Help needed: Understanding hairlines and TPG grading standards

CommemDude

A few years ago it seemed to be the conventional wisdom that hairlined coins, even those with light or very few hairlines, would never grade higher than MS64. It seemed not to matter whether these coins were large, like silver dollars, or smaller coins like 3 cent silvers.

Now you can go to many dealers websites and see descriptions of Proof 66 coins (from both major graders) that include comments like: light hairlines well hidden by toning. Can the dealers or graders out there comment on whether this is a change in TPG philosophy on hairlines, or are these just some coins that were graded a bit too fast on a Friday afternoon?

MikeInFL

A good question that I would like to see discussed.

deansmint

Proof coins are graded entirely different than business strike coins. Mostly all proof coins have hairlines of some sort, its just in the nature of the beast. The surfaces of proof coins are much more apt to not only be disturbed but also noticed due to the smooth reflective fields. Also, since proof coins are struck for the sole purpose of being collected, you have the fact that they have been assimilated into collections for a much longer time than business strikes and so have been exposed to light wipings, or 'Cleanings', or cabinet friction to a different degree than business strike coins. Matched with the fragility of the proof fields and the way the coins were stored and handled in prior times, the grading standards have been based on the fact that all proof coins (Classics at least) have these inherent defects.

Bochiman

I would suggest the Q&A with HRH, but that has been getting stale (nothing new posted) in the last few weeks......probably too much traveling and work to bother updating it.