1956 Washington Quarter Proof Re-engraved Feathers?

[rbroederer]

I was recently reviewing some coins and ran across a 1956 Washington proof quarter that I have owned for years. The coin has obvious re-engraved feathers on the reverse. The coin has a stunning DCAM obverse and is currently housed in an older NGC holder PF 68* Cameo 117563-003. The reverse must have fallen just short of DCAM qualification and appears to have quite a bit of highly visible re-engraving on the tail feathers and the feathers in both wings. The re-engraving looks almost overly amateur. I am only guessing that due to the cameo contrasts on the coin it may have been one of the first few off a newly polished or restyled die. I see a 1953 FS-901 listing which is called a Re-engraved TF FS-901" which is PCGS coin numbers 509995-7. 509996 (Cameo) has a pop of one, a nicely toned PR65CAM currently for sale at just over $700. There is a NGC 1953 PF68 FS-901 "Recut Feathers" 5142583-008 currently for sale at over $1000. Both of these coins sold at auction recently. I have also seen a 1957D coin in a PCGS holder 29807764 with "Re-engraved TF FS-901" designation (pop is 3 all MS64). I have looked at some of the coins on PCGS and the 1953 coins look like the amount and detail of the re-engraving of my coin. The 1957D seems to only have detail in the TF. I do not see any listing for 1956. Is there such a designation in 1956? Clearly a FS-901 in 1956 is a type B reverse and not applicable. Could this be a discovery piece? Is it possible that the mint somehow used the reverse die from 1953 on this coin by mistake? I have attached some pictures for your reference. I went to the Variety Vista master listing and saw a "RED" listing under Washington quarter but couldn't pull anything up. The coin is spectacular and I am tempted to submit it to PCGS for crossover to get TrueView® imaging and a designation on the holder (IMO far superior to NGC Photo Vision® from a marketing standpoint). Is it worth the effort? The pops of the 1953 seem low only 9 NGC and 63 PCGS with only one cameo. Re-engraved feathers on a Washington quarter seem pretty rare from what I see. I have never seen this before especially on such a highly graded coin. Ironic that I missed it for all these years and happened to see it this time around. Any thoughts or guidance?

[MintErrors]

I would let it be as it is. I think it is a minor thing, especially when it comes to the high magnification, along with it being hidden by the cameo. With it being proof, they might have did maintenance on the die, but these usually have limited service life.
In my opinion its a good grade for the coin. If it was me, I would not send it back in as I would be a bit worried if they added a "retooled" or even a very, very slight machine doubling caveat to the coin and creating the possibility that they may lower the grade because of it.

Most graders use 10X loupes and take mere seconds to grade a coin. Three graders typically look over the coin and come up with a grade. If it differs, a senior grader will look at it and make the final call/

I don't know if this qualifies as discovery piece, It would be up to Jason C and other CONECA staff to chime in on this. Typically a retooling or maintenance of a die doesn't qualify as a discovery piece unless it produces something significant.

[jcuve]

I meant to chime in on this earlier. This is one I'd have to see in person and compare it to other examples. I am not ready to start attributing reengraved dies yet. Let's broach this again in maybe six months.

[rbroederer]

I would certainly be willing to send the coin in for inspection. I noticed the re-engraving when I was making a passive inventory. The cameo contrast of the coin makes it obvious without a loop and almost childish when you look at it under a loop ( I use a 7X Hastings Triplet and 20X Hastings both B & L).