newp: Is this really a MS69?

Bothuwui · May 10, 2004 1:54PM

I recently purchased this coin from a catalog. This month's price was considerably less than last month's, and very reasonable. I wasn't too worried since it's PCGS slabbed as MS69. I looked up the coin on the website to get a better look, and it seems there are some spots on it. Anyone know what they are, and if they hurt the grade?

By the way, PR and MS modern commem halves have turned into my guilty coin collecting pleasure. I like the fact that they are all different. Sometimes gets boring looking through a book of Morgans that all have basically the same design, so I definitely like the variety these offer.

Sorry for no inline pics, and I hope they leave their pics up on the website.

Obverse 1982 MS69 Washington Commem Half
Reverse

XpipedreamR · May 10, 2004 1:59PM

It looks like a primo coin to me.

itsnotjustme · May 10, 2004 2:01PM

Some of those look like nothing more than dust on the slab. Others such as those between the house and the "UN" of UNITED are flow lines, marks made by the flow of the metal when the coin is struck.

I see nothing that would keep the coin from MS69 in the image.

Bothuwui · May 10, 2004 2:02PM

Thanks for the pic post!

Bothuwui · May 10, 2004 2:04PM

I'm probably too paranoid. Most I've spent sight unseen. I'm sure it will probably look great in person. Anyone else out there collect modern commem halves?

XpipedreamR · May 10, 2004 2:08PM

Now that I'm looking at it again, I'm seeing some spotting, particularly in the obverse upper right quadrant. If that's not dust on the slab, I wouldn't keep it...although I'm not saying it's not MS69.

I think the splotch above the center on the reverse is on the coin, rather than the slab.

I'd wait to see the coin in hand.

Bothuwui · May 10, 2004 2:26PM

I may be more tempted to send it in to PCGS for review if it has issues.

dorkkarl · May 10, 2004 9:17PM

jeez, it's just a 5 dollar coin! the majority probably are ms-69!!!

K S

fivecents · May 10, 2004 9:35PM

<< <i>jeez, it's just a 5 dollar coin! the majority probably are ms-69!!! >>

Karl.....These 1982-D halves are VERY hard to make in MS69. I have been trying to make one in that grade for years! This 1st year issue modern commem was handled alot rougher by the mint than the later modern commems. The unc version of this coin is plaged by cuts and large bag marks. I guess the mint handled these coins like any other circulating coin and dumped them into coin bins. The 1982-D in MS69 is very scarce!

cladking · May 10, 2004 10:49PM

I don't have a lot of experience with the MS '82 Washington but this is far and
away the best I've seen. The only thing that concerns me from the picture is
the rim scrape at 2:30 on the obverse. Scrapes on the rim are pretty forgiva-
ble especially on moderns, but this one looks like it might be a little prominent.

Bothuwui · May 11, 2004 3:36AM

I hadn't even noticed it until you pointed it out cladking. Now it looks huge and prominent every time I look at it. I'm getting more and more curious to see what it looks like in person. I'm hoping the spots are dust and flow lines as have been mentioned in this thread. Also hoping the spot above the house is on the slab or a reflection. Lastly, it might just be the angle making the rim scrape look that bad.

ClausUrch · May 11, 2004 4:23AM

The "Pops" on these are steadily rising causing the price to drop dramaticaly. Two years ago they were selling for the 1200 to 1400 range. Last year the population jumped in the 60's and the price dropped to 700 or so. Now there are 80 some MS69's. What is the current value on a MS69???

cladking · May 11, 2004 5:02AM

<< <i>I hadn't even noticed it until you pointed it out cladking. Now it looks huge and prominent every time I look at it. I'm getting more and more curious to see what it looks like in person. I'm hoping the spots are dust and flow lines as have been mentioned in this thread. Also hoping the spot above the house is on the slab or a reflection. Lastly, it might just be the angle making the rim scrape look that bad. >>

Unfortunately rim scrapes are very common on moderns and it doesn't seem to
usually affect the grade much. As long as they aren't deep they can be ignored.

Shamika · May 11, 2004 5:36AM

Bothuwui,

What you see in the fields is called "frost". It occurs when the metal flows during the die strike.

Also, this coin is a modern commemorative. Super high grades are more the norm than you might think.

Bothuwui · May 11, 2004 2:20PM

Under $300, but I've seen a couple on EBay for over $500 recently. I was going to try to make my own, but after looking at about 40 of them, they all looked like junk. That's when I decided to bite the bullet and buy this one.

I think the pop will go up a little more, but when you figure the swimming commem has a pop of 313 in MS69 and sells for about $120-$150 (and has 4 graded MS70), I believe the MS69 Washington with a current pop of 81 and none higher will stay around $300.

newp: Is this really a MS69?

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