What exactly is "Gem BU"...

I hate to say it but I’m an old timer now and had to jump in on this thread.

I have Red Books that I bought ‘new’ going back to 1967. I remember when an uncirculated coin was just an uncirculated coin. I also remember buying what were described as ‘very nice’ uncirculated 1938-D Buffalo nickels around 1967 or 68. I still have them. Looking at them today my guess is if I sent them into PCGS I’d get a MS 67 or 68 on them.

Then I remember when the ‘Mint State’ was introduced and there was MS60, MS65 and MS70 or Proof.

Then there was then entire controversy about the ‘in betweens’ the MS 63 and MS 67 grades.

A dealer would say, “Well it is better than a MS60 but not quite a MS65, I'd call is a MS63.”

Then came the complete range of MS60 - MS70.

But then they added enhancements of Proof Like and Deep Mirror Proof Like.

But hold on, it has gotten even better. First Strike, Signed – what’s next?

How I long for those days when you could walk into just about any coin shop in American and buy a nice AU $20 gold piece for $50. Collecting was much simpler then (and cheaper!)

KenF

 

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interesting, and welcome to the nut house

 

Gem BU is am ambiguous adjective grade that originally meant MS63 (and now generally MS65). With that said, many sellers will use adjectives as an excuse for lack of precision in grading and the coins may be sliders or lower graded mint state coins. Here is what I always understood that the adjective should mean:

BU/Uncirculated - MS60-MS61
Select Unc - MS62
Choice Unc - MS63
Very Choice Unc./Near Gem - MS64
Gem Unc. -MS65-MS66
Superb Gem Unc./Superb Unc. - MS67-MS68
Near Perfect Unc. - MS69
Perfect Unc - MS70

 

+1


This was always my understanding...
Gem Unc - MS65
Choice Unc - MS63
Unc - MS60

 

So by your definition they go down if they are higher end???

 

Those were the days, I remember them well.
Welcome to CT.

 

Gem BU is MS64.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

It's very subjective. If you have purchased from this dealer before and were satisfied, I would expect the same.

As for the sarcastic replies......tell them to place the coin "where the sun don't shine".

 

That would be Missouri........hasn't shined here in three days...........

 

Not what it used to be.

 

Yes

 

To me, "choice" always meant a 63, and "gem" was a 65 or better. On eBay, for raw coins, I think it is the difference between dipped, and cleaned.