By Dr. Richard S. Appel – UniqueRareCoins.com ……
In Part I and Part II of this article I discussed the history, attributes, legends, intrigue, and ongoing controversy surrounding these especial coins. I described how I and an increasing total of note numismatists believe the Philadelphia Mint’s erroneousness in judgment led to their universe and relegation to relative obscureness, despite their great significance and invoke .
A YEAR-BY-YEAR ANALYSIS
Most remain examples of the Proof Reverse Philadelphia issues are in circulate grades.
In mint-state they are all very barely and, in the shell of the 1956 exit, rare. Most uncirculated specimens fall into the MS64 and lower categories. All MS65 coins are extremely elusive and, at the MS66 level, all but the 1957 offspring are quite barely if not very rare. soon, most dates of the nine-coin series are strange in MS67 mark. not a single specimen has attained the eminent MS68 title. All references to condition, grade or populations in this article refer to coins attributed by NGC or PCGS .
I believe the reasons most Proof Reverse Washington Quarters are unavailable in the higher grades are double .
first, in the latter part of the 1950s, the Mint employees handling coins weren ’ thyroxine american samoa careful as earlier. This condition continued through 1964. The leave is that all coin denominations produced at the two Mints during that era tend to display many abrasions or bag marks .
second, this trouble was compounded in 1963 and ’ 64 by an enormous increase in mintages due to a soaring requirement for Washington Quarters. not alone were they not terribly careful, but the employees were probably overworked angstrom good. As poor as the timbre of the 1959-62 issues are, those from 1963 and 1964 are as bad or worse. importantly, due to their mismanage, very few regular 1959-64 occupation hit coins reach the MS67 flush, and none have even been graded finer. For these reasons, and because the Proof Reverse Philadelphia quarters are far rarer than their commercial enterprise mint counterparts, it is improbable that more than a few Proof Reverse Washington Quarters will ever be graded MS67, and we may never see one better. due to their rarity and specially their inaccessibility in high grade, I consider high-grade Proof Reverse coins the Holy Grails of the entire Washington Quarter series .
1956
… This is by far the rare in both handiness and condition of the entire nine-coin series. They are rarely found in circulation and are rare in batch express. Like the other Proof Reverse issues, the majority have been melted. I doubt if more than a few thousand remain in universe ( and probable far fewer in mint department of state ). PCGS and NGC have certified less than 150 blend coins in all grades. only 10 pieces have been graded MS66, while the finest graded is a lone MS66+ PCGS coin. It is a true Condition Rarity !
1957
… This issue is identical barely in mint-state. fortunately for collectors this date is occasionally available in MS67. Most of these were primitively found in U.S. government-issued mint sets, so they are nicely toned. NGC and PCGS have reported a blend 258 total specimens, with 30 grading MS67 and none are fine .
1958
… This is one of the four most available of the nine issues, yet they are by no means common. The grade services composition a entire of 582 specimens in all circulated and uncirculated grades. The highest graded by either service are a few MS66 coins, with not even a lone MS67 exercise noted. A few have been found in mint sets .
1959
… This is the most common issue, if you can call an NGC and PCGS total of 805 coins in all grades coarse. In comparison, both services have graded combined totals of over 10,000 coins for each of the 1932-D and 1932-S dates which are presently regarded as the rarest issues of the series. Neither NGC nor PCGS have reported a single 1959 quarter grading MS67, so the 35 MS66 coins must suffice to satisfy the entire numismatic community. A lone MS66+ has been graded by PCGS. This appears to be the most frequently found Proof Reverse publish in mint sets .
U.S. government-issued batch sets were produced in each of the nine years when Proof Reverse coins were minted. They were compiled and mailed to the collecting public in the first three or four months of the stick to year. The Philadelphia Mint had already begun using the current year ’ randomness date, so the coins that were available for inclusion body in the sets were left over from the previous year. They have been found in batch sets of each year. This confirms that most or all Proof Reverse coins were made at year ’ s-end, and consequently were produced in restrict quantities. It is authoritative to recognize that mint-set-derived Proof Reverse coins rarely grade higher than MS65. This is so far another will to the curio of high grade examples of these great coins. It must be noted that early coins will be found in batch sets. few coin enthusiasts know of their being indeed many sets remain to be searched .
