To me this is a 65, and no better. 82-S is one of the most well-struck dates and is graded on a different scale, as such. Any other date (aside from 80-S and 81-S), and this could be an easy 66. Another factor here is that bowl-luster that swims around the coin. That, again, is typical for this date. It is a very nice coin, though. But if you sent this to PCGS or NGC again these days, it's still coming back as a 65.
I have been doing exactly this for several weeks. I set up an eBay search for only MS66-67’s. This is better than any 66 I have seen come up. At least 66.
Yeah, easy 66. I've been poking around looking for a 67 as well and this is prettier than most 66's and some 67's but most sellers do not have the photography skill set you have.
Justin has great skills. I know this. If I was unfamiliar with his work, I would have sworn up and down that this was a lock 67. His pictures are flattering, but honest. Unfortunately, we have become accustomed to crap photos. Because of this, we judge coins more harshly than we should. When we see a picture that is actually decent, CoinTalk doesn't know what to do with it and decides that the coin must not be as good as it looks. Justin is one of the best photographers on this site. When I see a coin that he has shot, I know that it I can grade confidently from his pictures.
Well, this thread has jumped to life. LOL. I'm loving sitting here reading all the guesses and the justifications behind them. I'll let it play out for at least 24 hours before I do the reveal.
Don't worry I'll join you in the fool club as I also think it's a 66 I also could see a 66+/67 without a few small marks as the fields and most of the cheek is very clean. Then again @jtlee321 could have picked a gold CAC candidate resting in a 64 slab. There I think I covered all the bases* *just in case: it could be a 65, there may be a plus involved, and I see a .001% chance of UNC details.
I see some of you know my typical buying habits... LOL Edit, this in no way is a hint of any kind. Just a good observation of my past buying habits.
Yeah, mint mark set left tilted left and that die marker on the neck, VAM-20 it is... And if it's a no line fatty - MS65....
Im gonna guess 65 is on the slab...... But easily a 66 or better by todays standards. I smell a future gold EW sticker in this coins future, fresh from Aruba !! Man, he really HAS disrupted a 200 billion dollar industry
I guessed 65, tho' I debated 66. First, it is a date that comes really nice, and is graded to a higher standard. Second, I'm on my phone, and unsure of the darker area near her mouth.