What is Unc?

Philip

...in relation to the MS scale?

I was just surfing Ebay and there are several sellers that claim that the Unc. Krause values correspond to MS-60, whereas I always thought that they correspond to MS-63.

What is the generally acknowledged relationship?

rhound1977

I take UNC to mean a rather broad term that could cover the range of MS. Just like there are different levels of AU or XF.

hookedoncoins

I consider UNC MS60-MS64. Typically, if a coin is better than this, I consider it Choice UNC.

AuldFartte

Some coin dealers (smaller shops, I've found) typically use Unc. as generic for any uncirculated coin rather than use the MS- numbers for raw coins. Local dealer here uses UNC, BU, Choice BU on all of his raw stuff.

tbirde56

Just my honest opinion (rant):
You're asking about the MS scale, not the term of 'Uncirculated'. The MS scale simply divides the term Uncirculated into an ambiguous scale of terms based on details and opinions of the coin's eye appeal, not the term 'uncirculated'. The MS terms grouped under Unc refer to brilliance, bag mark, luster, etc and any other factors that are only based on eye appeal.
Uncirculated is the easiest grade to interpret. It is constant. It simply is 'not circulated'. The other grades *are* 'circulated', to various degrees. A coin not circulated is an uncirculated coin (or Proof). How can it be otherwise?!? Of course Unc should be combined with additional adjectives when needed.

cladking

It depends on the country.

Some have very strict standards about what can be considered unc and a coin has
to be choice or very choice or it's considered XF. Other countries use pretty similar
scales to ours.

On the plus side though, most of these collectors don't mind an XF coin and will add
one to their collection.

laurentyvan

I take UNC to mean a rather broad term that could cover the range of MS.

Ditto!

theboz11

I get a bit strickter with UNC. It means Uncirculated ,and does cover the entire range of MS-60 thru MS-70,,, some will say that coins out of bank rolls are uncirculated,, but they have been in fact PUT IN Circulation by going to the bank and wrapped.

My Definition of UNC is a coin that has been broken out of a MINT set.

shirohniichan

I've written this before, but one term I really don't like is "commerical UNC." It is supposed to denote an AU coin that most people would sell as UNC, but I've seen some that were EF at best.

When I started collecting UNC and BU referred to coins in today's AU-58 to MS-62, Choice BU meant MS-63 to 64, and Gem BU meant MS-65 and above. I still tend to use those terms with that meaning.

syraq

When I started collecting UNC and BU referred to coins in today's AU-58 to MS-62, Choice BU meant MS-63 to 64, and Gem BU meant MS-65 and above.




Aaaah, the memories of submitting so-called unc coins, only to see them slabbed in AU58 holders.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>Aaaah, the memories of submitting so-called unc coins, only to see them slabbed in AU58 holders. >>



.....been there......

I was so proud of my first 1913 Indian Head nickel back in 1981. I paid about $200 for that UNC. beauty....WOWOW! It was sure pretty to my eye. I showed my proud possession to Ed Hipps and he cringed. It was maybe AU55 on a good day, but it looked good to me (in unison: "young MacCrimmon was quite ignorant and uninformed"!)

Well, olde Ed showed me what real "unc" buffalos looked like and, "yessirreeee, Bob" I wuz shafted.

Lesson learned.

As to UNC? I've always considered it to be a toned silver coin or red-brown or brown copper which is strictly uncirculated, but not brilliant. The grade range could be MS60-63. The same applies for BU, 60-63.

If one is advertised or offered as Choice UNC., I expect a 63+ to 64 coin......Gem UNC. (that's me ), it better be a legit 65 or better coin. I personally don't refer to a coin as Superb UNC. unless it is a no-questions 66+ coin.....and, so on.

lordmarcovan

I consider Krause "UNC" to be coins from MS60 to MS63.

Philip

Thanks for the input everyone

My reasoning is that MS-60 is the ugliest possible uncirculated, whereas the Krause value is for "ordinary" uncirculated coins.

Now if AU-58 is also uncirculated

Askari

Relative to the MS scale, I consider "Unc." to be MS60-62; "Choice" is MS63-64, "Gem" is MS65-66, "Superb" is MS67-70 ... although I don't really believe in "MS70". That's a supposedly "perfect" coin, which is an ideal. Besides, PCGS & NGC can't seem to tell them apart with any consistency, so why should I?

Sylvestius

I'll add my two penn'orth to this.

AUNC=AU58-MS61
UNC = MS62-64
Gem UNC - MS65+

Give or take, US coin grading standards as looser than their UK counterparts.

BU grade is simply any of the UNC/Gem UNC coins with full mint bloom.