Someone told me today that GEM means ms-65. I always thought it was an uncirculated coin with good eye appeal. Can anyone clarify for me? I hope it doesn't mean ms-65 as I've said some coins appear gem to me on ebay before
A coin normal with the term GEM is MS65....but I think you can say that you have a GEM MS63....to me every coin I find is a GEM in one way or another. Speedy
Thanks for the clarification. I think I am going to stop calling coins gem just to be safe, or if I do say gem, offer a grade opinion with it.
"Gem", "choice", and the like are completely subjective terms, whereas MS#s are more or less (mostly less ) standardized designations. When I can't see the coin, but I trust the describer, I have a pretty good idea what an "MS66" looks like, but only a WAG what he means by "gem".
It was - but it has also bled over into today. Sellers are always looking for descriptive adjectives to make their coin "sound" like a better deal. It's called advertising.
Mostly the term Gem, choice gem, brilliant, etc are terms that many dealers add on to a coin when they are pushing it as a really nice coin. As explained to me by a dealer, many individuals add one of these terms to a coins appearance where the coin has a jewel like appearance. Per some guy that wrote a thing called a dictionary gem means "something prized for great beaty and perfection". Somewhere on one these forums there is a fairly complete list of numismatic terms and abbreviations but just can't remember where.
There are standards for the terms. MS-63 is Choice Uncirculated or Choice Brilliant Uncirculated (May or may not be Brilliant Uncirculated) MS-65 is GEM Uncirculated or GEM Brilliant Uncirculated MS-67 Superb GEM Brilliant Uncirculated (Must be Brilliant Uncirculated for Superb GEM BU) I hope this helps, Bill
If your interested in coin terminology, you may want to visit the PCGS web site and ask that same question there. One of the members posted a link to a massive amount of actual numismatist terminology. I printed it out at the time and it was 9 pages long but can't find it now.
