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 Replies: 28 / Views: 6,281 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Beem trying to complete a set of Mercury dimes with all FSB's. Only 7 to go. Got a 1916D with FSB's on hold with a dealer and may get that one during the year. A few others should be easier but the 1945 with FSB's is just to far out monitarily for me. IF one exists. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
just carl,
What is an FSB and why is it important/different, and if it's locational, where is it ?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Full Split Bands, FSB, refer to the coin's reverse fasces. A mark of an exceptional strike. During the war years these dimes were produced in huge numbers and adversely affected the quality. The circled areas are often flat instead of sharp. The three horizontal bands are also affected.  Edited by matthewvincent
12/23/2013 08:44 am
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
just carl,
What is an FSB and why is it important/different, and if it's locational, where is it ? As already noted it is the bands on the reverse of a Mercury dime that is when someone says FSB's. Stands for Full Steel Bands. The ones in the illustration circled are not the ones usually refered to though. It is the Horrizontal ones that are the ones that usually get worn first. And too, the ones in the middle are the worst for wearing for some reason. Usually the first to go. Also, in some years the dies got so worn that, again, for some reason the middle bands just never made it for clarity. Such is the case with the 1945. Possibly very, very few 1945 FSB's exist and for the ones that do, their price is possibly the highest in the entire series. Another odd thing about a Merc is that although some are graded as high as MS-67 or higher, it could still have unclear bands. I've seen many 1945's like that. However, it is still fun to try to aquire a complete set with all FSB's. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I have never heard "Full Steel Bands" before, but it makes sense.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
FSB means Full Split Bands vs Full Steel Bands I think.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
Thanks for the answers about FSBs, I just wish I had known that before disposing of some of my dimes, most of which looked Unc apart from the worn FSBs, so I guessed at VF - no wonder they were snapped up.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
FSB = 'Fully Split Bands' These horizontal bands should be appear fully split and rounded to qualify as 'FSB'. That is exactly what your are looking for, when you are examining them closely with a loupe. You are looking for a die which was detailed enough to show the bands distinctly and separately, and for the coin itself to be in sufficiently high grade with no wear, to be able show those bands distinctly and separately. The ancient Greek Spartans used very thin iron spits (rods) as a form of currency. These were bundled together by iron bands. The fasces or bundle, is often depicted with an axe bound into the bundle, with the axe head showing, as appears on the Mercury dime. The word 'Fascism' for Mussolini's Italy derives from this bundle. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
45 is the exception to the " fully split and rounded". I have seen a few in Holders that qualified only because the thiiiiiiin line seperating the lines was complete from one side to the other. It may be "market" grading, or it may simply be reality.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
The 45-P FSB is a defiantly a challenge of a coin to obtain, and would be the "crown jewel" of a complete Mercury Set IMO. ...or a definite "stand alone" coin for a type collector.
Edited by oih82w8
12/25/2013 10:58 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
1945-P mintage: 160,000,000. PCGS MS65's: Over 2,500. PCGS MS65FB's: 37. Want one? Bring $15k. Any questions?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Seems easy enough, after all there are 114 of them in all grades from PCGS  Just to put into perspective how ridiculous that is, the 42/1 D has 152. Only the 1919 S and the 42/1 P have fewer as they a population of 76 and 73 for all grades |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
Wow! I never knew a common date merc could be worth 15k. Also I have never seen anyone call them full steel bands  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
Full Split Bands is the only term I can recall.
Edited by oih82w8
12/27/2013 10:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
I wonder how many of the 114 are really unique coins and not resubmits?
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
The 45-P is extremely difficult to locate, but it is still far less expensive than the 16-D with FSB. If you can afford one of those, you will certainly be able to afford a 45-P.
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Replies: 28 / Views: 6,281 |
Posted 12/23/2013 08:41 am
