(Not my coin) Do you think this coin is correctly graded? It is in an NGC MS67 holder. This clearly has great luster and nice clean fields. And I like the very, very subtle hints of color. My only concern is the tiny tickmark (“shaving cut”) on George’s jawline. In your opinion, does that still fall within the parameters of the grade, or has this piece been overgraded? It is entirely possible the lighting in the photo exaggerated that little mark. But it’s plainly there.
Looks MS-66 to me, although it is just a picture. I do think it is closer to a 67 than a 65, but not quite.
The tick on the cheek is a concern, yes. But I'm also concerned about the long wispy mark in the left obverse field. That is highly distracting to me. I think its a 65 obverse, with a 66+ reverse... Net 66. Plus one for what appears to be nice eye appeal, maybe? If you're looking for a 67 for a type set, as I suspect you are... this isn't it. There are better, and wait for a good one.
Not mine, as mentioned, though I’ve thought about it. Thanks for that detailed assessment and useful advice. Whether I ultimately follow it or not, I’ll certainly take what you said into account. Another reason this coin caught my attention (far removed from any rational considerations) is that it also happens to be from my late mother’s birthyear. But that’s neither here nor there, and ‘44-P coins are super common in every denomination. Thanks. Nice to also hear a vote in favor. Makes it interesting.
It seems it is now about to be, as part of a five-coin swap I'm doing with NEN (more on that later, perhaps). So it was a mostly barter transaction. I'll learn to live with that little tick on George's jaw, and hopefully it won't appear so bad in hand.
MS-67 means you have to hunt to find the problems. This one has an obvious mark on Washington's jaw, a scratch in the field and numerous other small marks. I'd say MS-65, which makes it grossly over graded. BTW, PCGS kind of "owns" the grading for the modern coin market.
Except when it comes time to pay for it. Coinfacts says an MS-66 is worth $50. An MS-67 lists for $275. An MS-65, which what I grade it, is $32. How much do you want to be buried into a common date coin? Having learned my lessons in the “school of hard knocks,” I pose those questions to myself.
If the eye appeal is nice in hand, I would guess that it would sell closer to the guide price and there would be multiple buyers interested. Others would pass but the buyer would not necessarily be buried. There are also plenty of greysheet buyers who pay something like 10%-20% back of sheet regardless of what the coin looks like (I don't agree with the method but it happens). I found another recent sale in the same grade for around $175. That coin is nicer is some ways but still has hits and what looks like minor spotting. When a coin is average or below, the auction market tends to discount it. So if the majority of people figured that the the original coin was not worthy, it should sell for enough under guide where the buyer is not too buried. https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/2155593/1944-Washington-Quarter-NGC-MS-67
