 |
What Is An Un-circulated Coin?
You may have heard the terms proof coin and un-circulated
coin, but what's the difference between these two? To understand
the difference between a proof and un-circulated coin, let's
first answer the question, "What is an un-circulated coin?"
Un-circulated means a coin has not had any wear, such as the
wear a coin might experience when it is used in commerce.
Handling a coin, as well as improperly storing a coin, can result
in wear on the surface of the coin. This wear, even if very
minor, will cause a coin to no longer grade un-circulated.
When coins are minted they often bump into each other and
receive small nicks and abrasion marks during the production
process. These marks also occur as coins are transported in large
canvas bags. These marks, sometimes called "bag marks", are more
noticeable on larger coins, such as half dollars and dollars.
Typical "bag marks" do not keep a coin from grading
un-circulated. However, they can be an indicator of how high of a
grade the un-circulated coin might receive.
Current accepted grading standards provide for a range of
un-circulated grades, from the grade of MS-60 to MS-70. MS60
would be a lower grade (yet still) un-circulated coin with normal
bag marks for that type of coin. Anything below MS-60 would not
be considered un-circulated. MS70 would be the perfect "ideal"
coin. Some coins are rare in grades MS65 to MS70, and even
unheard of in MS70 grade. (The attribute "MS" stands for "mint
state".)
A newly minted proof coin is also un-circulated, however it is
the way it is made that causes a difference in appearance and
qualifies it as a "proof". To understand this, let's look at how
coins are made. Coins are produced when two dies strike a blank
piece of metal with tremendous force. One die is engraved with
the front (obverse) design for the coin. The other die has the
back (reverse) coin design on it.
A proof coin is made with a specially polished and treated
die! By treating the die in a special way, the coins it produces
have a different appearance. Modern technology allows the high
points on the coin design to be acid treated (on the die). The
background (field) design of the coin die is polished, resulting
in a mirror-like look on the coin it strikes. This gives the
finished coin a frosted look (frosting) on the raise parts of the
design, with a mirror like finish on the background. This
contrasting finish is often called "cameo". On some older coins a
cameo appearance is quite rare. The attribute "CAM", when added
to a coin's description, means cameo appearance. "DCAM" means
deep cameo, and indicates the cameo appearance is strong and easy
to observe.
Lana Hampton makes it easy to find the coin collecting
information you want. Visit her site today for the latest
coin
information.
 MORE RESOURCES updated Wed. October / 04 / 2023
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Old, New, Borrowed, and
Blue: Unity Candle Craft Project
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and
something blue. There are plenty of crafty brides out there
looking for a unique design for their unity candle.
Ideas for Making Gift
Baskets
Do you want to give gifts to your friends or family for
birthdays, Christmas or some other holiday, but you just
don't know what to get them? Just take a decorative basket
and you can create a gift basket filled with great items
that either your friends or family will love. The items
basically you will need to create a gift basket will
include:**A decorative basket;**Shrink wrap;**Any color
tissue paper;**Different assortment of shredded paper.
Tech-Savvy Crafters Can
Go Global
The image of a crafter or artisan is often serene, even
pastoral. It's easy to imagine a potter spinning his wheel
in his barn-turned-studio and then selling his wares at the
little farmer's market down the road.
Idle Hands Beget The
Devils Work
As a southern girl, sewing was a rite of passage. You never
questioned if you should learn, it was a matter of when.
Handmade Quilts are Made
with Love and Make Great Family Heirlooms!
Today's handmade quilts are more like a work of art than a
bed cover. With all the wonderfully artistic quilt patterns
available to quilters today, we are beginning to see some
absolutely breathtaking quilts glowing with character and
personality.
A Brief History Of
Reverse Painting On Glass
Reverse painting on glass has been a form of
art expression since extremely ancient times. It is
difficult to precisely date a number of much more
ancient artworks.
Stress-Free Scrapbook
Journaling Ideas
Do you find it intimidating when you come to journal your
scrapbook pages?You are not alone! Many scrapbookers find
it hard to get started when it comes to adding journaling
to their scrapbooking layouts.If you are one of those
people who go blank at the thought of having to journal,
don't worry.
Antiques From
Europe...Is It Really The Goose That Laid the Golden
Egg?
Many dealers and auctioneers have been bringing container
loads of antiques from Europe for years now. The lure of
getting "fresh to the market" antique furniture and
"smalls" is something that can bring renewed excitement
back into your antique business.
Gemstone
Collecting
Personally, I have become fascinated with gemstones
(precious and semi-precious stones). I am amazed at the
array of colors and properties of these little treasures
found in the earth.
Russian Nesting Dolls -
The Beginning
According legend, first nested doll prototype appeared in
Russia in the late 19th century (believed to be year 1890),
it was figurine of bold headed old man, Buddhist sage by
the name of Fukuruma, on the island of Honshu,
Japan. According Hakone Town Office, Japan, products such as
"Shichifukujin" and "Irokawaridaruma" have been created
from Junitamago.
An Introduction to
Lanyards
Lanyards are pieces of rope, wire, or cloth specifically
designed to attach to objects. They are typically used to
secure small items such as a work badge, key,
identification card, eyeglasses, whistle, cell phone,
bottle opener, knife, or compass.
Learn Exactly How To
Repair Your Sewing Machine At Home!
My name is Tony Asef and I start my own sewing machine
business 21 years ago with little knowledge of repairing
sewing machine at that time. I remember very good when I
was looking for someone to teach me all trick in sewing
machine repair business.
Mini Rc Cars
Did your heart ever palpitate for fast driving? Did you
ever imagine your hands controlling an extremely speedy
car? I f so, then you should definitely experience the
gravity and true charm of mini RC cars.Mini RC cars have
climbed up to the top position in the chartbusters of
favorite pastimes or hobbies.
The Proper Use of Comic
Book Supplies Will Help You Maintain a Top-Notch
Collection
If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop
shape, comic book supplies will become part of your
collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are
natural environmental forces going to work to try and
destroy the ink and the paper.
The Unusual
Characteristics Of Reverse Painting
By stepping backwards in time one can discover an important
part of art history associated with reverse painting on
glass. It was an era that heralded the use of this art form
'en masse' during which people in communities could
directly express in their own original way what they lived,
perceived and felt in their own daily lives.
Build Your Own Bar Stool
(In An Afternoon)
Bar stools are as important as the best wine in your bar.
It is said that if you don't get a good stool to sit on,
you won't enjoy the drink.
How to Use Textured
Paper and Book Jacket Backgrounds to Give Your Scrapbook
Dimension
Textured paper can add extra dimension to your scrapbooking
page. Textured paper can be used to highlight focus items
on your scrapbook page.
What is a Battle Ready
Sword?
You'd think that the term "battle ready sword" would be
pretty much self explanatory wouldn't you? Unfortunately,
many of the swords being described as "battle ready" are
anything but. And to quote Adrian Ko from Sword Forum
International, "a lot of these swords I wouldn't want to
take into battle even if they were strapped to a M-16.
When It Comes To RC
Airplanes You Can Choose From Ready to Fly, Almost Ready to
Fly or Scratch Built
Soaring through the air, watching the clouds and the birds
fly by. No, you are not flying your own private plane, but
you are doing the next best thing.
An Interesting Look at
the Cuban Cigar
Even most non-cigar smokers have heard some of the lore
surrounding the Cuban cigar. Long revered as the finest and
best tasting brands in the world, they have traditionally
been extremely difficult to procure.
|
|