1960
… This is the one-third of the four most available issues. PCGS and NGC have graded a combined total of 664 specimens in all grades. The highest coins graded are two MS67 examples by NGC. PCGS has even to see its first mint certified at that exalted charge. They are occasionally found in mint sets .
1961
… This is credibly the third-rarest topic. It boasts a bare 295 certify coins in all circulated and mint state grades. NGC has certified a single coin in MS67, and PCGS a lone MS66+ with none fine. It is occasionally available in MS66 ( the services have graded 22 specimens at this flush ). A few have been located in mint sets .
1962
… This is likely the second-rarest return of the nine-coin series. This was beginning pointed out to me several years ago by Jose Cortez. A minuscule 197 coins have been certified in all conditions, with a surprise two examples graded MS67 by PCGS. In MS66 it is quite rare, with lone 10 coins certified by the services. For comparison, PCGS has only graded 19 even business strike coins in MS67. thus attesting to its present and future rarity in eminent rate. Another big Condition Rarity ! It is rarely found in mint sets .
1963
… This write out is the scarce of the 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1963 group. It boasts a total of 535 specimens in all circulated and mint-state grades. There are 39 coins in MS66, and the Finest Known is a lone MS67 example by NGC, despite 74 million minted. A few have been located in batch sets .
1964
… This is the final examination coin of this vastly desirable and impressive series. I believe its curio compares favorably with the 1961 Proof Reverse issue. In high grade it is decidedly rare ! In fact, it is another Condition Rarity of the series. An fabulously modest sum of 271 coins in all circulated and uncirculated conditions has been certified. The finest graded are nine examples in MS66, with a MS67 specimen yet to be certified by either NGC or PCGS. It is occasionally found in mint sets.
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A huge 560 million business hit Washington Quarters were coined in Philadelphia that year. however, as earlier discussed, the coins were so badly treated at the Mint that few escaped damaging bag marks. For good or badly, this forever limited the handiness of high-grade coins of this and most other Proof Reverse issues .
Why Proof Reverse Washington Quarters Bear Such Great Significance to Numismatists
When I inaugural learned of these impressive, stunning coins my excitation was promptly arrested by the dogma that was handed down from earlier experts. I, like every collector or student of numismatics I spoke with who knew of them, thought they were unusual if not incredible. But to the person, they all believed they were made by accident or in error. They all repeated the mantra that a Proof Hub was used to create a sour die, which was somehow used to manufacture business strike coins. In fact, ANACS helped perpetuate this mind because they labeled them, “ Proof Reverse Hub Design ( mho ) ” .
Everyone thought they were extraordinary, but no one seemed to question how this “ err ” could have been similarly made in each of nine consecutive years. farther, ascribable to this universal impression, their bang-up significance was overlooked ( if not ignored ) by everyone–including most price guides .
I believe this misconception originated and was passed on because of statements that emanated from Mint officials .
Whenever questioned about the Proof Reverse coins, Mint executives always ” fierily denied ” that their genesis was from earlier used but exhausted Proof dies. If ANACS and the Mint said they were made by a Proof Hub, why would any numismatist, even an expert, question them ? But the more I studied and thought about them the more convinced I became that all of the experts were wrong. Further, if they were indeed produced from earlier used Proof dies their importance to numismatics was egregiously understate .
The definition of a “ set ” of coins is one specimen of each issue that is produced at every mint for a given series. When referring to a complete set of business fall coins we refer to coins that were made for and with the intent of being placed into circulation. Exceptional, highly involve varieties are often besides included in the most memorable sets. As discussed earlier in this series, I believe these impressive coins were coined with such purpose. From their origin, they were destined to be used for our nation ’ s general clientele transactions. Further, I believe they are imminently authoritative and have a celebrated history of disagreement, controversy and intrigue that sets them aside from even the most highly see varieties. This greatly enhances their desirability. For these reasons, I believe they should be included to complete every fixed of Washington Quarters .
Proof Reverse Washington Quarters Are Members of the Elite Group of Desirable Numismatic Varieties
The Proof Reverse coins are indeed varieties. Their reverse detail is decidedly different from the “ normal ” reverse artwork that was intended for our quarter ’ south design. If I am decline and they were intentionally produced, their importance to the numismatic community can not be overstated. This would be the beginning time that early used but retired Proof Dies were utilized to produce coins for general circulation. Combine these points with the events surrounding them, and mint enthusiasts are offered not only a alone nine-year set of coins, but an exceeding multi-faceted history to attend it .
