NGC just posted my grades from the Enhanced Uncirculated Set I submitted at ANA Denver. I chose the "full monty" version - ANA Logo label and "First Day - ANA" text on the label. I returned home with 3 more "raw" sets. We waited in line almost 4 hours at the Mint booth. Here are my grades: Cent - SP69Red Nickel - SP70 Dime - SP70 Effigy 25c - SP70 Douglass 25c - SP70 Ozark 25c - SP70 Ellis I. 25c - SP70 G.R.Clark 25c - SP69 Half $ - SP70 Dollar - SP69 SP70 Batting Average: .700 I'll take it, but I may be in the secondary market for a SP70 dollar.
It is an awesome looking piece of coining art. The quarters especially pop. One question: Why is the cent mounted shield side up?
They do that with the quarter program, too .. I think because it's called a shield cent, which is being highlighted ..
I get it for the quarters, but it's time to get over the shield thing on the cent. We're in Year #8 already. My Shield Cent Dansco has 24 coins in it already.
Those are the types of grades I'm always expecting with submissions but I'm always falling like 6-7 points short. I even leave a note that says "I think these are all 70s" which they must just ignore
It's not a "program"; it's the permanent reverse. Get over it. Were we still breathlessly awaiting a return to wheat ears in 1967? I don't think so. Oops, I have to apologize here; I'm too much into logical thought.
I bought a 1933-D "Merc", with which I am extraordinarily happy. I anxiously await the Lincoln product. I don't "do" ANACS any more. The demise of the small slab was my end date. All my Dan Carr products are in Eagle brand dark grey plastic 2x2's. I've owned a couple of newer ANACS slabs, but in all cases I've broken them out (and gotten the very same grade from NGC raw, each time). By the way, I also bought a MS64-ish 1931-D "real" Merc. Dan's work is nicer. Also, I picked up the show privy Maple Leaf and the non-proof silver Krugerand, and tons of Britain pieces. I'm working on a set of "by effigy" pennies. I added a real nice pair - a George IV and a William IV.
Just got back home and the two sets were waiting for me. Far, and away, the best coin (the one I love the most) is the Kennedy Half. I think the mint did a terrific job with these sets. Congrats on the grades Kurt. Mine shall remain in OGP........
As shall my other 3 sets. A .700 batting average from just randomly picking a set to have slabbed (no pre-examination whatsoever) speaks to the average quality of these pieces. Until "Walking Them To You Backward", aka Registered Mail, gets them to me, I'm limited to standard NGC images of them.
From the sets I've seen so far (over two dozen yet still a very small sample) these are the best made sets from the Mint in years. Under magnification, all coins have graded SP-70 except for four 69's.
The set I sent to NGC all came back SP70, except the cent was SP69. I guess I got really lucky! I got the ANA label for being at the show, but stupid me didn't do it on the first day I bought them so no First Day label.
Getting the First Day order to NGC in time, after the hugely long line to get sets, took up basically the ENTIRE first day of the show. I stood in line while my son worked on judging his exhibit category, and then we switched places. After we got the sets, all I had time for was to grab a set at random and literally RUN to NGC with the form I had pre-filled out before the show. Getting a First Day - ANA set was something almost no non-dealers got to do. Very very few. All I got done August 1 was registration queue management as the show opened, wait in line for EU sets, judge exhibits, run over people getting to NGC, and get ready for dinner. It was nuts. All because the Mint brought ONE point of sale terminal, after 2014 proved that two were woefully inadequate. THAT is what passes for thinking at the U.S. Mint. Only dealers and Early Bird pass holders had access initially to the EU set buying line. Individual attendees were basically scrod unless they burnt the whole day on just that.