Numismatic Coin Grading Methods
There are several numismatic coin grading methods with which the eager coin collector can become familiar. These methods are fully described in coin collecting manuals published by professional numismatic organizations in the U.S.A. These grading methods are quite extensive and cover every possible description imaginable, so that collectors have some kind of standard against which coin can be judged for value on the collector market.
There are a variety of coins on the market. However some are more valuable and desirable than others. For example, modern bullion coinage such as the Canadian Maple Leaf and South African Kruggerands are not as desirable as old or scarcely available currencies. Modern coinage is desirable as immediate investments, as in using them to fund IRA accounts, or to buy and sell on the market, taking advantage of the high's and low's of stock market prices. These uses do not appeal as much to collectors, since collectors are interested in buying coinage that is in excellent shape and is very old. Numismatic gold coins of interest would range in years from 1793, when the U.S.A. began minting its own currency, up to the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. Numismatic gold coins are highly desirable over other types of precious metal coinages, because gold does not tarnish easily, and the price of gold keeps going up in value. For this reason, Numismatic gold coins present or show better than other metals.
Grading methods did not come into existence until the mid-to late 1970's. Before that time, collectors decided for themselves what value or grade was assigned to the coinage they bought and sold. However, not having a grading method or standard presented difficulties in the marketplace. No one could agree on the grade of the specimen under consideration, and so it made deciding on a selling price difficult and wearisome. Gradually, professional numismatic organizations formed from seasoned groups of collectors. These organizations began grading U.S. coins only, and over the years have included most other coinage ever minted. Now collectors have a standard against which to value their collections. God grades people, not on our value in society, but on our acceptance of His grace for our sin. "For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast"(Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV).
How grading accomplished? Well, there are many aspects to numismatic coin grading methods to consider. One must consider what kind of lighting is applied, and what magnification is being used to view the piece. Correct lighting is critical for the ability to view abnormalities and wear. The incorrect type of light can obscure scratches or wear marks, creating the illusion that the piece should be of a higher grade than it actually should be. In general, incandescent lighting is best, and the item should be viewed in this light with no other lighting in the room. The correct magnification should be about 5 times magnification. If the magnification is too strong, even the very best specimen can appear marred, and so would be graded much lower than it should be. For example, a numismatic gold piece that is considered to be an MS-64 grade, viewed under a 10x magnification may be downgraded to an MS-60 grade. The difference could mean the price may be lowered by many thousands of dollars for a rare specimen.
Other Numismatic coin grading methods are consideration of the characteristics of the dies used to strike the currency. There may be defects in the die that of course, transfer to the piece when struck. If the die is rusted, it would create an imperfect result. The collector would most likely pass on that purchase opportunity for one that is more superior without the defect. A die may strike off-center, creating pieces where part of the design is lighter or less detailed on one side than on the other. Also, if the die begins to become worn from many thousands of castings, then this too will create less than perfect design results.
After the currency is minted, it is handled by the public, shifted about in bags and boxes, and comes into contact with any number of hard objects that can mar the surfaces and designs. All of these contacts produce some type of marking on the coinage that tends to lessen its value in the hand of the numismatist. Some collectors try to clean their collections, and this too leaves markings on them that may not show up for several years after it has been done. On Numismatic gold coins, aging can produce differences in color due to the types of materials and/or fabrics with which the money comes into contact. Some of these gold pieces can eventually show rainbow colors on them, and this is a desirable quality that collectors look for in the natural aging process.
Numismatic coin grading methods consider the various types of marks and colorings when the system was established. These markings are grouped by whether the coinage was minted specifically for collectors, as in Proof sets, or whether the coinage is largely uncirculated, as in AU, or "About Uncirculated" quality. Other grades are MS or "Mint State", VG or "Very Good", VF or "Very Fine", etc. The third from the very lowest grade available is "Good" or G. The last grade is P for "Poor". There are detailed descriptions under each of these categories which assist the collector in making the proper determination for the grade of the coinage under consideration. To do well in buying and selling coinage for collectors, no collector should really consider anything below the VF or F grade. The rest below this grade are too worn or not worth collecting.
There is a great deal more to learn about numismatic coin grading methods as well as Numismatic gold coins, and the time taken to learn is well spent for the serious collector. The knowledge gained will only add to the collector's ability to continually improve the overall quality of the collection, and this could mean the difference between retirement and working the remainder of one's days.
