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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 92466, member: 112&quot;]BC - </p><p><br /></p><p>First of all, please understand that my comments are not just directed towards you. In my opinion you brought up a very important point with your illustrations and it is one that many do not understand.</p><p><br /></p><p>Interesting, you imply that you follow the ANA Grading Standards - but even going all the way back to the 3rd edition in 1987 (which I believe was the first time that the grade of MS64 was recognized) the standard for MS64 states - </p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Contact Marks: May have light scattered marks, a few may be in prime focal areas.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>In later editions, even more contact marks are permitted for the MS64 standard.</p><p><br /></p><p>Be that as it may, I can easily see why all three of those coins were assigned the grade of MS64. Even with the limited pictures you posted it is obvious that the coins each have different qualities and detractions which is why they were all graded the same.</p><p><br /></p><p>You see, there is more to the grade of a coin than just the amount and severity of the marks it bears. The grade is also based on luster, quality of strike and eye appeal - it is an aggregate scoring system.</p><p><br /></p><p>For example, the first coin you picture and label as Market - this coin has by far the best strike of the group. It also appears to have superior luster. It is for these reasons that the coin was graded as MS64. If the coin had fewer marks or no marks in the prime focal areas, it would likely have been graded as MS65.</p><p><br /></p><p>The second coin labeled as Good - this coin is weakly struck and has subdued luster. True, it has fewer marks - and for this reason it has been graded as MS64.</p><p><br /></p><p>The third coin labeled as True has the weakest srtrike of the group and also the poorest luster. It appears to have been struck with badly worn dies and thus has less eye appeal. But the coin is largely mark free and thus graded as MS64.</p><p><br /></p><p>The coins may not measure up according to your personal standards, but I believe all of these coins are graded accurately according to the standards set forth in the ANA Grading Guide - at least based on what I can see of them. Each was assigned that grade for different reasons, based on its own idividual merits and detractions. </p><p><br /></p><p>That is something that many find so confusing when it comes to grading. For example, they do not understand how one coin can have fewer marks than another and yet grade the same. But you have to consider the other qualities of the coin as well. If all of the other qualities are equal - then the coin with fewer marks will grade higher, and justly so. But if those other qualities are not equal - then the grade assigned must be adjusted accordingly. This is how it is possible to have 3 coins that appear so different and yet be graded the same.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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