Soooooo, I was just sitting here wondering how anyone gets their hands on an MS70. I know there are some MS70 slabbed and certified coins from top graders, but how do they get into the commercial stream? I can't imagine the type of handling the mint would have to go through for a perfect coin. How does it get from the die to a customer or slabber, and how is it handled along the way?
That is why many believe the idea of a "perfect" coin is in fact impossible. The idea of not having a single nick or mark on a coin with everything we know about the manufacturing of coins is very, very rare. But then again, if that perfect high luster blank meets that perfect die and you have a perfect deep strike which is now called a coin... ...and if the newly struck coin is saved before joining the thousands of other coins in bins/bags before it is transported. Maybe, just maybe, you may have a coin that is free of nicks, blemishes, spots and/or any bag marks. Only if all of this happens will a coin be awarded by a reputible grading service or numismatic professional the perfect grade of MS70! Well, just maybe.
To the best of my knowledge - there have been no circulation type coins graded as MS70 by NGC, PCGS or ANACS. It may be possible that ICG has graded some as MS70 - but I've never seen one. Even those coins taken from Mint sets do not reach that grade. Now Proof coins - that's another story. There have been many coins graded as PF70 by all of the major companies with the possible exception of ANACS. I don't think I ever saw one of those. The coins that I have seen graded as MS70 were not struck for circulation - they were either commemorative coins or bullion coins such as Silver or Gold Eagles. But it should be noted that these coins are not produced in the same manner as coins struck for circulation. They are handled very carefully for the most part and this is what permits a few to achieve this grade. But even among these - the grade is not handed out too often.
Okay, I understand that there are no MS70 coins out there. But I know that there are MS69s and lots of 68s and some PR70s. What I would like to know is how they get into commerce. Do the graders actually go to the mint and wait for them, are they allowed to watch the process, pick the coins they want? How do they get where they go?
Most will purchase directly from the us mint then of course when they recieve them and have them slabed the grading service looks at the coin and decides for themselves what the grade will be. Some people will buy a couple of the same coin so they have a chance of getting that really good coin that will make it to a ms68 or ms69 or a pr70... Hope that answers your question... Mach.
How do you get MS-69 or PR-70? Buy many proof and mint sets, and submit the majority. Out of a few thousand coins, you will get a nice MS-69. Now consider how many miss the mark and end up valued lower than the price of the slab. The bullion coins are your best bet for ultra grades. I have gotten a few of the mint sets to provide a coin with an ultra grade, but really not worth the effort.
SGS sells them all day long..... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3932456233&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT People, please pester this guy..... He makes me sick to my stomach!
