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Message:: [QUOTE="Midas, post: 69016, member: 2761"]I collect SAE's (primarily proofs) because I think they are the best coin design (remake of 50 cent pieces) the mint has ever introduced.  In a day and age of ugly obverses like the Susan B. and SAC dollar coin, at least the mint produced a coin that most agree is one of the most beautiful obverses to grace our coins. Since silver is a highly reactive metal and will tarnish easily, my SAE's proofs are slabbed by PCGS and NGC.  All things being equal with storage and presentation, this is one of the reasons why my SAE's are encapsulated with these services. As for the initial question, there are still a bunch of collectors that grade with terms like XF, AU, GEM, B.U., GEM B.U., etc.  GEM B.U. in my book is MS67 to MS69 and there lies the problem as a MS69 coin will trade for way more dollars than a MS67 coin. Think of it like buying premium gasoline (which I can't afford any more).  One station advertises Premium Plus while the other sells Super Plus.  One may have an octane level of 92 and the other 93.  Hence there is a differance even though they both sound good. We all know that 69 is more than 68 and numbers are easier to grasp than Webster or numismatic definitions when it relates to grading coins by reputible TPG's.[/QUOTE]