Coin Description

To answer your question as to which step the coin becomes circulated - none of the above. A coin may show wear from the wrapping process or it may be "lucky" enough to go through all you steps and still not have any wear. "fingerprints, or scratches, scrapes or gouges" may or may not be indicative of "circulation" even by your definition. What kind mark on a coin can you prove to me did not happen at the mint?

You did not like my other definition, try this one (PCGS);

BTW, you can stick with your definition, but you are going to have to admit that it is useless. Were I to pull one of those coins from your imaginary fountain and there was no wear, obvious marks or other signs of wear, how could anyone, aside from myself, ever know the coin was "circulated" by your definition. That is why the definition above is the one that most people use. At least most people can that whether or not the coin is worn.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I think we're all disagreeing on semantics but agreeing on details. As I said (again), the terminology is what trips us all up. The terms Fine, MS, About Uncirculated, etc all have little meaning in themselves. I got into my side issue of the strict, literal meaning of the word uncirculated and lost sight of my original argument that these terms serve little purpose. The fact that I'm a literalist and you're (the generic you) are a figurativist shouldn't muddy the waters. As I said, there should only be 0-70 grades with the high number being reduced by fixed amounts depending on scratches, nicks, wear, luster (or lack thereof), prints, stains, dirt, corrosion, spots, etc.