this coin.

1970 - D

DDR FS-802 VP-002 variety

NGC Grade - MS 65 FT

Purchase Price - $99.99 delivered.

This is a very nice lusterous example with an MS 66 obverse but a somewhat marked up reverse that pulls the grade down to MS 65. The FT designation is marginal by my standard and what I might would lable a 7/8 torch. It's weak to the left and right of the lower bands, but does basically make the grade.

The DDR 1970-D isn't particularly rare, as I've found half a dozen examples this year alone, but the average grades are MS 63-64 with no torch, in fact 50% of them don't have any separation of the lower bands. This example is well above the norm and to be couple with the DDR is all the more rare.

I stumbled upon this coin last week on Ebay by accident. I've been contemplating starting a set that would be all 1970 coins (birth year) from all over the world. The idea would be to find as many denominations, compositions and themes as possible. So, I type in a recent search for me on Ebay "NGC 1970" and hit search. The results come back and I switch over to "newly listed" to see what's been added. The top coin in the search came back with this description -1970 Dime D DDR 10C VP-002 MS 65 FT NGC Graded Collectors Coin Coins. The FT part caught my attention immediately! I went to the NGC website and checked the cert - it checked out - and then went to the pop report knowing it was rare, but not realizing it is the only FT in the population for any of the DDR 1970-D's...

Now the story - the seller claims to have found it in the pocket of a jacket from a swap meet. What the heck? How could this coin have ended with that fate?!? I look at the seller's other listing and guess what it's all clothes. I think the story is true. The slab is in great shape, meaning the owner took care of it, as the slab is the last generation, so it's probably at least 18 months old. So how could it have ended up with the fate that it did. I knew immediately that I had to "rescue" this coin. I guess I've just invented a new type of "rescue" - perhaps I'll have to put together a television commercial about adopting abused, forgotten and neglected slabs!!!

This coin now becomes a very welcome addition to my Roosevelt's with Varieties set with a score of 974 points and the only one certified in FT. MAkes me a happy camper!!

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