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69-P Washington I love/hate

DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
I tried to ignore this coin but it kept gnawing at me. PCGS-MS66. Too many marks for the grade, but the overall sharpness of the strike, the quality of the planchet, and the superb (for a 69-p) luster make it unusual. This one goes into the permanent pile awaiting an upgrade. Just thought I'd share a picture.

image
image
Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor

Comments

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,726 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It has a extremely

    nice reverse.

    It is really pretty nice for the date. The little ticks plague all of these. In all
    probability this is a mint set coin as evidenced by the clean strong strike and
    new dies. The luster of roll coins was poor (and many from the sets). This date
    is virtually impossible to find in original rolls. Very few were saved because qual-
    ity was so poor and because it was sandwiched between dates that appealed
    much more to the handfull of speculators of the time. The '68-D was the lowest
    mintage of all clad quarters as a regular issue with fewer than a hundred million
    struck for circulation and the '69-D was low mintage as well. Much of the spec-
    ulator interest in those days was in the new S mint cents and nickels made for
    circulation. There was also widespread interest in the proof and mint sets fin-
    ally being made again after the three year break. It should be noted that the
    lion's share of the sets have been destroyed over the years with very few of the
    coins going into collections. Some were even destroyed to obtain the silver in
    1980.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In a strange morning, I find myself posting about 1801 half dollars as well as 1969 quarters, as I have also upgraded my 69P, this pic shows my old coin which is typical

    image

    I will try to take a picture of the upgrade later in the day. Show your 1969 clad quarters! image

    damn nice piece, DHeath image

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    In a strange morning, I find myself posting about 1801 half dollars as well as 1969 quarters, as I have also upgraded my 69P

    Collector! image


    And thanks guys.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    nice reverse as the "king" stated.

    my feeling with these is that the Mint was still struggling with the relatively new CuNi alloy and achieving consistent strike quality. it isn't a new problem, historically speaking it provided a challenge all the way back to the 3CN and Shield Nickel when difficulty with design elements striking properly and repeated clash probably related to die spacing and press pressure were common. i don't think it's a coincidence that the first year of CuNi planchets for Proof Half-Dollars, 1971, has proven to be a key in highest Deep Cameo grades. it simply took the Mint employees awhile to figure out the proper technique to replicate strike quality.

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