Any Ideas on a Grade??

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I would guess 65 or better. Can't really tell much about the luster.

 

64 or 65

 

MS65 poor lighting

 

65/66

 

63/64

 

62/63, weak strike on both sides

 

65

Please elaborate why you think this is a weak strike.

 

TYPICAL MS 65

 

I compared it to a 1958-D MS67 image on CoinFacts and clearly it's a weak struck coin, IMO

 

Unless there is more luster than I see, a 64. If there's more luster, perhaps a 5.

 

That is interesting. It compares favorably to the MS68 on photograde. The talons are all there and sharp, the breast feathers are all there and his hair is detailed. And the 66 has weaker talons and breast feathers.

 

Way more luster in hand, I took these photos in very poor lighting, the room was pitch black except from a bright lamp

 

I don't know what's wrong here, the 58D on coinfacts shows more defined hair and upper wing feathers, maybe its my eyes but I see a weak strike in the coin posted here compared to the image on coinfacts. I checked photograde and I saw no defined hair on the obverse as it shows on the coinfacts image. I would probably give the photo grade image of the 1939-P MS68 a lower grade because of the weak strike. I guess some grade as to how well the coin has been preserved after the mint strike. I would tend to go with the condition and best stike and grade higher. I believe a die that is close to the end of life would give a weak strike. The pictures posted here seem to have better definition towards the lower half on the obverse and reverse which I believe is the lighting on the coin. IMO

 

I would say it would come down to coin in hand would get better results and I believe that would be in everyone's opinion.

 

1958 was far from the mint's best year of work. Many coins look like the dies were made from worn out hubs. Franklins look mushy, Washingtons too. Even Lincoln cents. Oh, do yourself a favor and DON'T check for full steps on '58 Jeffs. Or maybe do, if you have lots of patience.

All that said, the 58-D pictured above is a nice piece. Nicer than mine in my Dansco.

 

The marks on the date seem to take away from a 65 i would say a 64. still new to this though.

 

OK, photoscape is our friend...white balanced and auto leveled and side by side





Although as @712 observed, there are stronger strikes for this year, this is a very nice example of a typical strike. @V. Kurt Bellman is correct about the quality from this time frame.

The U.S. mint was under huge pressure to cut costs. They had already stopped production at San Fran and it was for all intents an purposes closed. The mint was also under pressure to save costs at the two other locations. Part of that cost cutting was pushing hubs and dies way beyond their typical usable life span.

Your coin has some really good things going for it; nice clean obverse fields. In my study of higher graded WQs this seems to be one of the biggest determining factors between a 65 and 66-68. The eagle's breast feathers on the reverse, while not as strong as they can be, are clear and unworn. The talons and both lower wing tip are strong for this year too. The leaf over the A in DOLLAR is very strong and clear as well as the leaf to the left of the arrow tips. These two leaves can very easily be blended into the fields and devices and in a lot of cases not even show well. The mint mark is good and clear too.

Things working against the coin are that, while there are no really horrible marks on the face of Washington, there are a few, what look to be, bag marks on the jaw line, chin and just under Washington's eye, but I can't tell if that's in the mylar film of the 2x2 or in the actual coin. This area is also a main focal point of the obverse. There are some small, but less noticeable ticks in the date. On the reverse, what has me mostly worried are the legs of the eagle. Its quite hard to see, but I almost feel like I see some very faint rub on the legs. This is where having the coin in hand is critical. That rub could keep it at MS60 if not make it go AU58 in a hurry. But some times in pics that's very hard to determine. I'm going to chalk it up to the picture and lack of lighting.

My optimistic opinion is that it's a solid 65 for a 1958 Washington.

If those marks on George's face, are not bag marks, but marks in the mylar, and the legs of the eagle do not have any rub, then I feel the coin has a chance at a 66.

If the legs on the reverse actual have friction or rub, then this goes to a 60 or 58.

 

phankins11, great analysis, I really enjoyed reading it.

 

@712 Thanks, I like the silver Washys...they're still my favorite.