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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;The Penny Lady®, post: 1212174, member: 16948&quot;]As Doug mentioned, turning the coin under incandescent light is the best way to detect hairlines.&nbsp; I might add that if you tilt the coin at a steep angle, not quite vertical, and rotate it at the same time, you will have a better opportunity to see the hairlines since the hairlines will be more reflective when viewed this way.&nbsp; Hairlines on proofs that have been wiped or cleaned are much more easily detected due to the reflective surfaces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Btw, in my opinion, just because a coin has hairlines does not necessarily mean it is less than mint state, especially in proofs.&nbsp; Many TPG graded coins in PF60-63 do have hairlines, and I personally think that mint state coins with hairlines can also warrant MS60-63 grades as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Last thing to keep in mind, some coins have die polishing lines that can look very much like hairlines, but these lines will be raised on the surface and not reflective, and will cast a very tiny shadow on the coin when tilted and rotated under light.&nbsp; Die polishing lines usually do not (or should not) alter the grade of a coin, while, of course, hairlines will.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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