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Images courtesy of David
Lawrence Rare Coins
Authentication tips:
Obverses: all are essentially
identical, as dates were hubbed and all working dies had the same date positions.
Reverse A: Mintmark is above the tops of the letters R and D, and centered between them
Reverse B: Mintmark is low and closer to R than D. This mintmark position appears much
less often than that of Reverse A
For a more in-depth look at
the diagnostics of authentic 1913-S Quarter Dollars, click
here.
Notes:
"1913-S is one of the
"big three" of the Barber quarters. Boasting the lowest mintage of
any 20th Century regular-issue silver coin, this date has always been
"sexy." In circulated grades from AG to VG it is very scarce. In
grades Fine through AU it is rare and collector demand far exceeds the
available number of specimens. However, in mint state nice specimens can
usually be had by a patient collector willing to pay the price.
Ironically, the easiest
grades to locate for this desirable date tend to be MS65-66. As a rule, mint
state 1913-S quarters have full cartwheel luster and sharp strikes. MS60-64
coins have demand far greater than their supply, and are seldom offered on
the market.
Don't expect G4 and even
G6 specimens to have full rims on the reverse. Because of the way it was
struck, the 1913-S tends to have nice central details on the obverse even
after the rims have been worn away. Because of extensive counterfeiting,
always look for a certified example, regardless of the grades."
The finest Uncirculated examples graded
by PCGS are 4 MS-67's.
Recent appearances:
PCGS MS-66. Ex - Heritage
Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach Signature Sale", May
31-June 2, 2001, Lot 8182, illustrated, not sold
VF-30. Ex - Bowers and Merena
Galleries' Robert W. Schwan Collection Sale, October 26-27, 2000, Lot 1240,
sold for $3,450.00
Very Fine. Ex - Stack's
"65th Anniversary Sale", October 17-19, 2000, Lot 801, plated,
sold for $1,437.50
VG-8 Cleaned. Ex-
Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "October 2000 Long Beach
Sale", October 5-7, 2000, Lot 6788, not
illustrated, sold for $805.00
Good-6. Ex - Heritage Numismatic Auctions, Inc.'s "Long Beach
Signature Sale", May 31-June 2, 2001, Lot 5576, not illustrated, sold
for $632.50
Sources and/or recommended
reading:
"The PCGS Population Report, July 2003" by The
Professional Coin Grading Service
"The Complete Guide To Certified Barber Coinage" by David
& John Feigenbaum
Relevant collector
organizations:
Barber Coin Collectors'
Society
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