Are these fingerprints on the coin? If not, what could these lines be? This coins was graded MS 64. guy
Here's another view: If they are fingerprints, how can a coin be graded so highly? Fingerprints don't matter? guy
It depends on what the prints do to the appearance, luster, and if they've caused any damage. It's judge much in the same way as tarnish on silver coins. I have a Peace dollar with a fingerprint on the obverse, and in a key focal area, but that didn't prevent NGC from giving it a 64 on the label.
Think about what you are asking Guy. First of all what can keep a coin from being graded as MS ? There's only 2 things, one is wear and the other is if the coin is a problem coin. So if neither of those is true, then the coin is at least MS something. From there you take all of the other grading criteria into account and come up with a grade. Grading is composed of pluses and minuses. You give the coin points for good attributes and take away points for bad attributes. Rather obviously the fingerprints are a bad attribute, but if the coins other good points are good enough then the coin could be well worthy of a 64 grade. Perhaps if the prints were not there then the coin might have graded 65. I'm not saying it would have necessarily, I'm not even agreeing that it is a 64, I'm just explaining how it works.
It could also be possible that the finger print really didn't show itself prominently until after the coin was slabed. It's sometimes amazing what can appear over the course of time.
Green that's a good point. I often wonder with recently slabbed MS coins (that I haven't sent it myself) what is going to appear over time. Who knows if someone cracked open a roll of coins and just sent them in for grading without holding them properly. Especially if whoever was going to sell them anyway...
Thanks, everyone, for the information. :cheers: I'm always impressed by the amount of knowledge without attitude shared on this forum. guy
