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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 3471843, member: 101855&quot;]Two of the fundamental skills that one needs to grade coins are, learn what the design of the coin looked like when it was new and learn what mint luster looks like.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is an 1863 copper-nickel Indian cent in MS-64. This piece is high end for the grade.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]923528[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]923531[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>First note all of the detail that is in the design. As the piece circulates, it loses those details over time. For many the &quot;LIBERTY&quot; in the head band is an indicator, but as you learn more about grading, it becomes one of the more important factors.</p><p><br /></p><p>Next is mint luster. When a coin is struck, the metal flows under many tons of pressure. That flow creates contures that play with the light when a coin is swirled under a lamp. That&#039;s way you see collectors and dealers doing that when they are examining a coin. Once that surface is worn off a coin, it cannot be restored. That is one way to tell if a coin has been cleaned.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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