In their tenure the U.S. Mint produced a number of significant errors and varieties that universally became considered integral members of their respective series ’, and are introduce in all major sets and collections. Impressive and popular over-dates, doubled dies, and boastfully and small letter pairs are present in numerous rare mint types. The 1839 $10 gold coin with the 1838 obverse, the “no motto” $10 Indian and $20 Saint-Gaudens gold coins arsenic well as the 1883 “no cents” Liberty Nickel are all celebrated varieties needed to grace and complete a bang-up fix .
exchangeable varieties are the Pacquet Reverse 1861-S $20, 1859-61 “old reverse” $2.50 gold coins, Type I Standing Liberty Quarters, 1878 Morgan Dollars with an 8 tail feather reverse, or 1879-S with the reverse of 1878 silver dollars .
These all display different reverse artwork from the customary designs. The fabulous 1849-C open wreath gold dollar is so far another example of a recognized, sought after rarity that offers unlike overrule artwork from the average. All of these, and numerous other fantastic varieties, are universally treasured and coveted, and have a position in all important collections. Given the distinct, obvious deviation that the Proof Reverse artwork displays, I feel these nine coins reside perfectly with the other above mentioned capital varieties, and should adorn all great, and arrant collections of Washington Quarters .
How the Proof Reverse Coins Compare with the Recognized Washington Quarter Rarities
From the give birth of the Washington series, the 1932-D and 1932-S issues were constantly deemed the rare and most desirable. They have miniscule mintages of 436,800 and 408,000 coins respectively. Combined, NGC and PCGS have graded about 10,000 1932-D and 12,000 1932-S coins in all conditions. From a price point of view, mint-state 1932-D coins begin at around $ 1,000 and the 1932-S claims about $ 400. Their Finest Known examples ( which grade MS66 ) bring near $ 150,000 for the 1932-D and about $ 15,000 for the 1932-S .
In contrast, I believe it is highly improbable if the mintage of even the most common 1959 Proof Reverse issue was 25 % of either the 1932 Denver or San Francisco coins, while the others boast decidedly lower sum coinages. Further, given their virtually nameless condition, the great mint melts–which I discussed earlier at length–have likely reduced their meager master numbers by 75 % or more. For price comparisons, mint-state Proof Reverse coins begin below $ 25. The Finest Known examples of each emergence stove from respective hundred dollars if their highest grade is MS66, to the mid-five figures for the few dates that boast any MS67 coins. They will never be valued in high grad near that of the 1932-D exit, but to my mind they present an exceptional opportunity for the astute collector or investor .
Proof Reverse Philadelphia Washington Quarters offer a great opportunity for today ’ mho collectors and investors. As more numismatists become mindful of not lone their universe but besides the history, controversy and the intrigue surrounding them, their desirably can alone increase. Combine this with their outstanding ocular appearance and curio, and I believe one day they will be desired like the most authoritative, noted varieties of today. They will be actively sought to complete not entirely the finest Washington Quarter collections, but besides as members of any significant collection of U.S. neologism. When this occurs I am confident their prices will be far higher. This will reflect the universal recognition of their indisputable importance to numismatists, from beginners to experts .
I believe that as the cognition of their universe spreads their demand will rise. This will be augmented as an increasing count of numismatics recognize their true genesis, and admit their undisputed importance to the numismatic community.
today, collectors can complete nine-coin sets at reasonable prices. The only problem may be that their handiness is excessively limited, particularly in the upper grades. In any event, I believe coin collectors, investors and numismatic experts alike will look back in the not-too-distant future and wonder why these treasures were not appreciated earlier for their beauty, history and importance .
only time will tell how numismatists will ultimately regard and value the Philadelphia Mint ’ s Proof Reverse Washington Quarter series. I am convinced in my psychoanalysis of the cause they came into being, and of their unquestionable merit .
however, it is up to all numismatists to decide how future generations will regard these coins. How will the controversy be resolved ? Will they agree with me regarding their origin and big meaning, or will they agree with the earlier Mint officials ? A major cardinal for me is that they were produced for nine back-to-back years. If the Mint used a Proof hub by mistake in 1956, could they possibly make the lapp error in each of following eight years ? I know what I believe. What do you think ?
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