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Cabinet friction or wear?
ranshdow
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What's the distinction, if any, between so-called "cabinet friction" and circulation wear? Is there a visual characteristic to cabinet friction or light rub that distinguishes the two? It's apparent that some forms of high point rub are considered market acceptable in the MS grades. Below is an example. Note the shine on Liberty's arm, legs, face, etc. The most distinguishing feature of the high point shine on this coin is that it follows the luster.
The coin below is MS64, CAC. It's in my collection, and has a lot going for it. Do you agree with the grade?
The coin below is MS64, CAC. It's in my collection, and has a lot going for it. Do you agree with the grade?
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You absolutely are right on when you say it has a lot going for it, very nice!
Nice coin.
Freddie
Here's a good example of cabinet friction or mishandling on a nice MS64 coin IMO. Note all the darker areas; the opposite contrast to what you are referring to on your coin.
1877-cc ms64 CAC
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
This causes the high points to show rub from being pushed against other coins.
Normally these coins split from AU58 to MS61/62 but the strike on this piece got it a 64, with CAC approval.
Being able to differentiate the two has to be done with seeing the coin in hand as it can't be judged from a photo.
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My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
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<< <i>I consider 'cabinet friction' or 'stacking marks' to be wear and find them unacceptable on an MS coin. >>
Stacking and roll marks are just part of business strikes struck for commerce as every such coin went through a lot of abuse within the mint itself well before landing in collectors hands.
Generally, I think of stacking and cabinet friction affecting only the high points of the design, while circulation wear affects the fields, too.
Imagine two identical coins, exact twins to start, and then one you slide around for a few minutes on a piece of paper on a flat table top, and the other you jingle in your pocket with a bunch of other coins, until they both have the exact same "theoretical" amount of contact marks and degree of metal loss from the perfect 70 they both started as, only the first coin has the highpoints highlighted and the remainder of the coin is still pristine, while the second coin has less actual wear on the highest points, but more wear distributed over the rest of the coin, particularly the open fields
The flat paper coin will exhibit classic or "idealized" cabinet friction, while the second coin will display wear more characteristic of circulation. Of course every coin is different, but this is generally how I think about it. I've got both kinds in my collection and find them actually a pretty good value when priced in the AU58-MS62 range.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
To me, wear is wear and the term "cabinet friction" represents wishful thinking on the part of the would-be seller.
That said, I personally feel the significance of wear is overstated. A tiny bit of wear shouldn't be viewed any worse than a tiny bit of incomplete strike. Stacking rub or surface disturbances that happen before the coins ever made it out of the mint is real. It's virtually impossible to find Peace dollars without a little frost disturbance on the high points, even on coins in MS67 holders (but I have seen a few without any). The TPGs all tolerate that up to a point.
Seemingly PQ coins in MS62 holders often get floated around here in GTG threads. Usually these are sliders that are otherwise technically excellent - sometimes even downright gorgeous. The TPGs take a market-grade approach and put these AU58 coin into low MS holders. If you're collecting on a budget, and not too concerned about the number on the insert, a carefully assembled collection of such coins can be a visual treat.
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