PCGS Grading - hairlines

RedSticker

Can someone tell me how PCGS or other grading services addresses hairlines on uncirculated coins? Will this result in a body bag? Thanks

ambro51

Hairlines are the tell tale of improper cleaning usually and will result in no grade.

boucharda

Sometimes die polish lines can mimic hairlines on moderns..these should not affect grades. Perfect example are the ATB 5 ouncers....die polish lines are common...

MikeInFL

<< <i>Hairlines ... will result in no grade. >>



Not even close to true, in my experience.

Sometimes they do, sometime they don't. It depends.

commoncents05

<< <i>Hairlines are the tell tale of improper cleaning usually and will result in no grade. >>



Not true. On a modern coin, probably true. On a 19th Century Proof coin, not the case at all.

Generally they assess the severity of the hairlines and detract the grade from there. If too severe, they will bag it for cleaning. They are more lenient on proof coins, especially earlier proofs.

-Paul

MikeInFL

You are of course correct, but the OP (and presumably the respondent) were referring to "uncirculated coins" (i.e. not proofs) -- or at least that's the way I read it.

Perhaps the OP could post a picture or additional description of the coin(s) in question so we could give him a better answer.

darktone

<< <i>

<< <i>Hairlines ... will result in no grade. >>



Not even close to true, in my experience.

Sometimes they do, sometime they don't. It depends. >>



I agree. Hairlines on graded coins are common in uncirculated grades of MS60-62 and appear in higher graded coins as well. Just depends on how bad they are. If your coin looks like someone took a brillo pad to it of course it won't grade.

ambro51

Too broad a question to answer correctly, since hairlines are even listed on the PCGS grade standard up to MS66 (few marks/hairlines not in obvious places) so there is certainly a give/take with these. Die polish lines CAN look like hairlines but are broken by the lettering and devices and dont come into play grading.

I do think though the OP is thinking more along the lines of severe hairlining, which indicate a strong directional brushing/cleaning which WILL bag. If one side of the coin is more hairlined than the other...another indication of improper cleaning.

Moldnut

They address them with MS60-62. If they are really bad you will get the BB.

DoubleEagle59

From all of my submissions, very light hairlines means NO GRADE. (PCGS and NGC).

Watch out for old PCGS slabs, as they often allow hairlines and most likely net grade the coin (I may be wrong, just my personal observation).

COALPORTER

<< <i>Hairlines are the tell tale of improper cleaning usually and will result in no grade. >>



Wrong. tons of them get net graded to AU thru MS62. I have seen Proof coins with notable hairlines that still even get PR65.

Rampage

<< <i>Hairlines are the tell tale of improper cleaning usually and will result in no grade. >>


I agree with the previous posters that say the above statement is false information. Hairlines can also be slide marks from a coin setting in a Dansco and that plastic slide thing going back and forth.

I have seen hairlines on coins in AU through MS63 graded coins.

WTCG

<< <i>Hairlines are the tell tale of improper cleaning usually and will result in no grade. >>



That is incorrect. Hairlines of some kind can be found on virtually all classic proof coins. They will affect the grade but the hairlining must be extremely severe to cause a no-grade.

Circulated coins can bear hairlines and still be graded provided there aren't other obvious signs of harsh cleaning.