RWB

That is a very common misconception by coin collectors. I think the origin lies in few understanding the detail that SHOULD be present on a normal coin, and also the ways in which details can be lost. It's a matter of understanding processes and causes. Coining technology moves slowly and mostly out of sight. Common descriptions omit details and technical conditions that can have significant effects on output quality and quantity. There is also a strong tendency to try to squeeze old language into newly understood situations, such as the nonsense of "Special Proof" that one group cooked-up over a few drinks (or too many "energy" drinks.

RE: "So a coin that could in theory grade 68 with any strike weakness at all automatically gets a 4 point deduction." as posted ATS. If we remove the subjective bits from "grading," we have coins ranked according to surface characteristics and preservation, not "like" or "not like." The conversation about visible detail belongs in the opinion and price negotiation - completely independent of "grade." The present jumbled situation makes it much easier for coin sharpies to rip buyers and sellers -- buy at one "standard" and sell at another.

I added it to the subject list for FMTM-2

Well, he came from poor Irish immigrant stock.

Any silver or gold "stackers" getting baby formula with it, or will you let your kid be malnourished and developmentally retarded?

It's the other ear....

Common date. Circulated condition with edge bumps. No collector premium. Worth about silver melt value. Absolutely no justification for paying for authentication and grading.

The location does not seem to match other S mintmarks. Irregularities suggest possible alteration of a D to an S, but higher resolution images are necessary for a clearer determination.

Here are four sample 1926-S mintmark positions. Notice also the mintmark font. Here is the OP's mintmark to the same scale:

No, it was called the "State of Louisiana." (No one had invented "Peoples' Socialist Republic of Louisiana" or "Slave Owners' Socialist Republic".)

The B in Liberty seems to show clear separation....?

At least he has a proper double chin.

Better to stock your freezer with negotiable beef, chicken and ham. ----- Oh, and add a big pile of electrons to run that freezer.

Louisiana's "Ordnance of Secession" was adopted January 29, 1861. The State of Louisiana claimed the New Orleans Mint and continued operating it. The mint director felt that since the coins were not made by the United States, they were not legal tender. Treasury Secretary John A. Dix disagreed.

“…Proclamation by the President or by Act of Congress…that the coins of the Branch Mint at New Orleans of the year 1861 are not of the coinage of the United States, and are therefore not a legal tender in the payment of debt. Said coins are designated by the letter O on the reverse of each piece.” [Excerpt from letter February 18, 1861 by Director of the Mint to Secretary of the Treasury. RG104 E-216 vol 21. Suggestion rejected as cause for confusion.]

I recall that production time for HR $20 was about 3 minutes per coin. They would have needed dozens of hydraulic presses to produce as many coins in a day as one lonely toggle press. And don't forget the additional annealing furnaces and other infra structure.

By strict accounting most sovereigns were gold tokens, not coins. They bore no denomination.

Normal double eagle production was about 90 coins per minute. Low relief ("coin relief") was necessary to bring up the design with one blow. Millions of DE were required to comply with law erlated to gold coin backing for Gold Certificates. Average production of UR DE, after late November when a 2nd pair of dies became available, was a few hundred. It was impossible to economically manufacture HR DE.

Normal rim HR $20s were closer to what Henry Hering seemed to be aiming for in November, but the Mint was done with any more models from the Saint-Gaudens studio. Had Hering been more aggressive we might have had a better low relief version than the one Barber produced. The fin rim (defect) pieces were accepted only because the Mint wanted President Roosevelt to have high relief coins. By late December Barber commented that he was afraid the President would order the Mint to keep making HR for 1908.

Someone likely use banking soda and a toothbrush to make it "shiny."

Yeah. Back then they didn't dry age the ribeye. They got it fresh just before cooking - the before-dinner version in Charmy's last photo.

Goldfinger started a thread on this subject which should answer your questions. You can also consult my Saint-Gaudens Double eagle book, "Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles as Illustrated by the Phillip H. Morse and Steven Duckor Collections" available from Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX (648 pages).

Finding "the whole truth" about the 1933 DE from production to first public/private sale is impossible now. Too much was ignored and skipped during the 1944 investigation and the people involved are dead. The Mint also withheld the 1932 DE infill information and the persons with knowledge of those normal processes were not interviewed by SS. So conversations are about what-did and what-if.

Well, at $14 it's a bargain, just check silver melt value if you plan to bid.

Thanks from all !