Least/Most Common NGC/PCGS Certified Roosevelt Dimes with FT/FB Designation

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

These lists only account for the 1946 through 1964 silver Roosevelt series. The totals include Plus, Star, and Proof-like, but do not include any varieties.

 

Ten Least Common NGC and PCGS Certified Roosevelt Dimes with FT or FB Designation in Ascending Order.

 

Date/Mint----NGC----PCGS----Total

1949-S---------42--------68--------110

1958-P---------44--------92--------136

1961-P---------46-------125-------171

1957-P---------53-------119-------172

1953-P---------65-------111-------176

1949-P---------73-------115-------188

1963-P---------79-------119-------198

1955-P---------62-------142-------204

1963-D---------95-------133-------228

1956-P---------99-------146-------245

 

Ten Most Common NGC and PCGS Certified Roosevelt Dimes with FT or FB Designation in Descending Order.

 

Date/Mint----NGC----PCGS----Total

1946-S--------729------1066-----1795

1950-D--------637------1047-----1684

1946-D--------554-------989------1543

1948-D--------477-------930------1407

1953-D--------498-------896------1394

1946-P--------292-------935------1227

1958-D--------625-------580------1205

1959-P--------470-------672------1142

1952-D--------550-------590------1140

1959-D--------433-------650------1083

 

I have not compiled the population of clad Roosevelts, but as far as I know the most uncommon Roosevelt dime date certified by NGC or PCGS with the FT or FB designation is the 1974-P. NGC only has two 1974-P Roosevelt dimes with the FT designation, while PCGS does not have any with the FB designation.

 

Here is a complete list of the total population of NGC/PCGS 1946-1964 Roosevelt dimes with FT/FB designations by year:

 

Date/Mint----Total

1946-P-------1227

1946-D-------1543

1946-S-------1795

1947-P--------486

1947-D--------410

1947-S--------444

1948-P--------743

1948-D-------1407

1948-S--------945

1949-P--------188

1949-D-------1028

1949-S--------110

1950-P--------622

1950-D-------1684

1950-S--------283

1951-P--------702

1951-D--------921

1951-S--------446

1952-P--------573

1952-D-------1140

1952-S--------406

1953-P--------176

1953-D-------1394

1953-S--------328

1954-P--------384

1954-D--------700

1954-S--------520

1955-P--------204

1955-D-------1026

1955-S--------257

1956-P--------245

1956-D--------721

1957-P--------172

1957-D--------616

1958-P--------136

1958-D-------1205

1959-P-------1142

1959-D-------1083

1960-P--------328

1960-D--------490

1961-P--------171

1961-D--------380

1962-P-------1062

1962-D--------612

1963-P--------198

1963-D--------228

1964-P--------616

1964-D--------388

 

These lists were complied on 6/29/15 with information taken from NGC's and PCGS' population reports.

NGC Roosevelt dime population report: http://www.ngccoin.com/coin-census/us/roosevelt-dimes-pscid-32-desig-ms-page-1-base

PCGS Roosevelt dime population report: http://www.pcgs.com/pop/detail.aspx?c=98

 

Thoughts:

 

There are several later dates in the 90% silver Roosevelt series that are on the list of ten least common to be certified by NGC or PCGS with the FT or FB designations. These would include:

 

1955-P,

1956-P,

1957-P,

1958-P,

1961-P,

1963-P, and

1963-D.

 

I was already aware that there were many later dates with lower populations of FT/FB designation, but thought that it was merely a result of the Roosevelt dime series being one of the numismatically least popular U.S. coins. However, looking at the complete list of the total FT/FB population, this may not be the case. For most of these dates, there is a significantly higher population of Denver-minted Roosevelt dimes with FT or FB designations.

 

1955

1955-P--------204

1955-D-------1026

 

1956

1956-P--------245

1956-D--------721

 

1957

1957-P--------172

1957-D--------616

 

1958

1958-P--------136

1958-D-------1205

 

Does anyone have an explanation as to why there would be significantly less Philadelphia-minted Roosevelt dimes with the FT or FB than those that were minted in Denver for the dates above?

 

Any thoughts on why these later dates would be some of the least common with FT or FB designations? For the 1949-S and 1955-P dates, it makes basic sense that there would be a significantly lower population of of FT/FB designations because these were two of the lowest mintages. But dates like 1956-P, 1957-P, 1963-P, and 1963-D all had mintages that exceeded 100 million pieces. The 1963-D production run was, in particular, high compared to the rest of the series with over 421 million pieces, yet the date is #9 on my list of least common Roosevelt dimes with the FT or FB designation. Any thoughts on that?

