2017-01-30 Mon

David Bowers suggests that the grading system for all series needs to be simplified and that there is no need for the complicated 21 grades between Mint State 60 and MS-70. An informal grading system prevails in most hobbies with certain simple parameters like in the case of book collecting.

When it comes to coin collecting, within Mint State 60 to 70 itself, there are 11 different grades: MS-60, MS-61. An extra plus “+” is added to each grade, making a total of 21 grades! These grades are undefined and are also interchangeable.

In 1949, only three Mint states were suggested by Dr. William H. Sheldon - 60, 65, and 70. Some years back the ANA Board of Governors added -60, -63, -65, and -67. Apart from that, many MS-63 coins better than MS-65 ones. Some coins in the same grades can sell for twice the amount like the Mint State 1857 Flying Eagle cents.