AU58 vs Uncirculated

seateddime

If a coins has never been circulated but has some storage friction is it really an UNC? If it has a mark the grade would be lowered to say a 62 or 63 but if it moved around in a cabinet it is an AU 58 even if it has MS65 surfaces.

How will these gems be grading in the new world?

OKbustchaser

Exactly the same way they are now...if the coin would sell for MS money it is going to get the MS grade...regardless of the reason for any wear that it might have.

ambro51

It will be now, as always, an MS60. It can show poor luster, poor eye appeal but NOT circulation wear which begins to flatten the highest points on the coins features.

An AU58 can be a stunning coin, with blooming luster, but which DOES show traces of wear on the highest points of the coin. Thats why smart collectors pay big money for PQ AU58 coins...but pass on most MS60 and MS61 specimens.

JRocco

Hey Jason,
Take a coin that looks to be MS but has some wear/rub/flat spot on the highest points and you are not sure.
This may be a generality, but it can really help the vast majority of the time.
Look at the area with a good glass. If the area shows some fine lines in predominantly one or two
directions, you might be looking at friction marks or cabinet marks and the coin might be MS.
If the area looks like a small birds nest of lines going every which way, you are probably looking at some genuine wear.
If the area appears to have no lines/marks and the luster looks the same as the surrounding areas but just flat and design-less, you are probably looking at a weak strike not wear, and again the coin might be MS.

I disagree with Ambro in that such a coin would never, nor should ever grade MS 60.
MS 60 is usually an obvious MS coin that has horrific bag marks while a MS coin with just a touch of cabinet friction would usually go
MS 63 or AU 58 as long as there are no horrific hits on the coin.