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Message:: [QUOTE="bhp3rd, post: 700420, member: 16510"]AU-53 is gift that's all,  AU-53 is gift that's all, when a TPG company gives a grade like AU-53 it is a gift because that certain coin has not been seen, or seen often in the AU+ grade - no body gives grades like this that are meaningful to raw coins.  AU-50 or AU-55 are close enough for a raw coin and for most graded coins.An example, a 1916-P Standing Lib, quarter comes in and it is a nice AU coin.  The more you (or the graders) look at it the better they like it at the AU level - they begin to believe, by looking at other AU-50 coins that it would not be fair to limit this one to AU-50 at the same time not at all certain it will AU-55, - thus the AU-53.  I have had this kind of thing happen a couple of times.On the other hand AU-58 is easy, it's a mint state coin better than most MS-60, 61, 62's, (as far as eye appeal) but has some rub on the highest places.  Interpretation: It was a nice enough coin to set aside, nicer than most,  even though it as rub - this coin is always a winner for most series.The way I understand it IMO - split grades are a tool to elevate, or downgrade a coin that has something about it that seperates it from others that are known and generally reserved for coins that are rarer, different, or special in some way.I mean would you ever consider giving a AU-53 grade to a 1999 Washington Quarter???[/QUOTE]