There are a variety of coins on the market. However some are more valuable and desirable than others. For example, modern bullion coinage such as the Canadian Maple Leaf and South African Kruggerands are not as desirable as old or scarcely available currencies. Modern coinage is desirable as immediate investments, as in using them to fund IRA accounts, or to buy and sell on the market, taking advantage of the high's and low's of stock market prices. These uses do not appeal as much to collectors, since collectors are interested in buying coinage that is in excellent shape and is very old. Numismatic gold coins of interest would range in years from 1793, when the U.S.A. began minting its own currency, up to the early to mid-nineteen hundreds. Numismatic gold coins are highly desirable over other types of precious metal coinages, because gold does not tarnish easily, and the price of gold keeps going up in value. For this reason, Numismatic gold coins present or show better than other metals.
Grading methods did not come into existence until the mid-to late 1970's. Before that time, collectors decided for themselves what value or grade was assigned to the coinage they bought and sold. However, not having a grading method or standard presented difficulties in the marketplace. No one could agree on the grade of the specimen under consideration, and so it made deciding on a selling price difficult and wearisome. Gradually, professional numismatic organizations formed from seasoned groups of collectors. These organizations began grading U.S. coins only, and over the years have included most other coinage ever minted. Now collectors have a standard against which to value their collections. God grades people, not on our value in society, but on our acceptance of His grace for our sin. "For by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast"(Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV).
How grading accomplished? Well, there are many aspects to numismatic coin grading methods to consider. One must consider what kind of lighting is applied, and what magnification is being used to view the piece. Correct lighting is critical for the ability to view abnormalities and wear. The incorrect type of light can obscure scratches or wear marks, creating the illusion that the piece should be of a higher grade than it actually should be. In general, incandescent lighting is best, and the item should be viewed in this light with no other lighting in the room. The correct magnification should be about 5 times magnification. If the magnification is too strong, even the very best specimen can appear marred, and so would be graded much lower than it should be. For example, a numismatic gold piece that is considered to be an MS-64 grade, viewed under a 10x magnification may be downgraded to an MS-60 grade. The difference could mean the price may be lowered by many thousands of dollars for a rare specimen.
Other Numismatic coin grading methods are consideration of the characteristics of the dies used to strike the currency. There may be defects in the die that of course, transfer to the piece when struck. If the die is rusted, it would create an imperfect result. The collector would most likely pass on that purchase opportunity for one that is more superior without the defect. A die may strike off-center, creating pieces where part of the design is lighter or less detailed on one side than on the other. Also, if the die begins to become worn from many thousands of castings, then this too will create less than perfect design results.
After the currency is minted, it is handled by the public, shifted about in bags and boxes, and comes into contact with any number of hard objects that can mar the surfaces and designs. All of these contacts produce some type of marking on the coinage that tends to lessen its value in the hand of the numismatist. Some collectors try to clean their collections, and this too leaves markings on them that may not show up for several years after it has been done. On Numismatic gold coins, aging can produce differences in color due to the types of materials and/or fabrics with which the money comes into contact. Some of these gold pieces can eventually show rainbow colors on them, and this is a desirable quality that collectors look for in the natural aging process.
Numismatic coin grading methods consider the various types of marks and colorings when the system was established. These markings are grouped by whether the coinage was minted specifically for collectors, as in Proof sets, or whether the coinage is largely uncirculated, as in AU, or "About Uncirculated" quality. Other grades are MS or "Mint State", VG or "Very Good", VF or "Very Fine", etc. The third from the very lowest grade available is "Good" or G. The last grade is P for "Poor". There are detailed descriptions under each of these categories which assist the collector in making the proper determination for the grade of the coinage under consideration. To do well in buying and selling coinage for collectors, no collector should really consider anything below the VF or F grade. The rest below this grade are too worn or not worth collecting.
There is a great deal more to learn about numismatic coin grading methods as well as Numismatic gold coins, and the time taken to learn is well spent for the serious collector. The knowledge gained will only add to the collector's ability to continually improve the overall quality of the collection, and this could mean the difference between retirement and working the remainder of one's days.
Numismatic Coin Grading Methods
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