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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 19626, member: 112&quot;]Interesting comment - might I ask what you base it upon ? Do you know of a set of grading standards that says this ? </p><p><br /></p><p>The following is a word for word rendition of the ANA grading standard for an MS68 coin - &quot;Attractive sharp strike and full original luster for the date and mint, with no more than four light scattered contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuffmarks show. Exceptional eye appeal. Copper coins must have lustrous original color.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Hmmmm - 4 contact marks and it still gets an MS68. Now I will grant you - a 68 is not a 69. This is what it says for MS69 - &quot;Must have very attractive sharp strike and full original mint luster for the date and mint, with no more than two small non-detracting contact marks or flaws. No hairlines or scuff marks can be seen. Has exceptional eye appeal. Copper coins must be bright with full original color and luster.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>This is what it says for MS65 - &quot;Shows an attractive high quality of luster and strike for the date and mint. A few scattered contact marks, or two larger marks may be present, and one or two small patches of hairlines may show under magnification. Noticeable light scuff marks may show on the high point of the design. Overall quality is above average and overall eye appeal is very pleasing. Copper coins have full luster with original or darkened color as designated.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>So a coin can have quite a few marks, even some large ones, hairlines and scuff marks - according to the standards used by the ANA - and still qualify as an MS65. Do you find that surprising ? </p><p><br /></p><p>This is a good example of why there is so much disagreement about grading. Most folks don&#039;t understand or even know what the standards are. Here I have used the ANA standards - you should note that <u>NONE</u> of the grading companies use this set of standards. The ANA standard is even stricter than those used by the grading companies - including NGC &amp; PCGS.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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