GTG ~ 1918-S Standing Liberty NGC

Now we just need mailing addresses so I can send out those certain unalienable rights...errr, prizes, I meant to say "prizes".

Sad and dirty truth behind the white glove treatment is that it hides dirty and or poorly trimmed fingernails very well!
Nobody wants THESE touching their coins:

 

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I'd say the true winner is @Travlntiques. That is a very beautiful piece in my opinion. I'd be very happy to own it. It also show's that I really need to work on my grading skills for SLQ's. Thank you for that great challenge.

 

I was going to say 45, just based on the amount of luster left. That is a lot of luster for a 40. I would bet that it got silent net graded down a couple of points for the weak strike. This coin is an excellent example of the interplay between strike and wear, and how it can effect a coin's grade.

If this coin were to remain in circulation, once the luster is worn off and it gets to a VF range, the grade will quickly plummet - in VF, it is often extremely difficult to tell between strike and wear, and all of the missing detail just goes to reduce the grade even more (no matter the cause). Variety specialists for early coinage understand which pairings usually had a weak strike, and will take that into account during grading - but the TPGs often don't.

 

Congratulations! My initial guess was correct, too, then I made the mistake of listening to @Insider. Ha, ha!

 

That should teach you. Read my post again. We all have "personal" and subjective grading standards based on several factors. The coin is an XF to me; however, GTG is dealing with photos AND the opinion of the professionals at a major TPGS. I could NEVER be a professional grader as I'm too conservative. That's the reason I can never get the GTG contests I try correct.

IMO, the most important/useful/educational aspect of GTG is when members here take the time to EXPLAIN (right or wrong) WHY THEY REACHED THEIR OPINION!