What grade would you give this 1934 Washington Quarter?

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Matt04
Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 9, 2026 2:16PM in U.S. Coin Forum




Video:

https://imgur.com/a/AA921k3

Key points:
Lustrous, bit of uglier darker toning but original surfaces on the obverse, few hits on the bust & one hit in the field. Reverse is nice.

Let me know what you think!

Comments

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You can't really grade from those pics, or pics in general, but I'll go 65.

  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I also like MS65

    Collector, occasional seller

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
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    What makes you guys think this is more a 65 vs 66? The hits on the bust face area?

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,117 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 9, 2026 1:50PM
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    I like 65 as well

  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Matt04 said:
    What makes you guys think this is more a 65 vs 66? The hits on the bust face area?

    The eye appeal of the obverse is slightly negative IMO, and it looks like the luster is a little muted. Some MS70 or eZest might improve this one.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • tonedcoinlover
    tonedcoinlover Posts: 95 ✭✭✭
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    I see 64

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
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    @ChrisH821 said:

    @Matt04 said:
    What makes you guys think this is more a 65 vs 66? The hits on the bust face area?

    The eye appeal of the obverse is slightly negative IMO, and it looks like the luster is a little muted. Some MS70 or eZest might improve this one.

    https://imgur.com/a/AA921k3

    This video might help, its definitely lustrous but I do agree. Even though it looks abit uglier with the darker toning I do like original surfaces vs blast white.

  • ChrisH821
    ChrisH821 Posts: 7,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like it a lot better after the video. I do wish the obverse looked like the reverse though.

    Collector, occasional seller

  • lsica
    lsica Posts: 1,759 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 9, 2026 2:27PM
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    Welp... IM (Useless and) HO I could see this going MS65 (assuming the photos aren't hiding any flaws or marks that would be more visible from a different angle), but I'm going to say MS64 for the following reasons:
    1)Some "just a bit too visible" hits on the nose
    2) Some dark spots on the neck look like they might be enough to graduate from "toning" to some minor "spots". If I saw the coin in hand and they didn't look too bad then I might overlook this.
    3) I think I see a dark fingermark on the neck. Again If it doesnt seem too bad in hand that might be able to be overlooked, but a print in that location does tend to put "downward pressure" on the grade
    4) I'm reminded of a saying by Ben The CoinGeek... "Whatever grade you think your Washington (or Frankie) is, drop it by one". Now of course a statement like is ridiculous if taken literally, but it does make a point - the more open fields on a coin, the more places to find faults.

    Again all this is IM (useless and) HO. If you do grade it and do get a 65, I won't call it an "overgrade". But I saw the coin for sale at full MS65 price I'd probably keep looking. It just looks like an MS64 to me.

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
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    @ChrisH821 said:
    I like it a lot better after the video. I do wish the obverse looked like the reverse though.

    agreed

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 9, 2026 2:47PM
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    I do want to throw out there for reference, this is a MS66 CAC'd example.

    (When it comes to hits on washington)

  • lsica
    lsica Posts: 1,759 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 9, 2026 2:52PM
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    I just saw there's a video, and having seen it I'll now say I do see the coin as MS65. The original photo makes some elements look worse than they would in hand. My original comments below

    @lsica said:
    Welp... IM (Useless and) HO I could see this going MS65 (assuming the photos aren't hiding any flaws or marks that would be more visible from a different angle), but I'm going to say MS64 for the following reasons:
    1)Some "just a bit too visible" hits on the nose
    2) Some dark spots on the neck look like they might be enough to graduate from "toning" to some minor "spots". If I saw the coin in hand and they didn't look too bad then I might overlook this.
    3) I think I see a dark fingermark on the neck. Again If it doesnt seem too bad in hand that might be able to be overlooked, but a print in that location does tend to put "downward pressure" on the grade
    4) I'm reminded of a saying by Ben The CoinGeek... "Whatever grade you think your Washington (or Frankie) is, drop it by one". Now of course a statement like is ridiculous if taken literally, but it does make a point - the more open fields on a coin, the more places to find faults.

    Again all this is IM (useless and) HO. If you do grade it and do get a 65, I won't call it an "overgrade". But I saw the coin for sale at full MS65 price I'd probably keep looking. It just looks like an MS64 to me.

    Philately will get you nowhere....
  • lkenefic
    lkenefic Posts: 9,519 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Caveat Emptor... my first impression was MS64 due to the hits on the cheek and chatter in front of the profile... and spotty toning... but I sort of suck grading mid-range MS Washies...

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,192 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like the skin and think it is an attractive coin.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 9, 2026 6:49PM
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    MS 62. The dark areas push me not to go above 62. It just doesn’t have it to go higher imo.

    Investor
  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Cougar1978 said:
    MS 60

    Try again.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    My guess is that the coin was graded 65.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • FlyingAl
    FlyingAl Posts: 4,478 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Matt04 said:
    I do want to throw out there for reference, this is a MS66 CAC'd example.

    (When it comes to hits on washington)

    Attractive.

    I like yours at 65.

    Coin Photography

  • P0CKETCHANGE
    P0CKETCHANGE Posts: 3,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Agree with the general consensus at 65

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
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    JA left this sticker on it, would this be worth getting a restoration service for ? Or is this stain unremovable?

    Its a MS66 grade and in lighting the stain is not really visible.

  • Davidk7
    Davidk7 Posts: 675 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Hard to say without seeing it in hand, but I think you'd be better off just finding a stickered MS66 example instead of waiting for conservation with ambiguous results.

    Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Matt04 said:

    JA left this sticker on it, would this be worth getting a restoration service for ? Or is this stain unremovable?

    Its a MS66 grade and in lighting the stain is not really visible.

    The coin looks a long way from a CAC-stickered 66 to me. And I wouldn’t spend money on restoration service.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • rooksmith
    rooksmith Posts: 1,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I got to agree with MFeld on this one.

    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • TomB
    TomB Posts: 23,192 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow! It looks sooooooo different from the first set of images you shared with us. If the image of the coin in the slab is accurate then I don't know that you want to throw good money after bad. Just sell it and buy a coin you like.

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • ShaunBC5
    ShaunBC5 Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I think it’s maxed out in the 66 no-sticker holder. From glancing at the first pics and not watching the video I had it at a 64. I’ll assume it’s accurately graded, but wouldn’t expect it to warrant an “A” designation for the grade.

  • Matt04
    Matt04 Posts: 623 ✭✭✭✭
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    @TomB said:
    Wow! It looks sooooooo different from the first set of images you shared with us. If the image of the coin in the slab is accurate then I don't know that you want to throw good money after bad. Just sell it and buy a coin you like.

    Without direct lighting that’s how it looks, it’s a shame because with good lighting the coin really looks nice like the photos and video I’ve shared .

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