1946 Washington. I Just Can't Get My Head Around It!

Ed, you are right on both counts. That is a 63 . . . indeed 63 might be a bit generous.
You are correct on the other count as well. In that you are wrong about the grade on the slab.
I promise not to hold out too long, but I would like to get a couple of additional responses before the reveal.

I clicked a couple of "fix it" buttons on my photo editor and have darkened up the pics. If anything I probably made it look better than it is. Those photos were swiped off of ebay, so I can't shoot anything any better.

Kanga, I am still stuck on "63", but your point is well received. In hand, those marks are not going to scream out. But I have several "63"s that are better than this.

CC2012, yes those cheek hits are pretty bad.

Thus my frustration. I very carefully selected four pieces to send in and got low balled by one point each on ALL of them. Not even one got the grade I was expecting.

So 30 minutes later, while I was still stinging from the butt whuppin' that I took, I run across this piece on the Bay. I am looking for a nice 46-P for an upgrade.

(Edited. . . reminder to self . . . don't say stupid things!)

But that is not my point. My point is how could this piece possibly get a "66"!!

In what universe? Photo below.

As soon as I get my pieces back, I will post one or two of them and let's see what the gallery says. The piece that I was looking for a "65" but got a "64" is waaaay better than this "ms66" 1946.

MS66! Really? Hmm.

It lacks luster, and one of the main focal points (the portrait) has some pretty good size dings.

I would have guessed MS64 or MS63.

JonK, sorry for your troubles with PCGS. This is why I have an almost complete date only set of raw Washington quarters which I would love to think should wind up in MS65 and MS66 holders but I fear the waste of time and money with the TPGs on grading these modern coins. I'd go bonkers if my 1932, as an example, went to NGC and came back MS64 while this one you've shared gets MS66. My '32 at MS65 is still a $300 coin and of course we know the price jump if it hits MS66. I suppose one day for maximum resale value it might be worth the grading effort but for now, I will just keep them in flips and enjoy them.

Guys, thanks for the responses, all good points.

DSFreeworld, it started innocently enough. I have had a complete silver Washington set for 40 years or so. Started by pulling silver from circulation. I recall as a kid in (very rural) Louisiana riding my bicycle to a couple of friendly local stores (in the snow, barefoot, uphill both ways!) to ask the proprietors if they had run across any silver Washingtons.

Once the set was completed, I was happy for . . . thirty years or so. Then dang Al Gore invented the internet and the entire world opened before my feet. Amazing . . . . Any young people out there, I know how hard it is to be appreciative of something that now seems like a God given right, but not so hard to imagine if "poof" it were gone.

Ah, but I digress. Forgive me my digressions, I think the pain meds are finally kicking in.

So, I started picking up graded coins, trading for graded coins, and finally sending a bunch of my stuff in. All in all, I have done pretty well with it. Though if I knew then what I know now perhaps I would have never started.

Sorry I am writing a book . . . .the meds are definitely taking hold . . .

Advantages:
I am forced to learn how to grade. "BU" ain't good enough.
Liquidity. My ungrateful and unappreciative heirs will have no trouble getting the value (or close to it anyway) once I am just a memory.
I get to play in the registry sets. Just like the top guys. Watch out! I am 45th and closing fast!!

Disadvantages:
ARRRGGHHHHHH!!
And I would have rather spent that money of a nice piece.

Anyway, I am better today now that I have vented a bit. Overall, I have been mostly successful with my grading efforts. This is the first time I have been skunked!

I sent some crossovers in as well, maybe those will make up for these. Yeah, right!

Again, thanks for the replies. Sort of like a support group. Sitting around the fire, toasting marshmallows.

Great fun!

Jon

It always pays to learn how to grade your own coins.
It can take years, even decades, to do that acurately.
That is despite the fact that we are ALL capable of getting it wrong, even with a great depth of experience.

Some TPG's face a dichotomy:
the temptation to grade conservatively build a good reputation and thereby increase business volume
or
the temptation to grade generously and thereby increase business volume, with 'officially' recognised grades, by both a potential buyer and seller.