 

[leeg]

I just want to say congrat's for putting the work in to get this posted.

 

I'm not a Roosie guy, so can't answer your questions.

 

(thumbs u

[RWB]

There is no correlation between quantity struck and authentication submissions.

[dadams]

Just off the cuff I was thinking something to do with mintages, but I doubt that is an answer. Something in the way the different mints set up the presses as to striking pressure? or simply a predilection of collectors to sending in branch mint coins? I've always heard the D and S coins were better struck than the P's

Here is a complete list of the total population of NGC/PCGS 1946-1964 Roosevelt dimes with FT/FB designations by year:

Date/Mint----Total

1946-P-------1227

1946-D-------1543

1946-S-------1795

1947-P--------486

1947-D--------410

1947-S--------444

1948-P--------743

1948-D-------1407

1948-S--------945

1949-P--------188

1949-D-------1028

1949-S--------110

1950-P--------622

1950-D-------1684

1950-S--------283

1951-P--------702

1951-D--------921

1951-S--------446

1952-P--------573

1952-D-------1140

1952-S--------406

1953-P--------176

1953-D-------1394

1953-S--------328

1954-P--------384

1954-D--------700

1954-S--------520

1955-P--------204

1955-D-------1026

1955-S--------257

1956-P--------245

1956-D--------721

1957-P--------172

1957-D--------616

1958-P--------136

1958-D-------1205

1959-P-------1142

1959-D-------1083

1960-P--------328

1960-D--------490

1961-P--------171

1961-D--------380

1962-P-------1062

1962-D--------612

1963-P--------198

1963-D--------228

1964-P--------616

1964-D--------388

Roosevelt Dime Mintages

255,250,000

61,043,500

27,900,000

121,520,000

46,835,000

34,840,000

74,950,000

52,841,000

35,520,000

30,940,000

26,034,000

13,510,000

50,130,114

46,803,000

20,440,000

103,880,102

56,529,000

31,630,000

99,040,093

122,100,000

44,419,500

53,490,120

136,433,000

39,180,000

114,010,203

106,397,000

22,860,000

12,450,181

13,959,000

18,510,000

108,640,000

108,015,100

160,160,000

113,354,330

31,910,000

136,564,600

85,780,000

164,919,790

70,390,000

200,160,400

93,730,000

209,146,550

72,450,000

334,948,380

123,650,000

421,476,530

929,360,000

1,357,517,180

[World Colonial]

There is no correlation between quantity struck and authentication submissions.

 

I agree. I presume that since this data only covers FB/FT that it is significantly a function of differences in strike quality but don't actually know. The second primary factor is the personal preferences of those who collect the series.

 

 

[World Colonial]

I have looked on occasion at this data, most recently in composing my reply to the thread covering the 2015-W proof. I have noticed the differences between the silver and clad and consider it is a function of two factors. First, the silver is preferred versus the clad. And second, the market value of both is disproportionately low for most grades or at least there isn't that much of a premium to make it worth submitting except at the time of sale.

 

I believe that all of these coins are usually a lot more common than is apparent in the NGC and PCGS data, except maybe for "grade rarities" and sometimes the "undergrade". Most of these coins i believe are proabbly an R-1 (1250+) and if not, an R-2 (501-1250) in MS-66.

[DWLange]

This is my experience with Roosevelt Dimes:

 

http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=3697&USA-Coin-Album:-Coins-of-the-1950s,-Part-Four

[Walkerfan]

This is my experience with Roosevelt Dimes:

 

http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=3697&USA-Coin-Album:-Coins-of-the-1950s,-Part-Four

 

Thanks, David. As usual, another great article. (thumbs u

 

I think that I read this, when you first published it, but I enjoyed reading it again.

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

The second primary factor is the personal preferences of those who collect the series.

 

Yeah, the inspiration for making the list was a question from a new Roosevelt collector: Would you prefer a dime that's MS 67+ or MS 67 FT?

 

My answer was that it depends on the date. Based on condition rarity, I'd rather have a 1946-S at MS 67+ over one at MS 67 FT in my main collection. But on the other hand, I'd rather have a 1958-P at MS 67 FT over one at MS 67+. (Assuming the grades and designations were spot on and toning was not a factor.)

 

I actually didn't say this in my response, but should have, I would simply get around making such decisions for my own collection by trying to having both.

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

Just off the cuff I was thinking something to do with mintages, but I doubt that is an answer. Something in the way the different mints set up the presses as to striking pressure? or simply a predilection of collectors to sending in branch mint coins? I've always heard the D and S coins were better struck than the P's

 

Thanks. I should have included a similar list in the OP.

