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Message:: [QUOTE="Jhonn, post: 339817, member: 5418"]Generally speaking, a coin described as BU (the grade for a BU coin should be around MS-63 to MS-65) is more desirable than one described as simply Unc. (the grade could be anywhere from MS-60 all the way on up to MS-70). Likewise, a coin described as Gem BU (the grade for a Gem BU should be around MS-66 on up) is generally more desirable than a normal BU coin. Be careful though, since dealers who use print advertisements for coins (such as in Coin World) tend to throw the terms BU, Choice BU, Choice Gem BU, Gem BU, etc. around very loosely. Although there is no 'set' grade for a coin described as BU, it should fall within a general grade range as noted above.  Condition and grade are basically the same thing. However, as someone else mentioned, there is grade, and then there is something called 'eye appeal'. You can't really quantify eye appeal, as what constitutes eye appeal differs from person to person. Generally, good eye appeal means no distracting marks or dings, attractive toning (or no toning at all, often called 'blast white luster'), even color, and even wear (if circulated). So, even though you might have two coins in completely different grades, say XF and MS-60, the XF may have much greater eye appeal (even color, even wear, etc.) than the MS-60 coin, for even though the MS-60 coin is uncirculated, it may have very ugly toning, many bag marks (from being in a mint bag with many other coins of the same type; more of a issue with larger, silver coins), etc. In other words, just not very attractive overall.  Good deal. Can't tell you how many times I've thumbed through my copy, re-reading bits here and there that I need tor brush up on![/QUOTE]

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