Can someone post grading guidelines for Washington quarters?

[macrocoin]

I am specifically looking for some help in the MS60-70 range.

The circulated grades are fairly simple to differentiate, but I am getting lost on the better grade uncirculated coins.

Thanks

[WaxonWaxov]

Do you have a Red Book? I think that's all in there.

 

You can order one from brent-krueger.com if you're unable to get one locally.

[TomB]

Unfortunately, I have not seen a good print reference for MS60-MS70 Washington quarters. The Red Book, and even the Official ANA Grading Standards do not give much to go on. Perhaps one of the specialist books will have more detailed images and descriptions. However, the best course of action is to view coins that are raw and graded and to examine why these coins have the grades that they have. The best way to do this is to examine the coin in-hand, not from an image.

[macrocoin]

Unfortunately, I have not seen a good print reference for MS60-MS70 Washington quarters. The Red Book, and even the Official ANA Grading Standards do not give much to go on. Perhaps one of the specialist books will have more detailed images and descriptions. However, the best course of action is to view coins that are raw and graded and to examine why these coins have the grades that they have. The best way to do this is to examine the coin in-hand, not from an image.

 

I have the ANA guide but it leave a bit to be desired for these coins.

I have an assortment of MS65 & MS66 coins in NGC and PCGS plastic and have stared at them quite a bit. I feel I can get a pretty good approximation of those two grades, and what would push a coin just below a 65 or just over a 66. I was hoping for something like the ANA guide provide for Morgans...a list of the number of contact marks in primary and secondary focal areas to correspond to the grade. In the end its all subjective anyway, but I suppose I would like to know that the grades I give are more than just an opinion...even if only based on someone elses opinion!

 

Grading has changed the way I look at coins...more specifically the amount of time I look at each one

[TomB]

Something to keep in mind is that the ANA has not given out exhaustive descriptions as to what constitutes various MS grade levels. Rather, both PCGS and NGC have defined those levels themselves and the market has followed.

[WaxonWaxov]

Something to keep in mind is that the ANA has not given out exhaustive descriptions as to what constitutes various MS grade levels. Rather, both PCGS and NGC have defined those levels themselves and the market has followed.

 

so what's the top level according to ANA standards?

 

You see 69 and 70 all the time, but what's the highest defined by ANA?

[TomB]

The ANA gives fairly generic terms, with a bit of play, in virtually all commonly encountered MS grades save for MS70, which is defined as perfect. Let's take a look at what was once known as "superb gem" and now known as MS67, this is from pp24-25 of the current sixth edition-

 

Has original luster and normal strike for date and mint. May have three or four very small contact marks and one more noticeable but not detracting mark. On comparable coins, one or two small single hairlines may show, or one or two minor scuff marks or flaws may be present. Eye appeal is above average. If copper, the coin has luster and original color.

 

Contact marks: 3 or 4 miniscule, 1 or 2 may be in prime focal areas. Hairlines: None visible without magnification. Luster: Above average. Nearly full original. Eye appeal: Exceptional.

 

There are many areas in the above that are subject to interpretation, some more so than others. For example, many issues that are generally known as weakly struck also have some examples with terrific strikes. Therefore, how weakly struck or well struck should be accepted "normal strike"? How large are the three or four very small contact marks before they become "one more noticeable"? Might a "one more noticeable" contact mark be detracting to one person and not another? How minor are "minor scuff marks or flaws"? How far "above average" must the eye appeal be? For copper, does "original color" stand for the color red and orange the coin was issued with or does it stand for toned copper that has not be otherwise altered?

 

You see, all of these definitions are chock full of vague interpretations and this allows the TPGs, specifically PCGS and NGC, to define what it is that they want in each grade level for each series. Therefore, we see the current disparity in prices for variously graded coins in various TPG holders.

[Morgannut]

What dates? They're different. Pre 1965, basically NGC and PCGS have defined the super grades differently in my experience and opinion. The gems are the same, conforming with the ANA defintion of MS67. A MS67 at PCGS is really a mark free coin on the devices ans can have only a tiny tick or two in less obvious areas. At NGC perhaps one tick on the devices will be allowed, but in these cases the luster must be truly superior. Conversely, the Pcgs MS67 can have average luster, but no marks. Obviously, there are some equivalent coins in MS67 at both services. In MS66, generally you have a superior coin, nice luster, but there is one or two noticable ticks on Washington, and/or the center of the eagle. Any distractions on the actual cheek of Washington, or abrasions on the neck--even small, and we're down to 65.--

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Hope that helps

[Bruceswar]

Morgan is right.... MS washingtons are a bit tough at times. Do be fooled by thae AU58 coin marked as BU.... clad vs silver are 2 different fields. If your looknig for silver than I can help you. I would be glad to post pictures of coins in different grades if you wanted. Let me know.

[macrocoin]

Morgan is right.... MS washingtons are a bit tough at times. Do be fooled by thae AU58 coin marked as BU.... clad vs silver are 2 different fields. If your looknig for silver than I can help you. I would be glad to post pictures of coins in different grades if you wanted. Let me know.

 

 

I am strictly talking about pre-1965 silver Washington quarters.

The grades that have me in a quandry are MS60-64, since I have no good examples of those. The strike and luster seem like subjective indicators to me, however things like hairlines and contact marks are empirical, quantifiable indicators of grade.

 

Thanks to all who have posted - I can see it isnt just me that sees some ambiguity in this

[Bruceswar]

Just from my expierence, I found alot of qtrs rather cheap in MS66 and MS65... and I would recommend going after the ones you can afford in those grades. I found that I do not really enjoy the low range MS quarters as they tend to be all marked up and detract alot from the eye appeal in my opinion. Now as is the case with most of us, not all of the quarters in the series, will be affordable in MS65 or MS66, and for those you will want to get a lower MS coin, but thats just my thoughts.

 

Here is an MS64 qtr for comparison