Attributions
I hated to do it. Let me repeat, I absolutely hated to do it. Do what? Invent yet another numbering system for shield nickel varieties.
Unfortunately, all of the existing numbering systems have a fatal flaw of one kind or another that prevented their use in SNV. Cherrypickers' Guide numbers cover only a small subset of known shield nickel varieties, and getting new numbers assigned is difficult. Of the available numbering systems, it is easiest for the author to get CONECA numbers assigned, but CONECA numbers only cover doubled dies, not repunched dates. Fletcher numbers are the closest to meeting the needs of SNV, but it is difficult to get new numbers assigned (requires mailing coins to Ed Fletcher - and not mailing coins around the country is one of the benefits of a computerized shield nickel reference - see Contributing). None of the existing numbering systems make any provision for die stages.
There are two pieces of good news. First, the new numbering system follows a very regular system that enables you to know exactly what kind of variety you have just from the number once you know the code. Second, the author has provided (in the doc directory) a spreadsheet named xref.xls that cross-references the new numbers to all three of the above mentioned existing systems.
The new numbers follow the format:
Sx-yNNN.nn
The leading character is always S, which stands for ShieldNickelViewer.
x is the hub pair designator. The first pair for the year has x equal to 1, the second pair to 2, etc. In most years, only a single hub pairing was created and x will always be 1. The following table shows the values of x for years with multiple hub pairs.
| All years - pattern coins | S9 |
| 1866 business strike | S1 |
| 1866 proof strike | S2 |
| 1867 with rays | S1 |
| 1867 without rays | S2 |
| 1867 proof with pattern (J-507) reverse | S3 |
| 1868 reverse of '67 | S1 |
| 1868 reverse of '68 | S2 |
| 1869 narrow date | S1 |
| 1869 obverse A reverse of '67 | S2 |
| 1869 obverse A reverse of '70 | S3 |
| 1869 obverse B reverse of '67 | S4 |
| 1869 obverse B reverse of '70 | S5 |
| 1872 obverse B | S1 |
| 1872 obverse C | S2 |
| 1873 closed 3 | S1 |
| 1873 open 3 | S2 |
y is the variety type, taken from the following table
| 0 | examples of non-variety coins, hub pairings |
| 1 | doubled die obverse |
| 2 | doubled die reverse |
| 3 | repunched date |
| 4 | misplaced date |
| 5 | overdate |
| 6 | missing leaf |
| 7 | two or more attributes, e.g. DDO/RPD |
| 8 | any weird variety that doesn't fit the above classifications |
| 9 | counterfeit |
NNN.nn is the actual variety designator. NNN is a three digit number assigned sequentially as varieties are added to the database. The decimal point followed by extra digits is rarely used. It is there for coins that share the same basic variety but have some slight difference. Examples include die stages or an obverse variety that is known with two different reverse dies.
One special case exists for NNN.nn. If the first digit is a 9, then the variety is unconfirmed. Uncomfirmed varieties are listed in SNV so that collectors may examine their own coins for confirmation examples. These occur most often for suspected possible 1883/2 varieties, where there is just not enough visible to confirm an overdate.
For example, if you were to encounter the attribution 1868 S2-3001 you would know that this was an 1868 reverse of '68 with a repunched date.