Conder101

The problem is, is that die clashes are VERY seldom seen on the devices because they are the deepest part of the die. And in this case you are implying that a design feature (deep part of the die) is showing as a clachmark on another design feature (deep part of the die) yet no clash marks are showing anywhere in the fields. Where clashmarks are typically see. It doesn't seem likely to me.

Appears to have die deterioration doubling on the 95 and mintmark.

Possibly. There does appear to be some doubly on IN that does not appear to be Machine Doubling but the images aren't clear enough (upside down doesn't help either.) to be sure.

Yep, late 60's early 70's.

And the overall answer to your question is, No, they are not rare.

With rough corroded surfaces. Obviously an acid soaked coin.

After enlarging the image the "dots" appear to me to be incuse into the coin and not raised. If so they are from damage not a rusted die.

No, but it shows that it is possible that it could be done outside the mint. Since you claim it was done inside the mint it is up to you to show that it was and wasn't done by someone with one of the sandblasters shown above. Oh and just because you sandblast the faces doesn't mean you have to blast the edge as well.

I didn't buy them back when I could get them for $70, I'm not buying them with gold at $2000.

Looks like environmental discoloration of the metal in other words a stain.

Sure. I figure it isn't worth more than three figures with two of them after the decimal point. Say $9.99 If you check out the sold listings on ebay the prices vary a fair bit, but it isn't too hard to find them in the $10 and under range. If you actually sold it for $800 or more it was to someone who didn't have a clue what he was buying. And he is probably going to be pretty upset when he finds out what it is really worth. Now if it had been a 2008 instead of a 1998 then it might be worth closer to what you say you got. After 2001 off-centers REALLY dry up.

I concur, clearly a large date. All immediate dream fulfillment is hereby cancelled.

I think it probably is a proof. The cameo is not real impressive and the stains probably restrict it down to maybe a PF-62. So a proof but a low end one. I think you overpaid. The sellers images were evidently done to high the staining.

If you were actually offered high three figures grab it and run, even if there was a decimal point before the last two.

When will they learn to send expensive coins by the safer shipping method of registered mail. They are trading safety for speed, but a heavy package send express is practically shouting "Hey, I've got high value items inside, and no one really knows where I am at the moment."

Actually the mark (it is hard to tell which one you mean with all the marks and stains) looks to me like a scratch.

I hate to say it, but I look at the OP coins and I've got some warning alarms going off. I do suspect that the coin is not good.

That' was the issue. After 1993 the WAM reverse was ONLY supposed to be used on proofs and the CAM reverse was only supposed to be used on business strikes. All of San Francisco's dies are made in Philadelphia and in 1998, 99, and 2000 at least one rev die hubbed for making proof coins (WAM rev) was accidently used to strike coins for circulation. In 1998 and 99 one business strike die (CAM rev) was accidentally sent to San Francisco, polished and used to strike proof coins. So the 1999 S with a WAM reverse is the normal reverse, the CAM reverse is the rare one. for 1999 business strikes the CAM reverse is normal and the WAM rev is the rare one.

What it was all about was Director James Pollock. He was Director from May of 1861 to September of 1866, not sure why he left office. Something tells me it may not have been on his own initiative. He became Director again in May of 1869 and apparently fired everybody that had been hired by his two predecessors William Millward and R. H. Linderman. I can't help but wonder if there is a similar corresponding directive from April of 1873 when H. R. Linderman returned to office as Director. Did he fire everyone that Pollock hired? (I would imagine Pollock already had people to step into the newly vacated positions on May 1, 1869.) Thanks to a letter that Roger posted ATS it appears than Pollock left office in 1866 because he objected to how Johnson was running his administration. You have to remember that Johnson was a southerner, and he apparently wasn't too pleased the north had won the war. A lot of the things he was doing were apparently attempting to re-establish the old status quo.

Yes they would have value. Probably in the $10 to $15 range would be my guess. It's not a lot but it is much better than 5 to 10 cents they were worth dateless.

Please be sure to let us know the results.

No, can't be certain, but once the label is on it doesn't matter if it is right or not because there is no way to prove it is wrong. (No way to prove it is right either, but the sucker er customers will pay the premium price for them anyway.)

The weight does make sense. Spec is 6.25 and if it was right on spec it would round to 6.3, but the tolerance range was +/- .097 grams so it could weigh as low as 6.153 grams so even at the low end of tolerance it would round on the scale to 6,2. ANYTHING less then the exact spec weight, and within tolerance, would show as 6.2 grams.

And how would you compensate for differences in strike? Otherwise a lightly worn well struck piece might grade higher than a MS but more weakly struck coin. Would you have to have different "maps" for each date and mint of a series? For example you couldn't use the same reference "map" for a 21 and a 23 peace dollar. Or a 26 S and 38 D buffalo nickel.

You say you talked to NGC at a show. Have you tried the Ask NGC forum here? Explain what you have, that you have been told it is too fragile to holder, and ask if there is anyway it could be put in a foam insert and then holdered. I'm thinking use the foam insert from an airtite to hold the coin and the the prongs hold the outer edge of the foam ring so as to not put pressure on the coin. Not to put them down but often the TPG representatives at a show are there and trained to just accept submissions. They may or may not be knowledgeable about what can and can't be done in the encapsulation room.