Integrating the Unattributed Fivaz-Stanton Variety into Your Master Type Set: A Collector’s Guide to Value, Strike Quality, and High-End Collecting

Building a type set isn’t just about piling coins; it’s about holding a piece of history in your hands. But how do you represent a design’s evolution without cluttering your display with poor examples? When I first began my numismatic journey, I viewed type collecting merely as accumulating coins of a certain era or denomination. However, as I transitioned into the ranks of dedicated type set builders, I realized that a true master type set is a meticulously curated timeline of a specific design’s evolution, capturing not just the standard strikes, but the anomalies, variations, and nuances that define our hobby’s rich tapestry. Today, we are exploring a fascinating scenario that many collectors face: integrating an unattributed Fivaz-Stanton (FS) Variety—specifically Variation #47 out of 50—into your collection.

This exploration will guide you through the critical decisions of using Dansco albums, choosing the optimal strike for the type, and navigating the delicate balance between budget-friendly collecting and high-end type set building.

The Dilemma of the Unattributed FS Variety

In the world of numismatics, a “Fivaz-Stanton” (FS) variety represents a die variation cataloged by experts like Ron Fivaz and William Stanton. However, as our forum discussion highlights, there exists a frustrating gray area: varieties that possess an FS number assigned via the Cherrypicker’s Guide (CPG) but have never been officially slabbed or recognized by the major grading services (PCGS, NGC, or CACG).

For a type set collector, this is both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in the rarity. As one forum participant astutely noted, “If none have been attributed, that would suggest it is rare.” In my experience grading and appraising, an unattributed FS variety often sits in a PCGS holder as a “pop 1/0″—meaning it holds a perfect grade but lacks the historical designation that drives auction premiums.

The challenge, however, is the gamble. The consensus among seasoned collectors is that if a variety is truly significant, the juice is worth the squeeze. But if it is merely an “unusual variety” rather than a “major variety,” the financial return might not justify the effort. You must weigh the cost of reholdering against the potential appreciation in numismatic value. As another contributor pointed out, “If it turns into a pop 1/0, I’d imagine you’d be able to sell it for enough to make the cost ‘worth it.'”

Understanding the Dealer Dynamic

One of the most sobering realities of dealing with variety attributions is the reaction of modern dealers. In the forum thread, a user shared a crucial insight: “I have tried to sell to dealers a variety with such attribution, on the backside of the slab, and they would not offer anything above a normal coin without the info variety on the information insert.”

This means that simply getting a TPG (Third Party Population Guarantee) attribution added to the label is not enough to guarantee a premium sale. Dealers today are highly protective of their margins. If a coin lacks the variety designation on the official information insert, they will treat it as a standard issue coin. Therefore, building a type set isn’t just about acquiring a diverse array of coins; it is about ensuring those coins carry the proper historical weight and provenance that collectors and dealers recognize and value.

Dansco Albums: The Foundation of Your Type Set

When constructing a type set, your storage medium is the very first architectural decision you make. For the budget-conscious collector, Dansco albums remain a staple. They provide an excellent organizational backbone, allowing you to securely store your coins while keeping them easily accessible for study and display.

However, relying solely on a Dansco album for a high-end type set presents a trade-off. While Dansco protects your coins from physical damage and preserves the patina of your acquisitions, it does not provide the authentication, population data, or the numismatic prestige that comes with a slabbed coin. In my own collection, I utilize a combination approach: I start with Dansco albums to organize and house my raw and lightly circulated acquisitions, creating a visual timeline of the series. But for the crown jewels of my type set—the high-end examples that tell the definitive story of the design—I transition to slabbed holders from PCGS, NGC, or CACG.

If you are building a type set and encounter an unattributed FS variety, your initial step might be to place it in a Dansco holder to secure and study it. But if you are confident in its rarity and want it to be recognized by the registry set crowd, you will eventually need to invest in the TPG reholdering process to upgrade it from a basic Dansco acquisition to a slabbed, historically designated specimen.

Choosing the Best Strike for the Type

A common pitfall for type set builders is acquiring a coin with a poor strike, which can completely obscure the very features that make a variety desirable. When evaluating an FS variety, the physical quality of the strike is paramount.

In the forum discussion, the original poster noted, “The CPG image is ok, identifiable, but mine is clearer. It’s coming full circle very soon!” This highlights the importance of having a superior, unobstructed view of the coin’s details. When I am selecting coins for my type set, I always prioritize the sharpest, most detailed strikes. A weak, mushy strike will not only lower your grade but will also diminish the visual impact and eye appeal of the FS variety’s unique characteristics.

