Understanding the Grading of Mint State Coins

Factors and Characteristics That Determine the Grade of Uncirculated Coins

U.S. Type Coins
United States Type Coins. Images Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

Grading ​​Mint State or uncirculated coins is one of the most challenging skills to learn in coin collecting. First of all, Mint State coins must show no evidence of wear. Therefore, they are usually some of the most beautiful coins in your collection.

Secondly, it is difficult to learn the skill of grading Mint State coins from a series of descriptions or pictures found in the book or online at a website. However, purchasing a book on grading uncirculated coins is a great way to start.

Consequently, I recommend that you go to your favorite local coin dealer or coin show and look at Mint State coins in person. Ask the coin dealer why he graded them as such. Remember to use your coin show etiquette skills to learn the most you can from the coin dealer. Even better, since coin grading is not an exact science, talk to several coin dealers so you can learn different strategies.

Determining the grade of a Mint State coin can be broken down into four distinct areas, each with varying degrees of importance in determining the final grade between MS-60 and MS-70. The categories that determine the grade of a mint state coin are:

  1. Surface Preservation
  2. Strike
  3. Luster
  4. Eye Appeal
  • 01 of 04

    Surface Preservation: 60%


    The first category is surface preservation, and it carries the most amount of weight when determining the Mint State grade of a coin. Numismatists define it as the number of imperfections or flaws that are on the surface of the coin. These imperfections are not the result of the coin circulating in commerce but are caused during the manufacturing process when handling and moving the coins around the mint.

    Handling coins during the production process can result in the following imperfections on the surface of the coin:

    • Bag marks resulting from the movement and handling of coins in bins or large bags
    • Scrapes, dings, small scratches during the manufacturing process
    • The larger the coin, the more bag marks and deeper bag marks on the surface of the coin
    • Older/classic collectible coins may have friction or slider marks from being stored in old wooden coin cabinets
    • Light friction on the highest points of the design is acceptable as long as this resulted from handling in mint bags or bins. Caution: This should not be confused with circulation friction on the highest points of the coin's design.

    The level of surface preservation can be divided into six categories as follows:

    • Poor (MS-60 to MS-61) heavy marks and scratches over the entire surface
    • Fair (MS-61 to MS-62) numerous marks and scratches but not so heavy and concentrated, maybe a few toned spots
    • Average (MS-63 to MS-64) noticeable marks scattered across the surface of the coin but not as heavy nor deep or numerous hairline scratches
    • Choice (MS-65 to MS-66) minimal marks that are scattered, none of them deep nor obtrusive
    • Gem (MS-67 to MS-69) a few trivial marks that are shallow and not obtrusive when looking at the coin. Some may be only observable under magnification
    • Gem Perfect (MS-70) no marks or imperfections are visible on the surface of the coin, even under magnification.
  • 02 of 04

    Strike: 15%

    Blank coins that have been produced at the Royal Mint are sorted before being sent to be stamped in the coin press.
    Coin Production At The Royal Mint. Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    The next category that is used to determine the grade of a Mint State coin is the quality of the strike. A well-struck coin from new coin dies will exhibit the most delicate details of the design in all areas on the coin. A poorly struck coin will be missing details in the highest regions of the design or have mushy design characteristics across the entire surface. Additionally, poorly struck coins also exhibit week rims around the edge of the coin. Be careful not to confuse a poorly struck uncirculated coin with a coin that is missing details because of circulation wear.

    The following two variables determine the quality of the strike:

    1. Die State
      A coin die can be used to strike 100,000 or more coins in its useful life. As the coin die is striking a coin planchet, the metal on the coin die starts to wear and fatigue. This results in the coins that are struck at the end of its useful life exhibiting poor details.
    2. Striking Pressure
      The pressure used to strike a coin in the coining press has the most significant effect on the quality of the strike. The more pressure that is used to strike a coin results in better details on the struck coin. However, the coin dies will wear out faster and have to be replaced sooner. Additionally, if the coin dies are spaced too far apart, the coin will not strike up properly. If the planchet is too thin or is made out of a hard metal (such as nickel) the coin may not strike up properly.
  • 03 of 04

    Luster: 15%

    1881 PCGS MS-66 Morgan Dollar with Original Mint Luster
    An 1881 Morgan Dollar with Original Mint Luster. Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com

    The mint luster on a coin gives it the beautiful cartwheel effect that uncirculated coins are known for. Luster is the result of the high pressure used in striking a coin when the metal moves into the lower recesses of the die. This minting process forms microscopic striations across the entire surface of the coin and will reflect the light from the surface of the coin at varying angles.

    The poor luster on the surface of a coin can result from weak striking pressure, poor storage conditions (such as moisture or harsh environmental conditions) or excessive cleaning/dipping of a coin in acid to remove surface toning.

  • 04 of 04

    Eye Appeal: 10%

    Naturally Toned Coins
    Naturally Toned Silver Copper and Nickel Coins. Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, www.ha.com

    The most subjective part of grading Mint State coins is the character known as "eye appeal." Eye appeal is the overall appearance of a coin to a collector. Copper and silver are the most reactive metals that coins are made out from. Over time they may develop a patina or toning over the coin's surface.

    Dark and ugly toning will detract from the grade that your Mint State coin will receive. Bright colors that are attractive or have a rainbow effect will result in a higher Mint State grade. Unfortunately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and what may be beautiful to one coin collector may be ugly to another.

    Toning on older coins may also indicate that the coin has not been cleaned or dipped since it was minted. For example, a 150-year-old silver coin should not be bright and gleaming just as the day it came off the coining press. However, new and modern coins should have bright and brilliant color to them.

    Beware of Artificial Toning

    Since coins with extremely attractive and colorful toning command higher prices in the market, unscrupulous coin dealers and collectors have been artificially coloring coins. The coin that looks too brilliant and colorful to be natural is probably is artificially toned. There is a natural progression of colors on silver coins that happens over time. The natural color progression is gold, amber, russet, burgundy, cobalt blue, light blue, lemon yellow, orange, red, magenta, blue, blue-green, emerald green.