Perfect coins?????

Whitby · April 13, 2006 9:58PM

OK, its that time. I have as some of you know been away from collecting for a number of years and after my brother came back from Iraq and finishing upi some details of my dads funeral, I was again bitten by the coin collecting bug.

Man, the hobby felt great to get back into. That is until a few nights of reading and well, I need some expertise here in a big way.

So, I see that an MS-70 is the perfect coin. BUT, I do not yet see that a Proof coin fits this description. WHY? Proofs require more effort, (yes, its the method named Proof), then yuou have better balnks, clearer strikes etc etc etc. BUT, they are not rated a Perfect coin? Could someone politely infornm this geezer who has been dropped from the great coin collectors time machine what is going on here?

Steve27 · April 13, 2006 10:13PM

I'm not sure what you're referring to, since a quick check of ebay showed 71 Proof 70 PCGS graded coins are currently available.

Whitby · April 13, 2006 10:19PM

I was reading the Whitman Red Book and I do not know that they gave PF-70 or MS-70 a order of preference. It just seems a bit confusing to have "multiple" ideas of a perfect coin when, (here I go making a weird assumption) hyaving a standard for grading kind of assumes a static idea of a perfect coin. Not 2 or more.

Hey, its just me......

In fact, I just rechecked a 2005 red book I have handy and, there is no mention of PF-70 grade. OPF65 and well, there you go. Let me guess, as I was told so long ago, the good thing about standards is that there are so many of them.....

100proof1957 · April 13, 2006 10:29PM

grade scale is the same

biggest distinction would be Proofs are made for collectors and MS is reserved for business strikes

JrGMan2004 · April 13, 2006 10:30PM

The "70" grade is not defined as "perfect"... I believe PCGS always says that their definition of 70 is "flawless under a 5x" though even that definition seems to vary from 70 to 70 in PCGS holders... not all 70s are created equal... also, generally you won't see raw "70s" or if you do, they don't garner the price that a PCGS or NGC graded 70 will...

Whitby · April 14, 2006 12:02AM

<< <i>The "70" grade is not defined as "perfect"... I believe PCGS always says that their definition of 70 is "flawless under a 5x" though even that definition seems to vary from 70 to 70 in PCGS holders... not all 70s are created equal... also, generally you won't see raw "70s" or if you do, they don't garner the price that a PCGS or NGC graded 70 will... >>

Please know that I do appreciate the reply. However, it really sums up why I find rating entities to be repugnant (oops), IMO, and I want to stress, IMO, if there is a concept with a specific nomen or value, it sure would be swell if that value was constant. BUT, thats just me and I am thankful for the replies.

I believe, I will stick to proofs and just be happy. I think I can tough it out one day........

MrSpud · April 14, 2006 2:27AM

Modern proofs are prepared with specially prepared planchets that have a mirror finish and with dies that were specially prepared to impart a frosted finish on the devices (devices are the words and the dead presidents head or other designs). Regular coins are made with regular planchets that make the coins look lustrous (not mirrored like proofs) and regular dies that give the coins devices a non-frosted appearance. Any imperfections on proofs (such as scratches, planchet flaws, milk spots, contact marks where something hit the coin) lower the grade just like they do on regular coins. Proofs tend to be higher grade than regular coins because proofs are handled carefully and placed into protective holders. Regular coins are loaded into giant supersacks that are moved around on pallets before being sent out to be put through rolling machines. All this extra handling usually causes regular coins to end up with more contact marks and scratches.

Myqqy · April 14, 2006 3:06AM

The "70" grade is not defined as "perfect"... I believe PCGS always says that their definition of 70 is "flawless under a 5x"

Except in their book, where they refer to proof 70 as "perfect proof"......

A perfect coin does not really exist- the tpg's just like to create an expensive market for pr70s by ocassionally awarding some modern proofs with that grade. Some tpg's have given away that award a little too easily, while others have been stingy.....

Whitby · April 14, 2006 3:12AM

<< <i> The "70" grade is not defined as "perfect"... I believe PCGS always says that their definition of 70 is "flawless under a 5x"

Except in their book, where they refer to proof 70 as "perfect proof"......

A perfect coin does not really exist- the tpg's just like to create an expensive market for pr70s by ocassionally awarding some modern proofs with that grade. Some tpg's have given away that award a little too easily, while others have been stingy..... >>

If I recall, there were a few other trade rags (OOPS) Periodicals that use the term perfect proof as well. I guess one could construe this as a sort of well SCAM. I mean, lets face it, if you had a perfect coin, we assume its flawless, etc etc.BUT, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT every grading agency out there might have a good or bad day. What does this mean?

The guy got some last night or he finally got a 70 from a buddy in another company? Its just distasteful. IMO. If you have a "perfect" standard, it should be universal, not at discretion or mood.

Perfect coins?????

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