Home U.S. Coin Forum

What ever happened to MS60?

ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
Has MS63 become the MS60 of yesteryear?

I grew up believing MS63 was "Choice UNC" or at the very least an average uncirculated coin. Today, it seems if a coin grades MS63, there must be something wrong with it such as dull luster, ugly toning, piss-poor strike, etc.

And God forbid a coin grades MS61 or MS62! Better to have a coin grade AU58.

image



Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!

Comments

  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭


    i'm with you. image
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭
    Well, MS-60 is almost never used any more, perhaps because of the stigma of "dog" attached to the grade. Also, 61 and 62 are the new 58.
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Also, 61 and 62 are the new 58. >>

    Very true. This is what market grading has brought us for better or worse.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • BarbercoinBarbercoin Posts: 1,035 ✭✭✭
    Good point.

    You may be on to something.

    WTB: Barber Quarters XF

  • veryfineveryfine Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭
    I have seen some beautiful MS63 and some hideous MS63 coins.
  • I too would agree...AU-58 is the new MS63.

    Here is a raw, imo AU-58, that would likely sell for MS63 money.

    image

    image
    imageimage
    Collector of Early 20th Century U.S. Coinage.
    ANA Member R-3147111
  • FrankcoinsFrankcoins Posts: 4,571 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Has MS63 become the MS60 of yesteryear?

    I grew up believing MS63 was "Choice UNC" or at the very least an average uncirculated coin. Today, it seems if a coin grades MS63, there must be something wrong with it such as dull luster, ugly toning, piss-poor strike, etc.

    And God forbid a coin grades MS61 or MS62! Better to have a coin grade AU58.

    image >>



    The official ANA standards have NO WORD SUPERLATIVES for Mint State coins. MS60 is UNCIRCULATED MS63 is UNCIRCULATED MS70 is UNCIRCULATED.

    That is why eBay's rules of no numerical grades are UNWORKABLE for Mint State coins since THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE to using MS numbers that will conform to the Offical ANA standards.



    image
    Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
  • This content has been removed.
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    60 does come up occasionally, but not often at all. I mainly see ANACS giving that grade. 60DMPL is practically unheard of anymore.

    The advent of giving 61 and 62 grades, which wasn't really all that long ago, spread 60 out a bit. Sure there has been some gradeflation, but when you see anything close to a real 60, it isn't likely to be in any of the major TPG 63 holders.

    Here's how I see it often, but not always, applied.

    58 -- would like to give it a 63 or 64 but with that one wear spot there is no way anyone will accept it except a registry freak

    60 -- technically uncirculated (otherwise it would 50), perhaps a BB issue; this sucker is as baggy as possible and you'd have to have budget problem to even consider this

    61 -- man, this is one ugly, bagmarked POS.....but it could definitely be a little worse and still be gradeable as UNC.

    62 -- the old 60s that have decent luster plus the AU sliders we want to slide up

    63 -- I've got a long scratch in a prime area, maybe even was mishandled...but why waste an otherwise decent coin?

    64 -- yesterdays PQ choice UNC; might be an old 63 or an old 64

    65 -- never mind the scratch or two in the prime focal areas, they are short enough to pass

    66 -- yesterday's 65 but we want to get those pops up and the good submissions up; lustrous gem

    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • This content has been removed.
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,489 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Has MS63 become the MS60 of yesteryear?

    I grew up believing MS63 was "Choice UNC" or at the very least an average uncirculated coin. Today, it seems if a coin grades MS63, there must be something wrong with it such as dull luster, ugly toning, piss-poor strike, etc.

    And God forbid a coin grades MS61 or MS62! Better to have a coin grade AU58.

    image >>



    The official ANA standards have NO WORD SUPERLATIVES for Mint State coins. MS60 is UNCIRCULATED MS63 is UNCIRCULATED MS70 is UNCIRCULATED.

    That is why eBay's rules of no numerical grades are UNWORKABLE for Mint State coins since THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE to using MS numbers that will conform to the Offical ANA standards.



    image >>



    While that may be true, they do go on to say that commercially, MS70 coins are often called Perfect Uncirculated, MS65 coins Gem Uncirculated, and MS63 coins Choice Uncirculated. In the past, these and other adjectives have been used to designate various grades of condition. So for the record,

    MS70 coins = Perfect Uncirculated
    MS69 coins = Near or About Perfect Unc (my guess)
    MS68 coins = (See MS69)
    MS67 coins = Superb Uncirculated
    MS66 coins = Choice Superb Uncirculated
    MS65 coins = Gem Uncirculated
    MS64 coins = Choice Gem
    MS63 coins = Choice Uncirculated
    MS60 coins = Uncirculated

    Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong.

