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Message:: [QUOTE="littlehugger, post: 3505695, member: 58633"]The coin grades are indications of wear up to 59. MS starts at 60 and goes to 70. But I dont know what they grade in this area.  MS means Mint State, or uncirculated. Probably the ten grades were based on bag marks when big coins like halves and dollars beat themselves up in bags. It was possible to get a scratched up coin fresh from the mint. Now, methods have improved, somewhat, and coins are made of tougher metals that wear better. Its a rare clad that shows significant wear. I always wondered how the old large cents were accurately graded. They were made in a manual press, had large differences from front to back, and between individual coins. How do you tell an LDS, late die state, from a worn coin? Especially since most are 200 years old?[/QUOTE]