Why the scarcity of MS70?

topstuf

I was looking at an outdated pop report last night and noticing a lot of Kennedy half proofs with pop 1.

How come? WHAT is needed for 70? Perfection? Exactly as it left the die? How hard could that be?

Do the proof handlers at the mint JUGGLE them? It seems that (although I never pay much ATTENTION to proof sets) that the coins are just about as close to perfect as possible.

They just HAVE to be exactly as left the die. Many of them.

WHAT could keep them from being 70 that would be common at the mint to do to them?

It seems that a mint employee could make a hundred 70's in ten minutes with just a BIT of extra care and attention.

relayer

Fully struck, as struck and no imperfections under 5x magnification.

jhar

A coin's grade is made of many factors. There is more to it than just contact marks, rub & wear. Strike, luster and Eye appeal are also part of the equation. A Coin can be fresh from being struck by the coining press and not qualify for MS70. The planchet can have flaws that will tranlate over after striking that can cause a coin to fall short of MS70. The strike could be off. A problem with the die itself could cause problems to keep the coin from MS70. All of the factors of strike, luster, wear, marks, and eye appeal have to all be there in order for a coin to be MS70.