Greetings all, I appologize if this has already been covered - I have tried searching the forums here but have not found exactly what I am looking for and am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I am trying to improve my grading skills and will be practicing on my 2009 Lincolns DDRs, and would like to know what the difference between MS65-MS70 coins. All coins are straight from the mint and pulled from the rolls with cotton gloves on, so basically the differences in all of the coins would only be minting quality, spotting, marks from other coins or damage from rolling machines etc. The biggest issues I have noticed are the spotting on the coins. Is there a way to PROPERLY remove those spots without causing any damage to the coin? I also noticed on many of the coins they appear to have a sort of "halo" which runs even with the edge lettering on the front and back of the coins. Any idea what causes this and haw it affects the grade/value? I've included some more of my crappy amateur pics below (A good link to coin photographing wouldn't hurt either ). Not looking for a grade on them but just for reference so you can see some of the spotting I am talking about and in the last picture trying to show the "halo" I am talking about on the left side of the coin where the white reflection is. Thanks in advance for all of your help!
I don't know of any way to remove the spots without causing surface damage. The "halo" often comes from a coin counter/roll crimper machine and is post strike damage. If you search through your DDR groups, separate them into no spots or damage, spots only, both spots and damage. Then go through the first group and separate by the number of marks on the surface. By then you will probably have an idea of how difficult any thing about MS-65 will be. IMO. Jim
Thanks for that info Jim, The "Halo" I am referring to is definitely not damage from the rolling machines as the coins were all pulled from the middle of the rolls and are present on both sides of the coin. Although while trying to find a good pic I found an MS68 on Ebay that has what I am referring to so I think that answers that question that it does not affect grade. Here is a pic with arrows pointing to what I am talking about... Thanks! J
Evidently the grading company thinks it is part of the prep/strike process. I think I have some of those from LP1, I will try to check those and my opened mint roll LP2 also. Jim
