NGC Variety Plus

[centMD]

I've always eyed the Variety Plus label of NGC's with much disdain. They randomly choose varieties and give them a VP number that doesn't relate to the CONECA number. Here's me throwing more fire onto that flame lol.

Here is their 1952-D RPM-020 AKA VP-001. https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-varieti...c-vp-001-5820/ Swing and a miss! I'm not 100% but I think they are actually using RPM-010 as their template coin. My advice, don't use NGC for varieties.

http://varietyvista.com/02a%20LC%20RPMs%20Vol%201/1952DRPM010.htm

http://varietyvista.com/02a%20LC%20RPMs%20Vol%201/1952DRPM020.htm

[GrumpyEd]

Agreed that it's better if they don't use their own numbers.

NGC isn't the only one that did similar confusing or messed up labeling.
PCGS used type 1 or type 2 on some varieties. For the 71-S proof ddo cents they had type 1 and type 2, but type 1 was die-2 and type 2 was die-1. I think they stopped doing the types but slabs are still out there with it. And for a long time their coinfacts example of the rare 72 ddo die-4 was a wrong attributed die-7 complete with the lip dot. Hopefully they fixed it. Talk about a big change in price based on a wrong attribution.

Anyway, it's another reason to look close at the coins regardless of the labels.

[duece2seven]

I didn't know NGC would attribute anything other than Cherrypickers Guide varieties. Are they as flexible as ANACS now? I agree that they all should use one universal system.

[GrumpyEd]

Are they as flexible as ANACS now?

Not as flexible, they have their list of what has a VP number.

ANACs seems to do almost anything that is listed and documented and even if it's not listed they'll label it DDO or DDR without a number if they can see it.

[centMD]

Agreed that it's better if they don't use their own numbers.

NGC isn't the only one that did similar confusing or messed up labeling.
PCGS used type 1 or type 2 on some varieties. For the 71-S proof ddo cents they had type 1 and type 2, but type 1 was die-2 and type 2 was die-1. I think they stopped doing the types but slabs are still out there with it. And for a long time their coinfacts example of the rare 72 ddo die-4 was a wrong attributed die-7 complete with the lip dot. Hopefully they fixed it. Talk about a big change in price based on a wrong attribution.

Anyway, it's another reason to look close at the coins regardless of the labels.

I didn't realize that PCGS had used Type 1 and Type 2 with the dies reversed in one case. That's rather crappy of them. I only have one non proof with the "Type" label. It is a 1936 DDO-002, with the strong die gouge through TRU of TRUST marker.

I also think they still holder multiple dies as the generic "1941 doubled die obverse" so you never know what you'll get.

[GrumpyEd]

I only have one non proof with the "Type" label.

I think their mindset was that "Type-1" was the one they felt was the bigger variety.
but still it made things more complicated.
So for example you can find a 36 die-1 as a "Type-1" or as an "FS-014" or just a "Dbld Die" if it sent with the coin number for the normal fee. But I've also seen mistakes with "Dbld Die" only but the coin was a die-2.

Then to get it more confusing, the ones with the FS number show up as a different coin from the "Dbld Die" in the pop reports and I'm not sure where the ones with "Type" show up. When the top auction houses describe coins like ones with the FS number they often say in their description something like "this is a top pop tied with only 2 at this grade and none finer" but if you consider the other labeled ones the reality might be it's not a top pop and there are many more at that same grade.

[WaterSport]

Following up on what Grumpy Ed stated above; You can still submit coins like a 1941 or 1936 using the old PCGS number and get it graded and listed and avoid a $18 attribution fee. But I am not sure it will get a Type 1,2,3 designation or just a plain DDO attribution?. I would be curious if any one knows. Of course if you have a coin with the old number and no type designation PCGS will gladly reholder and attribute the coin all over again - IF you cough up the $18 fee. Its a great racket and I find it interesting they did this BEFORE they established FS #'s from the CPG for their variety register sets. Make you wonder...

WS

[GrumpyEd]

You can still submit coins like a 1941 or 1936 using the old PCGS number and get it graded and listed and avoid a $18 attribution fee. But I am not sure it will get a Type 1,2,3 designation or just a plain DDO attribution?.

I think you'll just get the plain DDO on the label. For example like the 36 DDOs you can only send die-1 without the attribution fee and it will say DDO. Unless they goof they should not do the other dies for no extra fee. Same with the 72 DDOs, they'll only do die-1 that way and it gets the plain DDO label. If you look the coin up in their number chart it gives you the coin number to use for the no extra fee thing and in the lookup it tells the only die they accept. Meaning, you can't get a 36 die-2 or die-3 labeled for no fee and can't get a 72 other than die-1 done for no fee.

Beware, there are deviations out there. I've seem a 72 die-2 in a plain "DDO" holder and I've seen a 36 die-2 in one but I think those were goof-ups where they thought they were die-1s.