How I Identified and Verified My Rare 1964-P Roosevelt Dime in a Rattler Slab (Step-by-Step Guide)

My Coin Shop Surprise That Started It All

Let me tell you about the day my ordinary coin shop visit turned into a numismatic detective story. While picking up a PC65 shield nickel for my type set, the dealer tossed in a bonus – a vintage “Rattler” holder with a 1964-P Roosevelt dime. “It’s just a sample slab,” he said. I smiled politely, thinking it was a neat curiosity. But later that night, as I examined it under my desk lamp, I noticed something that made me sit up straight.

The Three Clues That Changed Everything

With my trusty 10x loupe, I spotted:

• The distinctive green “PCGS Sample” label glowing under the light
• A puzzling alphanumeric code: 5120
• The clear Philadelphia “P” mintmark on the coin’s reverse

My hands actually shook a little. Every forum post I’d ever read claimed early Rattler samples only contained 1964-D dimes. Was this holder mislabeled? A rare error? Or had I uncovered something special?

Step 1: Becoming a Rattler Slab Detective

Before getting excited, I needed to confirm this slab was genuine. Here’s how I verified its authenticity:

Spotting Real Rattler Features

• Holder Sound Test: That famous rattle when shaken (like a snake’s warning)
• Label Tells: Matte green “Sample” text with slightly fuzzy vintage printing
• Generation Check: Serial number placement revealing this was Gen 1.0 (1986-1989)

Cracking the Code Mystery

The 5120 designation baffled me until I found this golden nugget of info: Early PCGS samples used placeholder numbers regardless of date. Translation:

• 5120 = Roosevelt dime (any date)
• 5129 = Specifically for 1964-D dimes

This meant my P-mint dime wasn’t “wrong” after all!

Step 2: Hunting the Elusive P-Mint

Now came the real challenge – proving this 1964-P Roosevelt dime was rare in Rattler holders.

Where First Searches Failed Me

Typing “1964-P dime Rattler sample” into Google felt like shouting into a void because:

• Regular circulation coins dominated results
• Sample slabs had spotty online records
• 1964-D versions hogged all the attention

My Fix: Exact phrase searches like "1964-P" "rattler sample" site:pcgs.com cut through the noise.

My eBay Evidence Hunt

1. Clicked “Advanced Search”
2. Filtered to “Sold Items” (the truth-teller)
3. Searched: "rattler sample" (roosevelt, dime) "1964-P"
4. Held my breath…

The result? Four confirmed sales in 12 months. Not dozens – just four. My heart raced seeing that scarcity proof.

Step 3: Creating My Authentication Toolkit

After comparing notes with fellow collectors, I built this verification system:

Hands-On Inspection Checklist

• Mint mark examination (ensuring no filled “D” deception)
• Label texture test (real samples have slightly bumpy print)
• Seam inspection (authentic rattlers show specific mold lines)

Digital Verification Shortcuts

• PCGS database cross-check (even if samples don’t appear)
• CoinFacts image comparisons (saved me hours)
• Serial number pattern tracking via collector forums

Step 4: Uncovering the Why Behind the Rarity

The real “aha moment” came when I learned why P-mint samples are uncommon:

PCGS Sampling Secrets Exposed

• Denver mint coins flooded early submissions (geographic advantage)
• Philadelphia’s 1964 dimes were already historic (last 90% silver year)
• Sample distribution favored West Coast dealers near Denver

The Clever Collector’s Strategy

A veteran shared this gem: Complete Roosevelt sets using 5120-numbered samples work beautifully – except for 1964-D needing 5129. This creates a frustrating (but valuable) gap for completists.

Field-Tested Tips for Your Own Hunt

1. Never trust photos – inspect mint marks in hand with magnification
2. Master search operators like "exact phrases in quotes"
3. Triangulate between eBay sold items, PCGS archives, and forums
4. Memorize those sample slab numbering quirks

My Journey From Doubt to Discovery

That “free” Rattler slab taught me more about coin forensics than any textbook could. Through physical verification, digital sleuthing, and historical digging, I confirmed my 1964-P dime represents a genuinely scarce PCGS sample variant. While it won’t fund my retirement, it’s now the centerpiece of my Roosevelt collection – and the reason I always check bonus items twice. Better yet, this process helped me authenticate three other questionable slabs in my collection. The lesson? In coin collecting, the real treasure isn’t just what you find, but what you learn along the way.

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