VKurtB

If you want PART of the real answer, it’s because I have sworn to adopt the motto, “Qui tacet consentire videtur”. I refuse to let such blatant silliness stand. 

They surely do that, don't they?

Ha! I did a lot of research on loupes for coin grading. I read that coin graders use a 10x loupe but will use a microscope if they suspect counterfeits. My collection has dwindled drastically. I am amazed that a coin could have so much eye appeal, then at 10x all the imperfections just pop.

Didn't you hear? Quintus tells us 30x is the thing these days. [eye roll so hard you can actually hear it]

What I hope is that the correct party is our hosts, whose personnel I like very much and enjoy doing business with immensely. I can’t say the same of the “P people”, whom I have found aggressive and grouchy, frankly

My advice would be to research pictures of known real British Evasions, and compare yours with an extremely critical eye, not the “optimistic eye” that many new collectors fall prey to. In other words, act like a prosecutor trying to disprove your coin’s genuineness. If it still looks like the pictures to you, send ‘er in. (Git ‘er done.)
 

All he has to do is put "matte finish" in the comments box. They'll reject the idea, and send it back in an "Altered surfaces" labelled body bag. End of saga.

When it was lower, the quality was also much lower. They truly are beautifully produced pieces now. The Mint acceded to demands to make them a “numismatic worthy” product. Other than the W mint mark, many would be indistinguishable from the burnished variety.

Okay, fine. If your purpose is to lock in as close to published spot as possible, you’ve done as well as any small to medium market participant can.

It matters not. The cold hard truth is that the vast majority of precious metals investors/speculators get their teeth kicked in.

It looks like it was intended to replace a half penny.

"Does the Federal Reserve own gold?
  Although the Federal Reserve does not own any gold, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York acts as the custodian of gold owned by account holders such as the U.S. government, foreign governments, other central banks, and official international organizations."
 
I get a mental picture of some old guy in the New York Fed taking little paper flags off of some bricks and putting a different paper flag on them.

All he has to do is put "matte finish" in the comments box. They'll reject the idea, and send it back in an "Altered surfaces" labelled body bag. End of saga.

How does this happen? Really really tiny micrometeorites. 

Only that wives can often be the natural enemy of both coin collecting and golf.

I'll make a mental note to show you my 1970-S small date in NGC MS66RD. I showed it to Angel Dee's, and he said it wouldn't cross at 66RD at PCGS. and 65 was only a maybe. I'll look forward to getting your opinion.

I don't think prompt updating of populations has ever been a high priority for any series, coin or medal. I twice had the Top Pop coin for a foreign coin that didn't appear in the population reports for nearly a year. The reports showed no PF70's, but I was staring at one in my hands. Bottom line: I don't put any faith in pop reports.

I believe, just from examining the rolls sold by the Mint, and comparing them with the roller's other work, that the Mint's rolls are done by N.F. String of Harrisburg, PA.

There's a post-grad psychology paper here, waiting for the right author. Completely green no-experience coin searchers spending time searching for a coin which has only two known to exist. What drives that kind of thought process? I simply cannot fathom it. Surely there's a more useful project their time can be turned to. Like watching grass grow?

I’ve never owned a PCI coin. They’ve always felt “wrong” or “cheap” to me.

I believe my trash hauler had a pearl of wisdom similar to that on his trucks. 

The ANA is busy cutting spending to the bone right now, folks. COVID-19 has smacked the finances of the ANA really hard. I just got done “Zooming” the Board of Governors meeting. This is serious. Staff has been cut, and every cost saving idea under the sun is being considered. 

The ANA is busy cutting spending to the bone right now, folks. COVID-19 has smacked the finances of the ANA really hard. I just got done “Zooming” the Board of Governors meeting. This is serious. Staff has been cut, and every cost saving idea under the sun is being considered. 

It seems a lot of people who have great ideas about "making information free" conveniently forget about copyright laws. Then reality bites them on the gluteals. Everybody thinks their use will be okay. It often isn't. I'll grant one thing - a library of printed auction catalogs loses some appeal when moving one's residence.

I own a dime every bit as matte and luster-absent as the OP’s, but it has magnificent detail. It was graded by the old ANACS, the small slab guys, in about 1994, as an MS60FSB. No, it’s not some special “discovery coin”; it’s merely a curiosity. It’s a 1935 Mercury dime.