SBA's did circulate (photos inclosed)!

[braddick]

These are the only three low grade (problem free) circulated SBA's I've come in contact with. The FN15 was purchased off of Teletrade back in the late eighties and the GD04 from a Kennedy Dealer by the name of Jim Barlow. Interesting story with that one. Jim knew I collected super low grade (slabbable, problem free) Contemporary Type and when he located this PCGS GD04 SBA, sent it to me.

 

Jump ahead seven years or so: I locate another, this time GD06, on eBay and proceed to bid and win. Notice something somewhat perculiar? The seriel numbers between the GD04 and the GD06 tell me they were both submitted at the same time, by the same collector! It's kind of cool they found themselves together again after so many years.

[braddick]

[braddick]

[gmarguli]

The G4 is overgraded as may be the G6.

[coinman1794]

10 to 1 those coins did circulate...for 25 cents!

[DaveG]

I dunno - I say 10 to 1 that those coins are artificially "circulated". Perhaps they were pocket pieces.

 

I live in the NYC area, where these coins actually "circulate", that is, they go from the stamp or subway ticket vending machine to the cafeteria or newsstand or stamp vending machine and back again.

 

We've had them in use since at least the mid-80s (when we moved here) and I've never gotten one in change that has been less than XF. I use the stamp vending machines a lot - it was really cool to get uncirculated 1999 SBAs and 2000 Sackies in change at the time. I've even gotten a BU 2001 Sackie from one of these machines.

[TomB]

The F15 may have circulated as it has a circulated look, however, I think there is nearly no possibility that the G4 and G6 coins circulated. They were either pocket pieces or rock tumbler experiments.

[jtryka]

I remember in the early 1990s, when I was living in Hoboken and commuting to midtown everyday, I took the PATH train. Well, this was before the advent of "Quickcards" and the machines were notoriously bad for the $1 bill acceptors, but if you put in a $5 it would give back 4 SBAs. The fare was only $1 at the time, and it seemed like the machines would take the $5 bills easier than the $1 bills, so after almost being late a couple times trying to coax in a brand new single, I started just using 2 fives a week, and then using the SBAs instead of bills. It worked quite well, and the SBAs did circulate, if only from the PATH machine and back again!

[chinook]

They look better circulated than unc. Glad they are now reunited!

[shirohniichan]

They were either pocket pieces or rock tumbler experiments.

 

Yea, I was thinking rock tumbler.

[James_OldeTowne]

As Greg said, oddly enough, both coins look overgraded by a full grade. I guess there's not much risk with the Grading Guarantee for these coins!

 

James

[Hoot]

Thanks for taking the time to post those Pat! Pocket pieces, or whatever, those are great looking pieces - best looking SBAs ever! I would think the rock tumbler would wear the fields and rims as much as the devices, and would be quite noticable, therefore not slabbed by the TPGs. Seems unlikely to me.

 

Hoot

[braddick]

Thanks for taking the time to post those Pat! Pocket pieces, or whatever, those are great looking pieces - best looking SBAs ever! I would think the rock tumbler would wear the fields and rims as much as the devices, and would be quite noticable, therefore not slabbed by the TPGs. Seems unlikely to me.

 

Hoot

I've experimented with a rock tumbler, having tried all types of material (even cut up strips of blue jeans) and have had no luck. The coins come out with thousands of micro 'hits' (for a lack of a better term) and the wear is somewhat uneven and has a fake look about it. I still think the best wear is pockets and time.