Usually not, but some collectors do. I don't know if any dealers do. If you want to, then please do so (the rims are part of the coin). I'd be suspect of a coin with worn or damaged rims even though the obverse and/or reverse isn't. It's up to the individual collector... Clinker
Clinker said one thing I agree with - the rims are part of the coin. If you are grading a coin, how do you not include the rims. Obviously, they do not count as much as the face, etc., but they do count.
Very interesting question and I had been meaning to put a thread up about it. A few weeks ago, I was carefully going over my second set of well-circulated mercuries. They're in a cheap whitman folder and I was taking them out one by one and really doing an inspection to cull out the ones with obvious "problems". Anyway, I pull out this 1942 merc in VF+ shape and the reeded edge just really caught on my thumb and forefinger. It's the first time I'd ever really paid attention to the edge of a Mercury (probably because almost all of mine are pretty well-worn). That reeded edge appeared to be MS-69 to me -brand new. It got me to thinking that checking the condition of the reeded edge might be something you could check for coins that look suspicious (cleaned, whizzed, etc.) In other words, does the edge seem to be in the same great shape as the obverse and reverse. Just a thought.
I've never seen rims graded. And I don't recall rim problems affecting a coin's grade (unless they were REALLY bad.) BUT I do know rim problems affect a coin's price. But many (most?) people don't look at the "third side" of a coin. Often hard to with slabbed coins. I vaguely remember (back in the 70's?) a push to list rim varieties. The varieties were categorized by reeding count. Not all collars were the same. Seems to me the numbers for Morgans ranged from about 101 to 104. Obviously nothing ever came of it since it's NOT one of the considerations we have to deal with today. That would open a can of worms! Reeding count. Rim strike. I shudder to think.
ABSOLUTELY ! In US coinage, the rim becomes more important the farther back you go. In the pre-collar era (before 1838), the rim contained all sorts of interesting stuff. Very important to the coin's value, very important for truly appreciating the coin. This is one prime reason why some afficionados of early US coins* don't like slabs. They can't fully appreciate or accurately grade the coin in a slab. *bust half nuts, early American coppers, John Reich Society, etc
The rim is a very important part of the coin and yes it must be considered when grading. It is so important that if a coin has a bad enough rim ding it will even be body-bagged for damage. Less severe rim dings often drop a coin's grade a full grade, sometimes more than 1 grade. And do not confuse the rim with the edge - they are two distinctly different things. When laying flat the rim is the horizontal surface around the coin, the edge is the vertical surface. And the edge is very important too and it also must be considered when grading a coin. And the edge is a very important diagnostic often used to determine counterfeits. Sometimes it is the only way that a counterfeit may be recognized by counting the reeds.
LOL--but how true! Me too, Noost. I guess it's like Pocket Change is suggesting...i.e., that we really don't think we're paying too much attention to these (at least, as respects our common, circulated, worn coinage) until we see an example that's really good. Then it hits us. Look, this coin has a rim! :rolling:
Just one more thing--stainless--while the design of the coin is of course the main event, I think of the rim like the framing on a painting. Good question.
rim............................... i'm pretty sure a ding on a rim will cost you a point or two in the grading room of a tpg.
Excellent information. I had forgotten this. It's necessay to get the facts/terminology straight. Like "cent" vs. "penny". Thanks for memory jog.
i agree w/ counting the rim as well, basically only regarding rim dings and denticle impressions in regard to striking..on valuable, sometimes, counterfeit coins w/ mintmarks..ck the rim for possible holing as there is a tool u can use to bore into the coin and raise a mintmark from the inside.. just some side info. happy labor day all!! my very best wishes...steve
True. In my prior post, I confounded the two. Where I said "rim", I meant "edge". My bad ! Good points along the way about the significance of rim bumps. For some folks, a rim bump is automatic "no deal". They find them very disturbing - makes the coin asymmetric.
