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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jaelus, post: 2094626, member: 46237&quot;]If the Sheldon scale were entirely based on condition then I would agree with you. It is, however, essentially two linked grading scales. One scale is for uncirculated coins (60-70) which are <i>all</i> mint state. This entire range of grades describes <i>only one state of preservation</i>, with the steps being one point each that essentially define the attractiveness (level of marks, toning, strike) of the mint state coin. The second scale is for circulated coins (1-58) that describes the amount of wear on the coin, and is typically represented in steps of 2, 3, or 5 points per step.</p><p><br /></p><p>As this is the case, the first thing one must do when grading coins is determine if the coin should be graded on the uncirculated scale, or on the circulated scale. As such, it is <i><b>essential</b></i> to understand the source of marks, friction or otherwise, on a coin to determine if they came from circulation or not. Understanding this requires an expertise in the series at hand to be able to determine <i>based on apparent evidence</i>, what the source of a mark is.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let me ask you this. If you owned the above MS66 coin that <i>you</i> regard as an AU, and it comes time to sell it, do you stick to your guns and ask for an AU price? What if the only interested buyer thinks the way you do, that it is AU, and they offer you an AU price? Do you take their offer, or do you admit that the market is right?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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