When do bag marks become scratches?
ajaan
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Isn't a bag mark actually a scratch in a coin? When do you differentiate between a bag mark(s) and a scratch(es)?
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When the dealer is selling the coin to you, they are bag marks.
When the dealer is buying the coin from you, they are scratches,
"When do you differentiate between a bag mark(s) and a scratch(es)?"
Never. They're both value diminishing impairments. Some more than others. It's called subjectivity.
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Others no doubt view this differently, but I view bag marks as shorter, thicker and more defined while I view scratches as thinner, less predictable in direction and more likely to cause deep injury. However, I would suggest each person value the surfaces of every coin on the basis of what the coin is telling you and not on the basis of what someone classifies a characteristic.
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The real question is how severe does a scratch or bag mark need to be to make the coin a no grade? Since bag marks are a function of the mint storage process, they seem to be more acceptable although telling the difference between a bag mark and scratch is as much art as it is science.
Intentional scratches are bigger problem, even if they are not that deep or large. Any mark that shows a pattern or looks like a a letter or a number is a big problem and might very well lead to a no grade. I've seen exceptions to this, mostly on large coins like Bust Dollars, and I have a hard time treating some of them as net grades.
As you can see there are no hard and fast rules here, but it really depends upon how big a distraction a mark is. That is a function of location and severity. A mark on the reverse is usually less important that one of the obverse. A mark in a focal point of the design, like the cheek of Ms. Liberty is a bigger problem than one that is to the side.
I know I have not come up with any definitive answers, but at least I've laid out some parameters.
A jagged bag mark with reeding visible is obviously just a bag mark from another coin.
A clean but small mark or diamond-edged cut similar to the above but without reeding is probably a bag mark as well.
Anything else requires more scrutiny. Anything longer than the above is likely some other inflicted damage.
The OP's pictured coin above doesn't appear to have any bag marks on it. But it has plenty of luster grazes that could be from coin to coin contact. Everything else (scuffs, hairlines, long irregular grazes/scratches) are probably from post bag mishandling. The one long interrupted graze from Liberty's eye to in front of her neck appears to be from something sharp dragged across the obverse. Can't rule out coin to coin contact but the appearance is somewhat distracting so it really doesn't matter. Overall a 61/62 coin.
I typed out a response, but Type2 beat me to it.
In the OP, the marks on the face are not bagmarks.
Distinct bag marks are like dent in surface with reeding visible or just scuffs. A stable scratch is a deep dig in the surface much more serious.
Think about coins jumbling around in a bag. You would expect, many small hits in multiple directions. These are coins knocking around against other coins. A scratch is something imposed on a coin usually by some other thing other than another coin (i.e. Staple, pen knife or another metal object). Rather than defining them by depth or length, try and think about it by how they occurred. I know it is not an exact science, but I think you get the idea.
Sometimes, there is no distinction, as I have seen straight graded coins with what I am sure is post mint damage. It's all subjective, when it's not a totally obvious mark.
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