Just saw this on eBay. What does the W stand for? http://cgi.ebay.com/1947-D-WASHINGTON-QUARTER-NGC-MS67-FINEST-REGISTRY_W0QQitemZ280420014201QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item414a55d879
NGC uses the "W" as a designation for a superb quality coin. Similar to the "PQ" or star designations from what I've been told.
W-What a WASH -ington Quarter 1947 D with more than 15 Million Mintages. Is that Now a Price Range for this Coin (NGC MS 67 W ) from 100 to 300 + US dollor on E bay?. Sorry! I don't have any Idea what does it mean. W... when what where WASH or what ever.
This explanation is correct. It was a designation they used for pure 'white', blazing luster, coins for a period of time. They don't use the 'W' designation anymore.
Yes, it was used when "blast white" coins were all the rage, kind of like toned coins are now. Back then, people would dip their toned coins to remove the toning so that they could get the W designation and thuse sell their coins for more money than they could otherwise. Special designations on slabs tend to vary with time according to what is most popular among collectors at that time.
