Owner Comments:
This coin is actually a pretty nice example of this date (photos always exaggerate the marks and planchet flaws). It's certainly common in MS-63 and lower, but tougher when you get to MS-64 and MS-65, and almost impossible above MS-65 (Akers rated this issue an R-1 in MS-60 to MS-62, R-3 in MS-63 jumping to low R-6 in MS-64 and high R-6 in MS-65). Generally these are fairly well struck, though most have weakness around the Capitol building and nearby stars, though this one has nice details in the Capitol with moderate weakness by the stars, a little better than usual. However, there is some weakness in the torch and hand. Like many other examples of this date, this one has a partial wire rim (unfortunately obscured by the holder), you can see a little of it in the photo above the IBE in Liberty on the obverse, and a large section of the reverse extending from the I in United almost to the eagle's tail feathers.
1923 was the year that Calvin Coolidge became President of the United States, after President Harding died of a heart attack in San Francisco in August of that year. Calvin Coolidge was a leader known for his frugality with words. According to the White House biography (at www.whitehouse.gov) he once explained to Bernard Baruch why he often sat silently through interviews: "Well, Baruch, many times I say only 'yes' or 'no' to people. Even that is too much. It winds them up for twenty minutes more." One of my favorite stories about Coolidge revolved around a wager at a dinner party. His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, recounted that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly retorted, "You lose." Sometimes I think we'd be better served if more of our leaders followed the example of "Silent Cal" and listened more and spoke less.