Need help with grading MS 1955-D Washingtons

MoneyLA

Hi. I started a thread on the US Coin Forum about a bank wrapped roll that I bought, well now I'm hoping some of the MS Washington Registry Set collectors can come to my aid. Here's a copy of what I put on the other message board:

I just finished going through my roll of bank-wrapped 1955-D Washingtons, and here is my report:

The bank wrapping was a bit loose and most of the coins show that.

30 of the coins have obvious ticks and tiny scratches probably from bumping around in the roll over the years, and these 30 while flashy and white (except for toned reeded edges on all of them) and lustrous will not be submitted for grading. Frankly, I think these 30 coins would probably come back as MS63 or with luck an MS64.

3 of the coins, also white, lustrous and flashy have the tiniest of a tick, and these three are being held "on the side" pending the results of the remaining coins that are being submitted.

This leaves 7 coins. One of which is the end roll coin with the obverse rainbow toning. This coin has lots of blues and rose and reds and orange but the coloration is blotchy rather than in rings or waves that Morgan rainbow toning lovers have come to enjoy. The reverse of this coin is blast white, save for the reeded edge toning from the paper wrapper, and the reverse is free of ticks or scratches. The obverse also appears to be clean. (By the way, the other end of roll coin, with the reverse toning, had a white obverse but too many ticks to be considered for grading.)

The six other coins I pulled out of the roll for submission are all white, flashy, lustrous, with the same reeded edge toning, and lack any obvious ticks or scratches.

Now, my question: As you might know, Im a collector of proof Washingtons and I have argued on these boards that there is a visible difference between proof 70s and proof 69s, and at one time I think I owned 1/4th of the known proof 70 silver Washingtons and I had a date run of 1960 through 1964 in my first registry set (which since has been sold). While I have argued that the merits of a PR70 coin are visible, I have little knowledge of what makes an MS65 vs an MS66 vs an MS67 Washington, so I need some help, please.

Of the 7 coins I've set aside for grading submissions, what other fine points should I be looking for to help narrow down my choice. As I said, these are the coins without visible ticks or scratches and they are all lustrous and white (except for the end-roll coin). But what else should I be looking for?

Are there specific details of the strike, for example, that will help me better estimate the quality of the coins and to help sort out my submission pieces?

Thanks and cheers, Alan Mendelson

cladking

Start with the bottom of the "I" in "IN". It should be fully struck up with
the top rounded. This is usually about the last detail on the obverse to
strike up completely. (also Middle of the "I" in "LIBERTY).

On the reverse look at the lettering around the rim and the eagle's talons.

Colorfulcoins

Alan, assuming that you are saying the coins are "free" of ticks and nicks....you have some nice coins. Its usually the ticks and nicks that define the grade - at least at the MS65 and MS66 level which is principally the grades one looks for in 55D's (ok, getting an MS67 would be BEYOND nice given its a pop-0)...anyhow, if the obv fields are clean and the portrait is clean - especially the high points like the cheek (no hairlines), chin, and curls, then you have a pretty nice coin. Next, strike becomes important. The most obvious place to look for strike is the curls in front of the ear - they should be defined and not mushy - you should be able to define and count more than 3 (at least).....an oldtimer once told me - if you count 4 its a MS64 and count 5 its a MS65 (not sure if its true but it certainly points to the detail in the strike). On the reverse, the eagles claws seem to be a good indication of strike - rounded or flat? The eagles knees are also a high point subject to marking - as well as the breast feathers for cuts. Its not unusual to have a couple of small ticks on the wing feathers.

If you have coins that pass all these "tests", then you have some very fine coins that can may be very rewarding. Hopefully some of the real experts will kick in and fill in the holes that I've not covered like luster and eye appeal as they is a "look" that PCGS likes in high grade MS quarters......

MoneyLA

Cladking and Craig: thanks for your comments. I used them to give the coins a second "going over." And I decided to send to pcgs the seven coins I originally picked out.

Cladking: the coins I sent in all show good strikes but being a proof collector these are not the strikes of a proof coin. yet they are clean and decent and not mushy so I hope for the best. I went to a local coin shop today and looked at a ms65 pcgs slab and the strikes on my coins are as good as the ms65 example I viewed.

Craig, Ive excerpteted from your post to respond:

if the obv fields are clean and the portrait is clean - especially the high points like the cheek (no hairlines), chin, and curls, then you have a pretty nice coin. YES, THESE ARE ALL CLEAN COINS WITH NO CUTS, NICKS, SCRATCHES.


Next, strike becomes important. The most obvious place to look for strike is the curls in front of the ear - they should be defined and not mushy - you should be able to define and count more than 3 (at least).....an oldtimer once told me - if you count 4 its a MS64 and count 5 its a MS65 (not sure if its true but it certainly points to the detail in the strike). WHILE I NEVER WENT TO BEAUTICIAN SCHOOL, GEORGES HAIR APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NICELY CURLED, SPRAYED AND IN PLACE.


On the reverse, the eagles claws seem to be a good indication of strike - rounded or flat? THE CLAWS SEEM TO BE SHARPER ON THE SEVEN COINS IM SENDING IN VS SOME OF THE OTHERS IM NOT SENDING IN.

The eagles knees are also a high point subject to marking NO MARKS ON THE EAGLES KNEEDS, BUT THESE KNEES ARE A BIT FLATTER THAN THE KNEES ON PROOFS

- as well as the breast feathers for cuts. BREASTS ARE CLEAN

Its not unusual to have a couple of small ticks on the wing feathers. WINGS ARE CLEAN. IN FACT, ON ALL SEVEN COINS, THE REVERSES ARE IMMACULATE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE COINS IN THE ROLL HAD GREAT REVERSES, BUT MANY HAD NICKS AND SCRATCHES ON THE OBVERSES.

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE, AND TIPS. cheers, Alan Mendelson

Colorfulcoins

Good luck - sounds as if you have some nice quarters - make a MS67 and the shy's the limit on a coin like that!!!!!!

MoneyLA

Thanks Craig. While an MS67 would be stupendous, a couple of MS66s would suit me just fine... I just hope that Im not missing some big "blotches" that will make this an exercise in waste. Oh well, we'll see. But if I get some nice grades back, I have three more waiting to go!! cheers, alan mendelson