Are you saying it is an AU because of the weak strike or it is a weak strike and also happens to be an AU?
Hey TM12, I meant AU55...and that the strike seemed kinda weak. Again, I'm no grader. I just think there could be more detail in the whole pony-tail thingy that George has going on, and the breast feathers and wing feathers could be stronger in details. But the fields, edge, rim, date and legend looks nice. And maybe it's just the picture, but does the motto look blurry or double-die or something? But a very nice coin nonetheless. How did you acquire it; roll searching or purchase? -LTB
I was just looking at other graded 1957's and yours is better than some of the MS66 graded...look at this one...it looks like it went through a blender or something... http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-Silver-Washington-Quarter-PCGS-Certified-MS-66_W0QQitemZ260408780108QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item3ca192a54c&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50 And yours is way better than this MS-66 http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-D-Washington-Quarter-033-903-PCGS-MS-66_W0QQitemZ320355065934QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item4a96a6604e&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 So totally ignore my AU-55 grade, I was WAY off :whistle: I'll leave the grading to the experts. -LTB
I see few contact marks... Maybe a little wear in the top of the hair.. It is a nice, mint state coin in my opinion... Maybe a 66...Or MS67... And I'm no washington expert either...But this is just my guess... I could be way off too.
I got it from my dealer along with some other coins. I also used to help out there sometimes so he gave me deals. I'd be surprised if I paid more than $1 for it.
Imo Washington quarters are one of the hardest coins to grade. So definitely wait for some more experienced people, but I think it looks AU to me. It's worth at least $2 in silver, so it sounds like a good buy to me.
Worst problems are the marks on the obverse, particularly on the cheek and neck. The strike does appear a bit weak. That's not a major problem but will hold the grade back a bit. I'd say MS-63, maybe MS-64 on a good day.
I'm in the AU58 camp too-- light wear along the cheek and the leading edge of the forehead hair. The lighting makes it hard to assess the curls by the ear. I see virtually no hits , so if the luster is as nice as I think it is, it is more attractive than most up thru MS63, and those dull looking MS66's that other folks posted. Nice!
Here is an AU Washington quarter I recently purchased: note the 'pewter' color of the hair around the ear, and on the high point of the cheek (the malar prominence, for medical types) and at the bottom of the truncation. Much less wear on the reverse, just the top tips of the wings.
Yeah I really haven't had much experience grading mint state washingtons. I only have 3 that are MS (55d, 56, and 57) and the rest ar either proof or VG/F. Thank you for the grading tip.