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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TypeCoin971793, post: 4656079, member: 78244&quot;]Their definition of the AU/MS boundary changed. The rationale is that some technical AU-58’s are Ms-65 coins with just a touch of wear. Some are MS-60 coins with a bit more noticeable wear. And then you have some MS-60/1/2 coins that have significant coin-on-coin damage or post-mint manipulation (dipping, etc). With the way the market is (with values of coins distinctly stratified by grade levels), those superb AU-58s were values the same as or only slightly higher the lower-end 58s, and priced lower than a 60.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why should that be? They are much nicer coins, and they should be worth more. But the vast majority of collectors are afraid to pay higher than the grade’s “value bracket.” That presents a quandary.</p><p><br /></p><p>You could call those coins AU-58+, but you lose the additional flexibility of further describing the quality of the grade. Does it have 63 surfaces, or 67 surfaces? The + can’t divulge that info. (As a side note, AU-58+ coins regularly sell for low-MS prices).</p><p><br /></p><p>Then the thinking shifted: “Is the surface degradation caused by a touch of wear really worse than the surface degradation suffered by MS-60/1/2 coins?” The TPGs decided that the slight touch of wear was commensurate with the bagginess and abrasions on MS-62/3 coins, and as such they get their quality premium over a generic 58.</p><p><br /></p><p>Is this confusing? Most definitely. Can it cause harm to collectors? Absolutely. Are there better solutions? You can bet on it. That’s why I am a proponent of the AU-6X scale. It allows for much greater transparency in the grading decision and gives quality 58s the pricing structure they deserve.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Then they need to learn how to spot the AU-64s in MS-62 holders. Or pay up for an MS-64. Blindly trusting the number on the slab isn’t a safe game anymore.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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