Wow! MS66 '61-D Washingtons starting to gain some respect. Sold for: $529.00!

quattrocoins

MS66 '61-D at Heritage

Bikingnut

Are 61D's really that tough? I would think that a date from the early sixties would have a large mintage figure.

quattrocoins

83,656,928 minted.

Lack of quality control leading to the scarcity of gems. IMHO
Worse than the '55-D's, of which only 3,182,400 were made.

Cocoinut

The '55-D will always have my vote for the worst-looking silver Washington, but the '61-D isn't far behind. During the big silver melt of 1979-1980, the dealer that I worked for sent hundreds of rolls of quarters from the '60's to the smelter without batting an eye, but the '55-D was considered a better date due to its low mintage, and those rolls were saved. Based on the rolls I see offered today, I'd guess that the '55-D is more plentiful today in MS than the '61-D.

When I was assembling my Washington set 3-4 years ago, I studied the pop reports and saw that the '61-D was a scarcer date, so I bought them as long as I thought they were a good value, and eventually found 4 coins. The last one came from DLRC; they had 3 blast white coins offered at the same time for $175. I was tempted to buy them all, but settled for just one.

The coin currently being offered seems to be a run-of-the-mill MS66, with some noticeable reeding marks. Checking Heritage's prices realized, I see that one sold for $1,495 last November. Apparently more than one bidder thought that one had a shot at MS67.

Jim

quattrocoins

, Jim.
Although the Denver Mint seemed to be lacking sufficient quality control from the early '50's to the early '60's, the '55-D's are probably the worst. Of course, you are also right about all the bu rolls goin' into the melting pot. I remember those days well!
Most gem '55-D's come toned from mint sets. To find a white one is quite a challenge. One the other hand, I've seen a few blast white '61-D's in MS66, but chose a nicely toned example for my registry set.

Don

wondercoin

Good analysis guys.

The 61(d) MS66's do come around between $100-$200 and I have sold one or two around that level as well recently. But, usually, I just tuck them away as I like to accumulate MS66 coins that have spreads that look like this:

MS65- $25
MS66 -$175
MS67 - $12,500+

Seriously, does a spread like that make any sense? Obviously, not today, as a collector is fine paying close to $500 for the MS66 (and I personally see no problem with that).


Wondercoin

wondercoin

Craig: Yes, it was. And I am not questioning the price of a 67 - I am pointing out that a "multiple" of 75x-100x between grades on that date makes little sense to me personally. Now, if the 61(d) in MS66 achieves, say, a $600-$700 price level again - that multiple beomes more in line at around 20x between grades at least in my mind - do you agree?

Wondercoin

Coinerww

Nice Quarter.

quattrocoins

Sold for: $529.00

quattrocoins

I wish, Craig!

The most I got was $285 on ebay for a blast white one.

Then, a fellow board member thought that I charged him too much at $275 for an even nicer one.
I hope he's feeling better about it now!

oreville

Interesting analysis guys. I better look at my 1961-D BU 25c rolls someday!

Boom

I know the feeling. I sold a gorgeous, smooth creamy White PCGS 66 for less than that AND the 62-D PCGS 66 along with it on Feebay not too long ago. I got less than $400 for the pair, so I can understand that forum member's feelings. Just like this 35-D I've had up all week that ends in a bit. I'm about to yank it because I paid more than the opening bid for it and lightning will not strike twice!

Besides that, I sold what was sold to me as OBW (original bank wrapped), a roll of 61-D uncirculated quarters for give away money- $60.00...because they were so poorly tende to by Mint workers. I got it coming and going again THERE too! I'm glad I

read this thread because it now explains a lot of things.

Mikey

The 62 D has gotten pricey too. One went on ebay for 187 last week in ms66.

Boom

Rightfully so Mike, just as Craig said, when you have "x" amount of 66s and only ONE coin grading higher, those 66's are WAY underpriced...ESPECIALLY should one of them upgrade to 67. We're talking about a humungous jump from a couple hundred bucks to thousands depending on the grader!

Coinerww