cobymordet

Thanks for the clarification JPM. No set registry for me, my collection prefers a bit lower level lifestyle. My OCD has kicked in to overdrive focusing on counting steps. I wish there was an app for that. Thanks again!

Regarding Jeffersons, are there years that full steps (5/6) are not possible or extremely rare? What would those years be? Also, can you help me understand the 6th step. I can't seem to find any pics that differentiate clearly. Does the top line count as a step? I apologize in advance of showing a pic on yer thread but this 5-v-6 Stairmaster Conspiracy has me rattled. This pic is of a 1940d nickel I recently picked up. I count five steps below the line with the pillars. (hopefully that makes sense). So would this qualify as a 5 or 6. . . or would it qualify at all?

My apologies to those offended by reality. This isn't the forum. I'm not trying to be a hero or an a-hole, but it is what it is. If a cashless world comes upon us, then would that not effectively negate the value/hobby of coin collecting? With no future coins being produced, 2-3 generations into the future, coins and collecting them will be a forgotten pastime. It won't be this generations' problem, but there would not be much of a point in collecting coins.

My response is unfortunately a bit more outlandish. I think the human race will never fully trust a digital currency. In my simple opinion, Bitcoin has been a fantastic window into the volatility and insecurity that comes with a digital currency. People require accountability. There is no accountability for information that has no tangible existence. On a side note, NFT's are by far the biggest farce to grace our world, yes, even beyond that of social networking sites/apps. If the nincompoops in charge of nuclear weapons don't end civilization, the weather sure will. Yes nay-sayers, Global warming is REAL and our planet is NOT flat and Earth is NOT the center of our universe. I will imagine that based on how we have, in less than 500 years, fundamentally destroyed the world in which we reside, it is likely once the nuclear winter or ice age passes, what is left of the human race, if any, will have the opportunity to go back to a cashless society of goods trading. Of course, the concept of money will no longer exist, but still, a cashless society we once again may be. Just remember, I am not a doomsday nut, just a realist and I did say my idea was outlandish, hollywood-style.

Navyvet8192, If you choose to rid yourself of the coin, I would be interested in acquiring it. I have a growing collection of counterfeit coins.

Robertdpg, Conviction is good, until it isn't. Your knowledge of coins is limited. Other members, more experienced than me, have effectively agreed that your coin does not meet the quality comparison of a MS-69. It will not make you feel better but every single coin collector has experienced the excitement of finding something valuable only to have that hope dashed by reality. It will happen to you time and time again if you choose not to educate yourself about coins. I would suggest the very same thing. Unfortunately, for you, the only way you will accept the reality of the condition of your coin is to spend $75-$120 to have the coin graded. It will be a learning lesson for either you or us. I anticipate the odds will be in our favor. Please let us know how it turns out.

I have explained what i could explain to you as best that I could explain to you. I am sorry that you are unable to understand what I have explained. Hopefully another more qualified member can explain it to you better.

The very bottom line, for you, is that your silver regular strike coin is unfortunately not likely to be comparable to the $20,000 highly graded silver regular strike coin because of your coins' condition. There is no other factor that differentiates your silver regular strike coin from my silver regular strike coin or from the $20,000 regular strike coin, except for the quality of the coin itself, per what very limited information was available regarding this 20k coin. I hope this answered your question. As you can see based on the values of these coins, it is extremely rare to find a nearly perfect coin, more so from a time period when the US Mint was not meeting adequate quality standards. Youtube can be risky along with random internet stories regarding rare coins found. you would do better to read about coins on reputable sites that aren't trying to sell you things. Good luck and enjoy the wonderful world of coin collecting, but please be realistic about finding "unicorn" coins. You would probably do better buying a lottery ticket.

Robertdpg, I believe that you may misunderstanding the term circulation. There were no silver bicentennial quarters, half-dollars or dollars produced at any US Mint that were "meant" for circulation. Those silver "Uncirculated" and "Proof" sets were meant to be collected and saved. Never opened and spent. It would be wasteful and a bit ignorant for a person to spend a silver coin that had more value than face in Silver content in 1976 or later. (This is from the article you sent a link for. . . no grades associated with sale price) Round-up List The top 5 rarest and most valuable Bicentennial quarters on our list and their auctions records are as follows: 1976 Bicentennial Quarter, Clad (Regular Strike): $1,119.99 1976-S Bicentennial Quarter, Clad (Proof): $6,038 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter, Clad (Regular Strike): $6,462.50 1976-S Bicentennial Quarter, Silver (Proof): $13,500 1976-S Bicentennial Quarter, Silver (Regular Strike): $19,200 Earlier in your posts, you stated PR69, if that was correct or incorrect, it doesn't really make a difference. The reason the coin sold for what it sold for was because of the quality of the coin. As you repeatedly stated, only a few have graded high for a non-proof silver coin. Your coin, what little of it I can see, is spotted, that alone will negate your coin from coming close to a MS69. MS69 grade is effectively flawless. I have included pic of the only four production variants of the 1776-1976 Bicentennial quarter that exist: Clad Regular Strike(P&D), Clad Proof Strike, Silver Regular Strike, and Silver Proof Strike. Your coin pics are blurry, see if you can steady the camera and try again, review them before you post them, reduction of repetition.

First, instead of using the scope for pics, just use your camera on your phone. Capture the whole coin, front and back. If, in fact the 20k coin you are referring to was graded PR69, then that coin was a Silver Proof coin. To my understanding, only proof coins are labeled as PR. A circulation strike coin would be labeled as MS. Your coin, based on what you said ("...no mirror finish...") would clearly not be a Proof coin, therefore not be comparable to the coin that sold for 20k.