[World Colonial]

The second primary factor is the personal preferences of those who collect the series.

 

Yeah, the inspiration for making the list was a question from a new Roosevelt collector: Would you prefer a dime that's MS 67+ or MS 67 FT?

 

My answer was that it depends on the date. Based on condition rarity, I'd rather have a 1946-S at MS 67+ over one at MS 67 FT in my main collection. But on the other hand, I'd rather have a 1958-P at MS 67 FT over one at MS 67+. (Assuming the grades and designations were spot on and toning was not a factor.)

 

I actually didn't say this in my response, but should have, I would simply get around making such decisions for my own collection by trying to having both.

 

Self evident but my preference is the coin I actually like more. With a series like the FDR dime, there is plenty to choose from and generically, I think the differences between two MS grades are vastly overrated not just with this series, but most US coins.

 

In reading both this forum and PCGS, seems to me that a lot of US collectors use the label on the holder to drive their collecting.

[Mr. Smith Guesser]

The second primary factor is the personal preferences of those who collect the series.

 

Yeah, the inspiration for making the list was a question from a new Roosevelt collector: Would you prefer a dime that's MS 67+ or MS 67 FT?

 

My answer was that it depends on the date. Based on condition rarity, I'd rather have a 1946-S at MS 67+ over one at MS 67 FT in my main collection. But on the other hand, I'd rather have a 1958-P at MS 67 FT over one at MS 67+. (Assuming the grades and designations were spot on and toning was not a factor.)

 

I actually didn't say this in my response, but should have, I would simply get around making such decisions for my own collection by trying to having both.

 

Self evident but my preference is the coin I actually like more. With a series like the FDR dime, there is plenty to choose from and generically, I think the differences between two MS grades are vastly overrated not just with this series, but most US coins.

 

In reading both this forum and PCGS, seems to me that a lot of US collectors use the label on the holder to drive their collecting.

 

You're right, they probably do. For me, it's all the coin...especially when it comes to the star designations. I've seen many a starred coin that I flat out didn't like the look of.

 

But I was saying, if the grade and designation exactly were spot on, which would I prefer. In other words, would a half-tick above grade outweigh a FT designation: sometimes, but not always.

 

Also, I guess this should have been noted in the OP...NGC/PCGS didn't start FT and FB designation until 2003. Not only that, but there are no doubt millions of uncertified dimes with full torch details. So it's impossible to come up with an exact survival population of full torch dimes and determine which dates are the rarest/most common with FT. We can only use the NGC/PCGS populations to get only a very basic guess.

[World Colonial]

Also, I guess this should have been noted in the OP...NGC/PCGS didn't start FT and FB designation until 2003. Not only that, but there are no doubt millions of uncertified dimes with full torch details. So it's impossible to come up with an exact survival population of full torch dimes and determine which dates are the rarest/most common with FT. We can only use the NGC/PCGS populations to get only a very basic guess.

 

I suspect most graded coins were submitted after 2003, though I don't actually know it. So I don't believe it distorts the numbers too much.

 

I also believe there are millions potentially available for grading with the FT/FB designation, but only a very low proportion in a 67 which is what I understand you and most other collectors prefer given the current population data.

 

Looking at the PCGS numbers, I can see that the 58-P is "rare" as a 67 FT but there are posssbly or even likely a small multiple available. The count is seven versus 271 without the designation. Same principle applies to the clad dates, many of which are likely even less available.

 

Without looking at the Heritage archives or eBay, I don't know the difference in price, only that I presume the spread for the 58-P is very wide (because of the relative difference in the counts) while for other dates it is not for the opposite reason.

 

I certainly wouldn't be a buyer of one for an unusually large spread, only a "maker" by submitting it myself.

[coinman1794]

These lists only account for the 1946 through 1964 silver Roosevelt series. The totals include Plus, Star, and Proof-like, but do not include any varieties.

 

Ten Least Common NGC and PCGS Certified Roosevelt Dimes with FT or FB Designation in Ascending Order.

 

Date/Mint----NGC----PCGS----Total

1949-S---------42--------68--------110

1958-P---------44--------92--------136

1961-P---------46-------125-------171

1957-P---------53-------119-------172

1953-P---------65-------111-------176

1949-P---------73-------115-------188

1963-P---------79-------119-------198

1955-P---------62-------142-------204

1963-D---------95-------133-------228

1956-P---------99-------146-------245

 

Ten Most Common NGC and PCGS Certified Roosevelt Dimes with FT or FB Designation in Descending Order.

