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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Hobo, post: 1062241, member: 11521&quot;]Most collectors use the terms &#039;mint state&#039; and &#039;uncirculated&#039; interchageably. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I may be all wet but to me the word &#039;mint&#039; in the term &#039;mint state&#039; refers to the process of striking the coin rather than the building in which it was struck. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As far as the coin that fell on the floor and was stepped on, I would say it may be damaged but not worn. Wear (when we are talking about coins) refers to circulation wear. Stepping on a coin does not constitute circulation. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Assuming the coin suffered damage from being stepped on I would say the coin is simply damaged. Sure the damage happened in the Mint and the coin never circulated but it is now damaged. I doubt any of the top TPGs would grade it (unless it was some super rarity). </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>What if there were a fire in the storage vault at the Mint and all of the coins were damaged? Some of the coins may have partially melted, others have some distortion, the nylon and Kevlar bags melted and stuck to several coins, and the rest of the coins suffered smoke damage. These damaged coins have never left the Mint. Would you call them &quot;mint state&quot;? (I would not. I would call them damaged.) </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&#039;Mint state&#039;, when used with a numerical designation, refers to the state of preservation of the uncirculated coin after it was struck. Lots of bag marks may garner a grade of MS-60 or MS-61 while a coin with no imperfections may be graded MS-70. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I agree. The &quot;uncirculated&quot; coin is still mint state (unless it was damaged). </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cabinet wear occurs when a coin is placed lying down (usually on a soft surface) in a coin cabinet and, over time, as the coin is jostled when the drawer is opened and closed time and time again, the high points of the surface of the coin in contact with the drawer liner become slightly worn due to the friction between the coin and the drawer liner. Yes, it is wear but it is not circulation wear. This is how early coin collectors stored their coins and many mint state examples of early coins have cabinet wear. While this may not be acceptable for a modern coin it is often forgiven (or not judged too harshly) for early coins.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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