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Message:: [QUOTE="900fine, post: 624563, member: 6036"]"Upon further review", my original statement is overly brusque and overstated. My entire train of thought on this thread is for circulated coins. Mint state coins are handled differently.  For instance, the "ANA Grading Standards 6th Edition" deals mostly with circulated coins. Its writeup for Mint State coins is identical whether one is dealing with a 1993 Lincoln Cent or a 1793 Chain cent - or any other coin, for that matter. In no case do they show illustrations of various Mint State grades, and the verbiage is of little value. In contrast, Jim Halperin's book "How To Grade Mint State Coins" deals mostly with Mint State coins, and has a very different approach. I certainly agree that many people make a large distinction in missing detail due to strike vs rub for circulated coins. That's fine, and that's their perogative.  I simply disagree... for the most part. But not completely. I appreciate allowances for missing detail due to die state. For instance, let's look at legends on an early copper... an 1807 S-274 DBC. This variety is known for die bulges which obliterate parts of the legend, leaving other parts intact. We see this one has lost the reverse letters STA; all remaining legend is bold. Clearly, this is not due to wear, but rather a die issue. In this case, the die was bulging. I'm told further die bulging ultimately obliterated ONE CENT in later die state specimens. This cannot be uneven wear, since many different specimens show the same characteristics. For some, these are collectible dies state, and part of the fun and scholarship of these coins. Missing detail is part of the game. And instructive.  Is that "missing sharpness" ? It depends on what you're shopping for; there is "no one size fits all" answer. Shopping for an excellent type coin ? Yes, it's missing sharpness. An EAC specialist studying die states ? Probably not. For some, it might bring a premium ! Crummy strikes on the other hand... I'm sorry, guys, but if a coin has VF sharpness and some of the loss is due to rub and some due to crummy strike, it's a VF coin. Period, the end. That's what I meant by "missing sharpness is missing sharpness". But that's just me. It's just my personal collecting ethos, not fact (though my original statement sounded that way). Respectfully submitted, Ricky B[/QUOTE]

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