Ultimately the US Mint is responsible...

Ultimately the US Mint is responsible for the quality of coins delivered to the public. The Mint has shown that an interest in encouraging people to collect US coins as well as tp provide the currency for commerce. It seems to me that the Mint did not understand the significance of a premier roll out for the new multicoin Presidential program. Lots of smoke and no fire. I have been bombarded by the US Mint with emails and promotional literature about the Presidential coin program for months, but the ultimate test was to provide coins that collectors would want to keep. Imagine the importance of a high quality First Day of Issue, First President of the US, First in a Series of Presidential Coins!

Despite the hype, only 3 of 14 banks in my area had any Washington dollars. Each had one box and all were rolled in String and Son wrappers. I examined at least one roll from each bank and most were very badly damaged on the rims, the reverse, and the obverse. In addition to fingerprints, scratches, and gouges the fields seemed to be marred or smudged, perhaps in the manufacturing process.

I have ordered rolls from the US Mint to examine, and I am hopeful that the quality is better. Unfortunately, NGC won't consider any of those purchases as First Day of Issue, since there is no way to get them to NGC by 16 February 2007.