Grading $1 coins

[Fulvio]

I'm pretty sure that most of the circulation wear would result from contact with other coins (of all sizes).

Agreed. Overall, I think we're really messed up when it comes to wear. Bag marks get ignored, yet we go all OCD over wear... WTF? To me, impact damage is the single largest factor, especially now rolling machine scrapes are mostly out of the picture. And honestly, the quality of what comes out of an UNC bag is deplorable. Yet such a coin would grade MS whereas a brilliant circulated half-century-old coin with massive eye appeal and little wear would not.

Bah!

[Guest1595]

If you go to the Forums Gallery section , top right of screen, and go to GOLDSEEKERS postings, you will see quite a few different grades of Mules that I have found and posted.

Thanks for the reference Gold, and a nice collection of mules that you have in your stable ! I also notice that alot of them have battlescars..were they predominantly from poker machine duties ?

great pics
thanks for giving it a go
and ps - that coin looks like a nice higher grade $1 MOR's to me

Thanks RG,.... And yes I agree... It's not too shabby a MoR... Hopefully a keeper! ;-)

Ten points for effort and pics there Guest.

I'm pretty sure that most of the circulation wear would result from contact with other coins (of all sizes). Considering the shape of same I don't think wear would be as evenly distributed as your test suggests as the amount of flat coin on flat coin circulation wear would likely be just a part of it. Curved / angled edge to flat coin surely has a large impact.

Just a thought.

Thanks for the compliments Unicorn and others..
I also agree that the wear would not be as evenly distributed. My main aim in showing those wear marks is to demonstrate the vulnerable areas prone to wearing.. This is due to them being the highest points on the coin. On top of this wearing effect, usage through circulation will more than likely add further bag marks and rim knicks too..

[Fordprefect]

All one needs to do is grab a well circulated coin and have a look.
(And there is no need for it tobe a 2000 $1 mule)
Once the rims wear the coin is exposed to circulation wear.

The tiara area

The hair line area

The Queens eyebrow, nose tip and lower lip

Jowl of cheek area

Base of neck

The legend.
Note that on this coin a rim bump
is protecting part of the legend.
It's not rocket science.
The challenge is to grade what you see.

[Fulvio]

The challenge is to grade what you see.

I'd go a step further and say that the challenge is also to know what you're looking at. Which of course is where the forum comes in.

For example, quite a lot of $1 obverses especially seem to be weakly struck or filled. I've met people who thought this was wear until they learned the difference.

And remember the lengthy cold shut/PMD discussion a while back?