Interesting "Ask Frank" question on the Stack's site...
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
Here is the question and the response. The topic and response are very informative and interesting. Also, not to be a Numiskeptic™, but are these letters actually written by real people? Does anyone know? I don't see anything wrong with it if they are not, but I was just curious.
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Dear Frank:
How can one tell the difference between a poor stirke and wear from circulation? For example, I often see coins that are offered as Mint State yet appear to have wear on the higher points. I am then not clear if the coin is overgraded or just a "poor strike.” Are there any pointers that you can suggest to differentiate these two possibilities?
Thanks,
C.P., Milwaukee, WI
Dear C.P.:
Hi, and thanks for the great question. It all seems so easy to me, but I've been collecting coins since 1961 and have been to hundreds of shows and seen countless coins as a result, plus I've been working in professional numismatics for 20 years and have seen a never-ending stream of coins on a daily basis. A Mint State coin can be weakly struck; the 1940-S Walking Liberty half dollar is a prime example, as it almost always comes weak at the centers. Once you learn what lustre looks like on an Uncirculated coin, it becomes easy to see the difference. When a coin has been circulated, you see breaks in the lustre which tend to appear slightly gray or off-color when compared to the rest of the coin. Unfortunately, there is no real way to teach the "lustre factor," as it comes with experience. If you are new at coins then try to attend as many coin shows as possible, or if you are lucky enough to have a local coin club, by all means join. Look at coins in MS-63 or so in third-party grading service holders, then look at coins in AU-55 to 58 in the same company’s holders, and you'll begin to see the tell-tale signs of wear. On a weakly struck coin, the flat points will still show the nice unbroken lustre of a new coin; once you see the graying, however, you're looking at wear and not strike. I hope some of this information is useful.
Happy collecting!
Best regards,
Frank
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Dear Frank:
How can one tell the difference between a poor stirke and wear from circulation? For example, I often see coins that are offered as Mint State yet appear to have wear on the higher points. I am then not clear if the coin is overgraded or just a "poor strike.” Are there any pointers that you can suggest to differentiate these two possibilities?
Thanks,
C.P., Milwaukee, WI
Dear C.P.:
Hi, and thanks for the great question. It all seems so easy to me, but I've been collecting coins since 1961 and have been to hundreds of shows and seen countless coins as a result, plus I've been working in professional numismatics for 20 years and have seen a never-ending stream of coins on a daily basis. A Mint State coin can be weakly struck; the 1940-S Walking Liberty half dollar is a prime example, as it almost always comes weak at the centers. Once you learn what lustre looks like on an Uncirculated coin, it becomes easy to see the difference. When a coin has been circulated, you see breaks in the lustre which tend to appear slightly gray or off-color when compared to the rest of the coin. Unfortunately, there is no real way to teach the "lustre factor," as it comes with experience. If you are new at coins then try to attend as many coin shows as possible, or if you are lucky enough to have a local coin club, by all means join. Look at coins in MS-63 or so in third-party grading service holders, then look at coins in AU-55 to 58 in the same company’s holders, and you'll begin to see the tell-tale signs of wear. On a weakly struck coin, the flat points will still show the nice unbroken lustre of a new coin; once you see the graying, however, you're looking at wear and not strike. I hope some of this information is useful.
Happy collecting!
Best regards,
Frank
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
<< <i>Look at coins in MS-63 or so in third-party grading service holders, then look at coins in AU-55 to 58 in the same company’s holders, and you'll begin to see the tell-tale signs of wear. >>
With gradeflation and "market grading," this is no longer a completely valid instructional tool. A lot of today's market-graded 63s do have the "tell tale signs of wear" on the high spots.
But other than that nit, he's right, of course -- looking for luster breaks on the high spots is a good way to distinguish between a *truly* MS coin and a slider.
Seems like he's telling us to rely on the "plastic" grade for concrete evidence as if ALL MS 63 coins are truely uncirculated, and ALL 55-58 coins are "slightly circulated".
A good starting point, but sometimes an Uh-Oh!
wes
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
THIS is why au58's are not the bargin they used to be. All the true au58's are in ms63 plastic.
<< <i>THIS is why au58's are not the bargin they used to be. All the true au58's are in ms63 plastic. >>
Not ALL, but most. I certainly have quite a few "true 58s" in my type set in 58 plastic.
And it's also why the true 58s still in 58 plastic sell for 63 money anyway.
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
The new Ford paper money catalog just landed in my mailbox. But no sign of the 'Brooklyn Collection' catalog yet - either in hand, or on the website.
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
The new Ford paper money catalog just landed in my mailbox. But no sign of the 'Brooklyn Collection' catalog yet - either in hand, or on the website. >>
Great. That means I will get it today or tomorrow.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU!
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU! >>
after looking, I guess I don't know where it is...not in the obvious places (like "Auctions"). Hmmm
<< <i>I see so many AU58+'s grade MS62 over at NGC >>
I see plenty of them in PCGS holders, too.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU! >>
after looking, I guess I don't know where it is...not in the obvious places (like "Auctions"). Hmmm >>
The secret number is 597.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU! >>
after looking, I guess I don't know where it is...not in the obvious places (like "Auctions"). Hmmm >>
The secret number is 597. >>
Using the secret number, I just get a pic of the auction cover, and not the detailed lots.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU! >>
after looking, I guess I don't know where it is...not in the obvious places (like "Auctions"). Hmmm >>
The secret number is 597. >>
Using the secret number, I just get a pic of the auction cover, and not the detailed lots.
Must I do all the work? Go to a different auction listing the lots, and type in the number there.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>did Frank have anything to say about posting the next auction on the web site? >>
It's up if you know where to look for it. >>
THANK YOU! >>
after looking, I guess I don't know where it is...not in the obvious places (like "Auctions"). Hmmm >>
The secret number is 597. >>
Using the secret number, I just get a pic of the auction cover, and not the detailed lots.
Must I do all the work? Go to a different auction listing the lots, and type in the number there. >>
Works! Now let me get all of my bids in before anyone else.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)