URS numbers vs reality

[eagames]

I can understand that someone can publish a low URS number then more get found like 1994 DDRs which the CPG says is URS 3 (3 or 4 known) but they keep showing up for sale so it's obviouse more are being found.

The ones that baffle me are ones with higher URS numbers like the 1984 FS-038 ddo die 2 (1DO-002) which is listed in the CPG as URS 9 (up to 250 known) but I never found one and I've only seen one offered for sale and it was the plate coin from the CPG! Another similar one is it's D mint brother 1984-D FS-039 ddo die 1 (1DO-001) also URS 9 but I never see them anyplace and I have no luck finding them.

Are those out there but the price or interest in them is low so nobody sells/trades them? Anyone have insight on this?

[coppercoins]

Depends on what rarity scale is being used...for some a 1 means unique. For others a 1 is most common. I prefer the scale where 1 is unique, and the numbers known go up geometrically with each number. Current cent mintage is URS 32-34.

[Dick]

Ed, I think you have a valid point, however, the info in print, is liken to the "Brand spanking new car. The minute it leaves the Dealership, it is just another used car. The point being, that the info at hand, at the time of printing, AND the time until the next publication of the intrim info, is what leaves us wondering. It is frustrating, but....Just adding my " two copper coins" worth! Regards, Dick, (another "Desert Rat), EX- Skull Valley.

[Earwig]

Here is a discription of URS written by JT Stanton and is the Bower Method that CONECA uses

The Universal Rarity Scale by Q. David Bowers

It is quite obvious from the above that another scale was desperately needed by the hobby for indicating rarity of all coins. Leave it to Q. David Bowers to recognize the need, and develop a method that could be used for any series, and any rarity. In fact, this can be used not only with coins, but with virtually anything when rarity, scarcity, or availability was important. Bowers developed The Universal Rarity Scale (URS), which as its name implies, is universal for any coin or item. Bowers outlined his scale in the June 1992 issue of The Numismatist. It has already been adopted by many writers and catalogers, including exclusive use in The Cherrypickers= Guide.

The URS is a reasonable mathematical progression. One does not need to have a copy with him or her to be able to determine a correct URS. Just simply remember the easy progression.


The Universal Rarity Scale


URS‑0 None known

URS‑1 1 known, unique

URS‑2 2 known

URS‑3 3 or 4 known

URS‑4 5 to 8 known

URS‑5 9 to 16 known

URS‑6 17 to 32 known

URS‑7 33 to 64 known

URS‑8 65 to 125 known

URS‑9 126 to 250 known

URS‑10 251 to 500 known

URS‑11 501 to 1,000 known

URS‑12 1,001 to 2,000 known

URS‑13 2,001 to 4,000 known

URS‑14 4,001 to 8,000 known

URS‑15 8,001 to 16,000 known

URS‑16 16,001 to 32,000 known

URS‑17 32,001 to 65,000 known

URS‑18 65,001 to 125,000 known

URS‑19 125,001 to 250,000 known

URS‑20 250,001 to 500,000 known

Etc.

As you can see by the Universal Rarity Scale (URS), the mathematical progression is simple, and can be applied to any item as an indication of rarity. In addition, the scale, being simple, does not require memorizing the scale, as one can figure what population a URS number indicates.

When using rarity numbers, with coins, there are a couple of important things to remember. One, rarity generally differs from one grade to another. If a coin is listed as URS 13 (2001 to 4000 known), it may be relatively common. However, if there are only 2 known in grades above AU, it would be a true rarity in

MS63. Such is the case with the 1888‑O Morgan Dollar, "hot lips" variety. They are fairly common is VG and F, but virtually unknown above AU. Secondly, rarity and value are not as closely related as one might suspect. If there are 10 examples of a particular variety known, but only 7 or 8 collectors interested in obtaining a copy, the coin would certainly be rare, but because of a relatively low interest factor, it would not command much of a premium. Conversely, there could be many thousands of a variety known, but if many thousands more collectors were interested in obtaining a copy, the premium over the normal value of the coin would be greater due to the high interest factor (demand). This brings us back to the old theory of supply and demand

[coppercoins]

Very good Earwig, and thank you for the comprehensive post. This is indeed the URS as used by coppercoins.com.

Unfortunately the ancient coin and early US coin people like to use the Sheldon rarity scale which is backwards from what the URS is. A 9 (or maybe 10) is unique, and a 1 is common. The system doesn't make mathematic sense like the URS does, but was used by Sheldon, Newcomb, Highfill, and whomever did the bust half dollars...Overton, I think.

My personal preference is the URS that you posted here.