    On another note, as I have shown in other threads, coins can be graded accordingly to the number of qualities they may possess.
    IMO, there are 6 different qualities; the strike, the grade/condition, the luster, toning, EDS strike and prooflike surface or fields.
    But you must be able to weigh each of those qualities against the knowledge you have gained from observing many coins within a series.
    Each quality must obtain a level of intensity before it can be counted towards it's Quality Point Grade; QPG1 through QPG6. A (+) sign can be added to the Quality Point Grade when any of the qualities fall short qualifying as a full quality to your knowledge but yet they do add to the eye appeal.
    This grade system is not complicated as true collectors are always searching for that coin with the most qualities. Many collectors who can't grade and rely on a TGS to build their collections are ending up with coins that have only 1 or 2 qualities. Hopefully, those collectors will eventually understand how the coin with the greater number of qualities equals higher value and rarity.


    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • BoomBoom Posts: 10,165
    I actually made my first MS 60 just this past year. I suppose it had just one too many bag marks on the Obverse. The Reverse was immaculate. A Morgan.... no doubt!

    I also have a beautiful 62 that still confounds me. It has total unbroken luster, no wear, no scrapes or scuffs what-so-ever.

    It's a beautiful coin and no matter how many times I inspect it I just can't find a reason for the grade.

    I think I'll have it regraded.

    I still think AU58s are some of the most attractive coins around and probably the smartest buy when it comes to keys.
  • 09sVDB09sVDB Posts: 2,420 ✭✭✭
    I own one MS60 coin. It's part of my Morgan Dollar grading set and it's a MESS!. I love AU58 COINS. It's such a fine line at this level. I agree that the old MS60/61/62 coins are today's AU58.
  • MS60 is now being reserved for use by B&M dealers when evaluating coins brought in for sale by collectors.
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Here's how I see it often, but not always, applied.

    65 -- never mind the scratch or two in the prime focal areas, they are short enough to pass >>

    To me, this should be a 64 although these coins are often graded 65 or higher.







    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>In the past, these and other adjectives have been used to designate various grades of condition. So for the record,

    MS70 coins = Perfect Uncirculated
    MS69 coins = Near or About Perfect Unc (my guess)
    MS68 coins = (See MS69)
    MS67 coins = Superb Uncirculated
    MS66 coins = Choice Superb Uncirculated
    MS65 coins = Gem Uncirculated
    MS64 coins = Choice Gem
    MS63 coins = Choice Uncirculated
    MS60 coins = Uncirculated

    Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong. >>


    Actually, here is how I always understood these grades:

    MS70 coins = Perfect Uncirculated
    MS67 - MS69 coins = Superb Gem Uncirculated
    MS65 - MS66 coins = Gem Uncirculated
    MS63 - MS64 coins = Choice Uncirculated
    MS60 - MS62 coins = Uncirculated

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I still think AU58s are some of the most attractive coins around and probably the smartest buy when it comes to keys. >>

    I have to agree. There's still some allure in owning a coin that is uncirculated in the absolute sense, but coins that are technically AU58 often look better than those grading MS60-63.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139


    << <i>

    << <i>Here's how I see it often, but not always, applied.

    65 -- never mind the scratch or two in the prime focal areas, they are short enough to pass >>

    To me, this should be a 64 although these coins are often graded 65 or higher. >>



    Didn't say that is how I grade them but how I observe the TPGs apparently most often grading them.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • OverdateOverdate Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This one has fairly clean surfaces and few bagmarks. I think it was the splotchy end-roll toning that did it in.


    image


    My Adolph A. Weinman signature :)

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It is called gradeflation image And it is unusual.. Having worked in the quality field for some time, usually, inspection (read that 'grading', for that is what it really is..) becomes more critical... the phenomena is known as 'creeping elegance'. As the inspectors become more experienced, they detect more and more cosmetic anomalies of an increasingly minor nature, ..and reject them. The coin grading business appears to be going in the opposite direction... allowing more and more 'defects'. The possible reasons are many... Cheers, RickO
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Gradeflation is absolutely natural and was practically unavoidable. If you have a coin worth $3,000 in MS64 and $12,000 in MS65, for $30 in grading fees to try, an MS64 is going to be resubmitted dozens of times to try to get that upgrade. Even with nothing else in play, some will slip through in the subjective course of grading.

    Now, look at the other side. If I was running a business, I would want to encourage my best repeat customers to continue buying my services. In this particular business, one might throw them a bone now and them by upgrading a liner. That creates more of a feeding frenzy on the crackout corpse. The surge in submission current then, with a mix of labor saturation and potential corporate greed, will invariably lead to gradeflation and it indeed has.

    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Here's how I see it often, but not always, applied.

    65 -- never mind the scratch or two in the prime focal areas, they are short enough to pass >>

    To me, this should be a 64 although these coins are often graded 65 or higher. >>



    Didn't say that is how I grade them but how I observe the TPGs apparently most often grading them. >>

    Coxe - That was indeed how I read your reply. I was just stating my agreement. image
    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • bestdaybestday Posts: 4,242 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Has MS63 become the MS60 of yesteryear?

    I grew up believing MS63 was "Choice UNC" or at the very least an average uncirculated coin. Today, it seems if a coin grades MS63, there must be something wrong with it such as dull luster, ugly toning, piss-poor strike, etc.

    And God forbid a coin grades MS61 or MS62! Better to have a coin grade AU58.

    image >>



    Don't recall seeing one MS-60. this year....................good eyeimage

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file