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Posted 09/11/2011 10:46 pm
The main thing to keep in mind is exactly what FSB stands for. Full split bands. FULL, there has to be clear borders between each band. Those first two quite clearly have spots where the bands merge. The third one seems to have distinct borders between all bands. The pic isn't clear enough for me to say that with confidence though.
FSB doesn't always mean a great strike, but a poor strike is less likely to have FSB. The bands are a high point on the coin. When the die strikes the planchet, the metal has to flow the furthest to hit high points. If the metal gets up in the die and does so far enough that the bands are fully defined, the odds are much more likely that other details will be good as they are lower points and the metal didnt have to flow the same distance to fill those parts of the die.
Regardless, one definately needs to examine the coin regardless of designation. Especially if you are going to pay a higher premium for that designation.
FSB doesn't always mean a great strike, but a poor strike is less likely to have FSB. The bands are a high point on the coin. When the die strikes the planchet, the metal has to flow the furthest to hit high points. If the metal gets up in the die and does so far enough that the bands are fully defined, the odds are much more likely that other details will be good as they are lower points and the metal didnt have to flow the same distance to fill those parts of the die.
Regardless, one definately needs to examine the coin regardless of designation. Especially if you are going to pay a higher premium for that designation.
