A couple of years ago I was visiting family in Omaha and after visiting a shop finally convinced the wife that I needed a bright shiny $5.00 gold piece I'd been eyeing. I went back down for the 3rd time in two days (a guy's gotta think things out ) to lay out my terms. The dealer was a very friendly sort of character and I inquired about the 1915 $5.00 indian in AU condition I'd checked out (twice) the day before. He looked bewildered and informed me that was an MS-62 piece. I burst out laughing to myself, but kept a straight face. The proprietor proceeded to explain to me some mumbo-jumbo about the piece only receiving cabinet rub? How it had never been in circulation and had only been worn by being on constant display. I shook my head and he assured me the piece would grade out in the MS state, but heck you couldn't even see all the lower headdress feather ends or the breast feathers and this coin is incuse. I thought 55 at BEST. In my mind I can see this fellow buying all the AU material he can find from unsuspecting sellers and then calingl it cabinet rub when it gets into his cases, LOL. BTW, none of his stuff was graded or slabbed, just in 2X2 holders. Sure wish I could have completed the deal but, alas... Bone
Based on your description it sounds like the coin had a bit more than cabinet rub But I do know what ya mean, and that dealer certainly isn't the only one to use that term to turn AU into MS. As I stated not too long ago - even the TPGs do it. And I can understand the argument in favor of it - I just don't agree with it.
