1981 US 20-Cent Flag Over Supreme Court Coil (Plate 6)

Modern US coil stamps might seem an unlikely collector's speciality, but within the broad category of plate number coils, certain issues have generated genuine philatelic excitement and meaningful value. The 1981 20-cent Flag Over Supreme Court coil stamp (Scott #1895) with Plate Number 6 is a standout example: a relatively low-press-run plate number that commands a significant premium over other plate numbers in the same issue, creating an interesting opportunity for collectors of modern US material.

Coil Stamps and Plate Numbers

Coil stamps are printed in continuous rolls for use in vending machines, coil dispensers, and bulk mailings. Unlike sheet stamps, which have margins where plate numbers appear, coil stamps carry their plate numbers directly on certain stamps within the roll, typically appearing every specific number of stamps (the "interval").

The plate number coil (PNC) collecting specialty developed in the 1980s specifically for modern US coil issues. Collectors save strips of five or three stamps centered on the one bearing the plate number. The completeness and condition of these strips determines collectible value.

Platinum numbers that were printed in limited quantities (short print runs on that specific plate) are scarcer and command proportionally higher prices in the PNC market.

The Flag Over Supreme Court Issue

The 20-cent Flag Over Supreme Court stamp (Scott #1895) was issued November 11, 1981, as part of a series updating US definitives to the new 20-cent first-class rate. The design shows the American flag flying over the US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., with the "USA 20c" denomination.

The stamp was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on the Cottrell press, which was being phased out in favor of the newer B press. Multiple plates were used for this press run, but the usage and availability of each plate varied significantly.

Plate 6 Scarcity

Among the plate numbers documented for the 1981 Flag Over Supreme Court coil, Plate Number 6 stands out for its relative scarcity. Fewer Plate 6 examples have been found than many other plate numbers from this issue, making strips with the #6 plate number proportionally rarer in the market.

This scarcity was documented by the Plate Number Coil Study Group and confirmed through systematic census work. When PNC collecting experienced its boom period in the mid-to-late 1980s, Plate 6 was among the issues driving collector excitement.

Values and Condition Grades

PNC values are typically quoted for strips of five (the standard format for flat press coils), centered on the plate number stamp.

For comparison, common plate numbers from the same issue trade for a few dollars per strip. The Plate 6 premium reflects genuine scarcity within the specialist PNC market.

The PNC Collecting Community

Plate number coil collecting is a specialized but active segment of US philately with its own study groups, publications, and auction specialists. The PNC Illustrated is a primary reference. Major philatelic auction houses that focus on US material regularly include PNC lots.

For collectors entering this specialty, the learning curve involves understanding plate intervals, different printing press types (Cottrell, B press, sleeve press), and the census documentation maintained by study groups. Once oriented, it offers a genuinely interesting area of modern US philately with some legitimately scarce material.

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