I am not sure what coin you are referring to so I did a quick search and only found this information " ...1976-S Bicentennial Silver Quarter that came in with a very high grade — sold for $19,200 at auction a few years ago, according to the Chronicle Collectibles website...." If this is the coin to which you are referring, the reason it sold for high price is because of the rarity of the grade given. Most, if not all coins from the 70's lacked significant quality control which made high grade coins rare and valuable. If you have the story regarding the 20k Quarter, please add it to this thread, it will help in determining why the coin demanded such a price. Regarding silver versions specifically, to my limited knowledge, there were only two Silver variants produced, both being 40% silver: an Uncirculated strike and a Proof strike. Neither of which were meant for circulation, both of which were meant to be collectable keepsakes. Although I have found a couple of proof coins that have been circulated, it is highly irregular. Later today, the more knowledgeable members will provide their opinion regarding your coin. Be sure to have photos added. Unfortunately, it is a moot point until there is visual evidence to review. Below are the silver commemorative sets offered between 1975 & 1976. Uncirculated set: Proof set:

I hail from the great state of Texas. Unfortunately, some necks of the red tend to take the phrase "everything is bigger in Texas" a bit too seriously.

Smashan8, Hello and welcome to this forum. I will admit, I am not an expert on broadstrike coins, but I think maybe it was 81yrs. of hard living that happened to this coin. I am just a bit, or two, over half the age of this coin and it looks better than me on some days.

I know that this may constitute as numismatical heresy, but I got to admit, Repousse coins, it is quite an artistically creative way to waste a coin. Until recently, I was unaware of this form of metal mutilation. Yes, I live in a box, under a rock, down by the river. Prior to diving into the numismatic nut-bar factory kool-aid pitcher, I had but only one use for money: to spend it. Once I surfaced, after having drunk the nut-bar nectar, I found that I can make spiritual tokens, create neet-o flooring solutions, punch my coin into a sculpture, scrape a coin until becomes abstract art, etc. . . It is no longer just money, it is a lifestyle!

Hi Robertdpg, It is best to provide cropped photos of the front and back of the coin in question. It helps us get a better sense of your inquiry. And we can generally determine what it is. Typically, if the value of the coin is unable to exceed the cost of grading, it is not generally recommended to be graded. It sounds like your coin is the Silver variant, as opposed to the Silver Proof variant. That coin (silver variant) at MS-65, runs not much over $10. The Silver Proof variant runs just a few dollars more. It generally can cost upwards of $100 to be graded.

Reminiscing about the past are you? Ah the glory days of youth, how they have frittered away.

It's 3:00am and I am bored and need a mystery. So here is some completely irrelevant information: Ben Wengel, Senior Finalizer of World Coins Ben Wengel's interest in coins began early. By age 16, he had attended the ANA Summer Seminar and completed a six-week summer internship at NGC. After graduation from the University of Tampa, Ben joined NGC on a full-time basis and has now graded coins for NGC for more than a decade. In 2020, he became Senior Finalizer of World Coins. Based at NGC's headquarters, Ben has also graded at NGC on-site in the United States, Germany and China. His collecting interests include silver and gold coins from South and Central America. I was unable to locate concrete evidence of specific grading locations so I decided to email NGC directly and inquire as to where exactly coins are graded. As soon as I get a reply, I will post it forthwith and post-haste. (I have always wanted to say that) I will now retire to eat my Post Toasties, no need to post a toast though. Carry on, Coin Nutz!

Technically, the OP did not. Most likely, based on the nearly countless one-off posts regarding an inquiry about a uniquely damaged coin, it is incorrectly assumed that the OP would think the coin held more value than face. Unfortunately, it is common reaction that comes off a bit stand-offish. In my opinion, the quarter may not even be accepted at face value due to its significantly deformed shape.

I have always been under the impression that banks should accept all valid coinage. I take "valid" to be both sides visible to some degree. Bent coins and totally crapped out coins, maybe you might consider making an art project and sell it on etsy. They buy anything.

I would assume that sentimentality grows as the collector grows with the hobby. There is too much to learn and understand not to form a bond of sorts, if only just an appreciation of the collection amassed. I am not sure how financially lucrative collecting coins is within a given lifetime. I would also imagine there are quicker and better ways to make a buck, if making a buck is the only goal. On a side note, I think there is more than 1 of the 37mm gold essai coins, I will guess 5-10. Hopefully, we will get that nugget of information before you give in and melt it. LOL, patience grasshopper.

I hope they weren't real coins, that would be an unfortunate waste.

Musca in pariete I just enjoy reading and making sense of all posts and hope I learn from them. And, I have always wondered who said that enigma quote. I was surprised that it was Churchill.

“It's a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…” In an October 1939 radio speech, Winston Churchill used this phrase to describe a situation that was difficult to comprehend. (At the time, he was analyzing the early events of the second war to end all wars.)

Can you take individual pictures front and back of a couple of different ones? To get a better look at them.

I hope my post did not mislead or confuse you, I apologize if I did. I am not knowledgeable enough to state anything accurate about your coins. I try to leave that to the smart guys that have been doing for decades. I just looked at them and I saw things that don't seem right to me, so I pointed them out. For the moment, it is not known what correct attributes your coin has. At this point, scarcity is not important. The focus is trying to ascertain the attributes, if any, that your coin may or may not possess. If you coin does have attributes, then it eventually would need to be verified by a certified TPG (Third-Party Grader: NGC, PCGS, etc...). This forum is primarily for individuals to get education and direction so that the best result is achieved. Did you buy these coins already graded or did you submit them?