1965 Washington - MS68 ? - Maybe too dark to tell

[jgrinz]

You Washington guys - is this a 68 coin ... It is my question too you or is it too dark ??

 

[coinman1794]

It certainly could be; I don't see anything holding it back. Though, in person, it might be a different story. I would imagine it would get labeled SMS, too.

[cladking]

It's very pretty and probably SMS. If not SMS then it is virtually unimprovable but I don't think it can go 68 in either case. There are strike deficiencies, especially on the reverse, which will keep it lower.

[jgrinz]

It is an SMS from a Set I have - What are you seeing on the reverse

as I have compared it to other NGC 68's and looks like a shoe in .. But again this is not my field of expertise and am relying on the opinions here as to send it in - are 67 for a SMS a good grade ??

 

 

m

[Bruceswar]

67 yes... 68 no... One to many small hits if you ask me

[jgrinz]

Where ?

[cladking]

You can see the roughness from the planchet at the tops of the letters in UNITED.

[coinman1794]

That looks like die wear to me, and I don't see any marks that arent as made. NGC is very careful in distinguishing between mint made imperfections and post minting damage. 1965-67 era coins can be very weakly struck and still grade high, as well, but this coin is actually quite well struck for a late die state.

[jgrinz]

cladking _ I think that is a lighting issue which I am trying to resolve in the pictures

 

coinman1794 _ Do you think this is a 68 coin

 

Bruceswar _ I dont see any hits to speak of .. please be more specific

 

 

Mike

[TomB]

Regardless of MS67 or MS68, I must admit that the coin looks beautiful.

[Bruceswar]

Ok Hits may not have been the correct term. Whats going on under the A in America? and from about 3 o clock to about 5 o clock on the obverse? Is that just from the photo?

[coinman1794]

Im not sure what the best way to define that is, but lets start with...a series of irregular flow lines resulting from a warping of the die. Areas like that are typical along the rims of SMS quarters and are a result of die wear. Sometimes grease strike-throughs contribute to that type of rouchness.

[jgrinz]

Well Interesting points all of you. Most of the problems you see are probably lighting - If you look at the upper left of the obverse you will see some scraping on an already certified coin by NGC - I pulled this coin from a SMS set as it was real striking in hand. My Opinion was backed up by NGC graders as a MS68. I think I will invest in some lighting as I feel my camera setup is not bad ( By Hand ) ... I had the same opinion of the nickel out of this set and it did a 67. I like them both and will be a fine addition to my set. Thanks guys for your thoughts.

Mike