Grading a 69 or 70

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Having read many posts about grading here, I was wondering if many of the coins coming out of the US Mint that get graded as 70 DCAM's or 69 DCAM's ( or MS 69/70's) all have the same "telling marks" that allows for a grader do be done and satisfied with his grade in only a few seconds? I mean, how does one tell THAT QUICKLY if a coin is worthy for a 69 or 70 grade when to most of us they look exactly the same? How do they determine initially what will qualify for the higher grade if they have never graded that kind of coin before? (Ie., the first several 2021 Peace Dollars or the first arriving 2021 Morgans). I see some coins that seem to pass off with much higher grades than I would have ever guessed, and others that seem way too under graded, especially in the Proof Like and DMPL arena. Thanks!

MsMorrisine

My only comment is that I hope that an issue is first handled with a group of coins from the same issue to highlight what is as struck and what is not.

jmlanzaf

If you look at thousands of coins per week, you become adept at grading.

In most cases, you don't need to have seen a coin before to know the difference between a natural surface and a ding on the surface. The only exception would be a brand new finish that never existed before. Otherwise, an experienced grader can immediately tell the difference between damage to the surface and the surface itself.

derryb

70 has no surface imperfections, 69 has minimum (1 speck or ding) damage.

ricko

The graders are very experienced (and highly paid for their skills), and at that level, a minor imperfection, that may not be immediately apparent to most observers, will be very obvious. Plus, such coins pass through multiple reviews prior to receiving final absolution. While I have long been in favor of real standards, we will continue to live with the skills and opinion of the graders for the foreseeable future. Cheers, RickO

7Jaguars

And of course, the exact opposite as well: that pinspeck breaks in luster are missed on some coins graded 70. There are also some coins with finishes that apparently baffle even the experts.
One example are early to mid-century British Matte proofs wherein an ordinary brilliant proof coin with or without cameo to the devices is "sandblasted", or treated by small particle impact by the issuing mint. That would be mint alteration of coin surface after strike but prior to release. These coins understandably are graded variably by the major TPGs and are rare enough that only a couple may be handled every year or two.

Zoins

@derryb said:
70 has no surface imperfections, 69 has minimum (1 speck or ding) damage.

This isn't true.

The PCGS grading standard explicitly allows surface imperfections on 70 coins.

https://www.pcgs.com/grades#grade70

PCGS wrote:
The PCGS 70 grading standard does allow for "as minted" defects, as long as those flaws are minor and do not impact the eye appeal of the coin.

Here's one with a noticeable ding but is not in the focal area of the coin:

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@7Jaguars said:

One example are early to mid-century British Matte proofs wherein an ordinary brilliant proof coin with or without cameo to the devices is "sandblasted", or treated by small particle impact by the issuing mint. That would be mint alteration of coin surface after strike but prior to release. These coins understandably are graded variably by the major TPGs and are rare enough that only a couple may be handled every year or two.

I purchased a 1931S penny several years ago from a "reputable" dealer. Finally decided to get it graded......and it came back in a slab as "genuine questionable color"............ugh................ Coins I purchased from Steve Ivy Auctions years ago I am afraid to even send in as I know what I paid for and the grade they were assigned when I bought them will result in a lot of misery for me now............