 

Date/Mint----NGC----PCGS----Total

1946-S--------729------1066-----1795

1950-D--------637------1047-----1684

1946-D--------554-------989------1543

1948-D--------477-------930------1407

1953-D--------498-------896------1394

1946-P--------292-------935------1227

1958-D--------625-------580------1205

1959-P--------470-------672------1142

1952-D--------550-------590------1140

1959-D--------433-------650------1083

 

I have not compiled the population of clad Roosevelts, but as far as I know the most uncommon Roosevelt dime date certified by NGC or PCGS with the FT or FB designation is the 1974-P. NGC only has two 1974-P Roosevelt dimes with the FT designation, while PCGS does not have any with the FB designation.

 

Here is a complete list of the total population of NGC/PCGS 1946-1964 Roosevelt dimes with FT/FB designations by year:

 

Date/Mint----Total

1946-P-------1227

1946-D-------1543

1946-S-------1795

1947-P--------486

1947-D--------410

1947-S--------444

1948-P--------743

1948-D-------1407

1948-S--------945

1949-P--------188

1949-D-------1028

1949-S--------110

1950-P--------622

1950-D-------1684

1950-S--------283

1951-P--------702

1951-D--------921

1951-S--------446

1952-P--------573

1952-D-------1140

1952-S--------406

1953-P--------176

1953-D-------1394

1953-S--------328

1954-P--------384

1954-D--------700

1954-S--------520

1955-P--------204

1955-D-------1026

1955-S--------257

1956-P--------245

1956-D--------721

1957-P--------172

1957-D--------616

1958-P--------136

1958-D-------1205

1959-P-------1142

1959-D-------1083

1960-P--------328

1960-D--------490

1961-P--------171

1961-D--------380

1962-P-------1062

1962-D--------612

1963-P--------198

1963-D--------228

1964-P--------616

1964-D--------388

 

These lists were complied on 6/29/15 with information taken from NGC's and PCGS' population reports.

NGC Roosevelt dime population report: http://www.ngccoin.com/coin-census/us/roosevelt-dimes-pscid-32-desig-ms-page-1-base

PCGS Roosevelt dime population report: http://www.pcgs.com/pop/detail.aspx?c=98

 

Thoughts:

 

There are several later dates in the 90% silver Roosevelt series that are on the list of ten least common to be certified by NGC or PCGS with the FT or FB designations. These would include:

 

1955-P,

1956-P,

1957-P,

1958-P,

1961-P,

1963-P, and

1963-D.

 

I was already aware that there were many later dates with lower populations of FT/FB designation, but thought that it was merely a result of the Roosevelt dime series being one of the numismatically least popular U.S. coins. However, looking at the complete list of the total FT/FB population, this may not be the case. For most of these dates, there is a significantly higher population of Denver-minted Roosevelt dimes with FT or FB designations.

 

1955

1955-P--------204

1955-D-------1026

 

1956

1956-P--------245

1956-D--------721

 

1957

1957-P--------172

1957-D--------616

 

1958

1958-P--------136

1958-D-------1205

 

Does anyone have an explanation as to why there would be significantly less Philadelphia-minted Roosevelt dimes with the FT or FB than those that were minted in Denver for the dates above?

 

Any thoughts on why these later dates would be some of the least common with FT or FB designations? For the 1949-S and 1955-P dates, it makes basic sense that there would be a significantly lower population of of FT/FB designations because these were two of the lowest mintages. But dates like 1956-P, 1957-P, 1963-P, and 1963-D all had mintages that exceeded 100 million pieces. The 1963-D production run was, in particular, high compared to the rest of the series with over 421 million pieces, yet the date is #9 on my list of least common Roosevelt dimes with the FT or FB designation. Any thoughts on that?

 

The 1949-S is, by far, the toughest FB/FT date in the series. It has been the rarity since long before PCGS and NGC started recognizing the strike designations of Roosevelts.

 

While it is possible (perhaps likely) that some of these other dates are also rather scarce, I would suspect that the population of 49-S coins seeming so close to these 9 other dates is somewhat misleading. The 49-S is extremely valuable, and the others really aren't, in comparison. So while every last 49-S with FB/FT is being sought and certified, other dates are not being submitted quite as readily.

 

Philadelphia Roosevelts tend to be more softly struck on the lower bands, which helps explain why they are fewer in FB/FT. Some high mintage dates were accomplished by decreasing production quality and working dies to death, and fine details like the lower bands often disappeared due to die wear and grease filled dies.