I have a simple question that I need some help with. What exactly is the difference between Mint State Vs. Brilliantly Uncirculated? Is BU often used in a general sense? Are they just lower MS graded coins? I'm doing a thread in the near future and would appreciate the help, again. Thank You.... (Now if I could only put my arms down!)
I Just assumed BU meant whatever those coin TV shows think they are which in my opinion isn't MS. Make sense? Or not?
To me, the mint state system will always have a number attached ranging from MS60-70. The BU system is a way of using nomenclature to signify a specific grade or grade range. BU = MS60-63 CH BU = MS64 GEM BU = MS65 Premium GEM BU = MS66-67 Ultra GEM BU = MS68-70 If you ever see a raw coin listed on my eBay store, you will see one of these BU grades which should tell you what number grade I would assign since eBay won't allow number grades to be used for uncertified coins. In effect, it is code.
“Brilliant Uncirculated” is an older, more general term. I believe “Mint State” came about because it more accurately describes the situation for a coin with no wear. You see, “Uncirculated” is a bit of a misnomer, because a coin with no wear on it actually might have circulated for a brief time. It just happened to survive all that without picking up any wear. “Uncirculated” implies that such a coin never entered commerce (circulated) at all, which is not always technically true. In other words, an “Uncirculated” coin, despite its lack of wear, might indeed have actually circulated briefly, but just didn’t get worn at all. This is why the modern usage of “Mint State” is more precise. A coin is described as being in the same state it was in when it left the Mint, regardless of whether or not it spent any time in circulation. Also, the addition of Sheldon Scale numbers to the MS- prefix (MS63, MS65, etc.) is more precise than the older, adjectival grading descriptions like “Choice BU” and “Gem BU”. The older “Uncirculated” designations just never completely fell out of use, and for the most part, they’re fine to use interchangeably with the more precise “Mint State” terminology. They’re just more general. Irrelevant side note: my phone fought me all the way when I typed this message, and kept suggesting the word “uncircumcised” when I was trying to type “uncirculated”. LOL
The terms are still necessary for any raw coin auctions, where the seller has an opinion about the quality of the coin, but does not have a TPG’s blessing on an exact Sheldon grade number.
Yes. The older “UNC/BU” terms certainly have not been completely superseded by the newer “MS” terminology- and neither should they be. They still have their applications.
Like they said. BU is what we old guys grew up using. The old coin shop fellow that used to let me hang in his shop after school trained me that BU was like being pregnant. Either you are or you aren't..... Now we know that these days with the technical grading our hobby is ruled by, that is no longer the case. Yes they are interchangeable and yes you will probably hear BU used more by the old timers that collected before we had TPG's.
BU can and is used by, shall I say Crafty, people. A point system is not used with BU and AU coins can, will be and have been listed and sold as BU. They may contain sliders or AU coins. Be aware and careful when you see coins graded this way.
"BU" is an old fashioned generic term that could used for any untoned coin that was Mint State. It could apply to anything from MS-60 to MS-64. For grades higher than that, the term “Gem Uncirculated” could be used. Less than scrupulous dealers applied to anything from scrubbed or whizzed bright (usually) silver to something that really was Mint State. Cynical people said “BU” stood for “Been Used.” Mint State applies to the 11 grading points on the adopted Sheldon scale which are now commonly used. The scale is used for untoned, bright coins to toned pieces.
At least for me BU would imply a white or otherwise lustrous coin (if silver) or full red coin (if copper). However, the term’s usage has actually been more broad than that as @johnmilton observed in his comment.
Here is a jar of Lincolns that I have been filling for somewhere around 5-6 years. Nothing but MS AU58+ RD from ANA standards The majority is Shield cents. There are a few Memorials and Wheats in there. I wonder how long they stay mostly RD.