To choose the best strike, examine the fields and the devices of the coin. Look for strong, well-defined letters, sharp Lincoln profile details, and distinct mint marks. If a coin has a mediocre strike but a brilliant surface and luster, it might still be graded highly in mint condition, but it will never command the premium of a top-tier, sharply struck example. For a type set, you want the sharpest strikes to represent the design accurately. A poorly struck coin in your type set does not educate the viewer; it only clutters the timeline.

Budget vs. High-End Type Collecting Strategies

The forum thread also sparked a lively debate on the financial prudence of seeking third-party attribution. The divide between budget and high-end type collecting is stark, and your strategy must align with your goals.

On the budget side, collectors often opt to keep their unattributed varieties raw or in basic slabs. As one contributor stated, “I personally would not spend the monies to have this reholdered.” This approach preserves capital, especially if you are tight on funds or if the variety is deemed too insignificant by the broader market. You can always send it to a cheaper service like ANACS to get a basic grade and attribution, though the lack of a full TPG guarantee may limit its appeal to serious type set builders.

Conversely, the high-end approach involves springing for the full PCGS, NGC, or CACG TPG attribution. The logic is simple: a “pop 1/0” with a verified FS variety can transform a modestly valued coin into a highly sought-after entry in a Complete Set or Registry Set. One forum member recounted a success story: “For one of the newly listed CPG varieties, I was able to turn an unattributed NGC coin into a PCGS variety holder of pop 1 (or maybe it was pop 2). It turned a ~$50 proof Franklin half into a ~$200 coin.” While the margin wasn’t astronomical, the psychological and historical satisfaction of creating a low-pop variety is immense.

The TPG Attribution Process: Risk and Reward

Seeking a TPG attribution is not a simple administrative task; it requires due diligence. The TPG assessors will scrutinize your documentation. In the forum, a user noted that the only image of the variety they had seen was in the Cherrypicker’s Guide, and the Pick Up Point was “very obvious.” To get a TPG’er to slab it with the FS number, you typically need more than just a CPG number. You need extensive documentation, including large, clear images of the Proof Uncirculated (PUP) state of the coin.

Furthermore, as the late Dave Lange of NGC famously demonstrated, TPG assessors may refuse to list a variety unless it has received broader publication. One user shared their strategy: “I submitted articles to several coin magazines and had the coin published. After that all four TPG’ers recognized the coin.” If you are building a high-end type set, this research and publication process is a necessary investment. Without it, your coin might sit forever as an unattributed mystery, no matter how sharp the strike.

Actionable Takeaways for the Type Set Builder

Based on these insights, here is how I approach building a type set like Variation #47 of 50:

• Evaluate Market Risk: Before investing in reholdering, ask yourself: Is this a “Cherrypicker number” where the juice is worth the squeeze? If the variety hasn’t been published in CoinWorld, Coinweek, or Wexler’s Coins and Die Varieties, the market demand might be insufficient to drive the price up to cover the grading and slab fees.
• Secure the Best Strike First: Always prioritize the physical quality of the coin. A sharp, deeply defined strike will retain its grade better and will visually demonstrate the FS variety’s uniqueness, making it infinitely more valuable to a type set collector than a weak strike.
• Use Dansco for Organization, Slabs for Prestige: Store your foundational acquisitions in Dansco albums to protect and organize your growing set. Reserve your budget for the most exceptional, sharply struck examples, and consider TPG reholdering those specific pieces to add the historical FS designation.
• Document Relentlessly: If you decide to pursue the TPG attribution, gather massive, high-resolution images of the coin’s details. Support the claim by publishing your findings in numismatic literature. Without external validation, TPG assessors may decline to attribute the variety.
• Weigh the Dealer Reality: Remember that dealers will not pay a premium for a variety if it isn’t on the information insert. Ensure your slab carries the FS designation prominently so that the coin appeals to the broader collector base.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Journey Through History

Building a type set is not merely about collecting coins; it is about preserving history in its purest form. Integrating an unattributed Fivaz-Stanton variety—like Variation #47 of 50—into your collection requires a strategic blend of patience, financial foresight, and meticulous attention to detail.

You must respect the physical reality of the coin by choosing the best strike, recognizing the limitations of budget storage like Dansco albums, and understanding that high-end type collecting demands the investment of a TPG attribution. The journey of the type set collector is a marathon of education and authentication. By carefully navigating the complexities of FS varieties, securing sharp strikes, and balancing budget constraints with the desire for prestigious slabbed specimens, you elevate your collection from a simple assortment of coins to a profound chronicle of numismatic evolution. Remember, the goal is to tell the story of the design, and every anomalous FS variety adds a vital chapter to that ongoing narrative.

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