Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Insider, post: 2486048, member: 24314&quot;]I&#039;m going to start at the bottom of this thread and work my way up.&nbsp; Remember, anything I write is just IMO and there are a lot of good opinions in this thread that I did not include here.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This quote is pretty good.&nbsp; I will add this.&nbsp; Condition/grade/whatever. Generally, the &quot;market&quot; combines/considers<span style="color: rgb(179, 0, 179)"> all</span> the factors of condition into formulating the grade assigned.&nbsp; Now, that NGC has separated some of those factors on their label you begin to have a point.&nbsp; Nevertheless, loss of detail (wear) is the main factor when grading circulated coins.&nbsp; Uncirculated coins are &quot;graded&quot; differently and unfortunately even some wear is overlooked.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now to the coin.&nbsp; IT IS NOT MINT STATE, period.&nbsp; There is loss of luster and hairlines from handling easily seen all over the surface.&nbsp; I have handled TRUE &quot;frosty&quot; MS gold Byzantine coins in the Dumbarton Oaks collection in DC. Perhaps the same slippage in quality within the US market applies to ancient gold these days.&nbsp; As to strike, 4/5 is a joke!&nbsp; Perhaps 3/5 is even too generous.&nbsp; As to surface, 4/5 is another joke.&nbsp; Ditto above. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Many ancient coins did leave the dies the day they were struck with the details of a VF.&nbsp; Nevertheless, At that moment they were perfect (as struck) and<span style="color: rgb(179, 0, 179)"> original</span>.</p><p>Just as in any series (Buffalo Nickels is a good example) once a coin with weak details as struck receives a little wear, to the untrained eye, the coin will look like (and be assigned) a much lower grade.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>MS for an ancient is just that.&nbsp; Problem is these coins are old.&nbsp; Finding one with full mint bloom is an extremely rare event with most of them.&nbsp; Nevertheless, a no problem coin with luster and a very slight tone to mask any friction is considered MS by most collectors/dealers.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, Virginia, there are MS ancients, many locked away in museums and great collections.&nbsp; Experienced numismatists (not me) know one when they see one.&nbsp; They are rare as many ancients have been cleaned.&nbsp; In spite of this, when done properly, many ancients can look MS and are priced accordingly.</p><p><br /></p><p>PS.&nbsp; At the ANA Summer Seminar, the guys were <span style="color: #b300b3">hand striking</span> <span style="color: #b300b3">MS tokens&nbsp; made with hand punched and partially engraved dies!</span> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie104" alt=":yawn:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in