Mint State - What is a Mint State Coin?
From Susan Headley, former About.com Guide
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Mint State 1871-CC Dime to be Offered by Heritage
Mint State 1871-CC Dime to be Offered by Heritage ...
MINT STATE - (MINT)
A very sharp coin with no wear. The minor details must be present, and be clear and sharp, and the coin's surfaces must look as they did when the coin was first struck.
How to Grade Mint State Coins
Like any science, language, sport, or field of study, it is best to break grading down to its basic components, and master them one at a time.
Mint State Coins
The presence or absence of handling marks is what determines various levels within the Mint State category. A coin with no handling or bagmarks visible under magnification is a candidate to be graded MS-70.
Mint State
This coin grade is nearly perfect. With no trace of wear anywhere. The range of this grade is MS60 to MS70. MS70 is perfect. Most range from MS60-MS66.
Mint State (Unc) - Absolutely no trace of wear.
Mint state coins vary from MS-60 to MS-70. As I stated earlier, MS-70 is perfect. No blemishes, good strike, great color, and a lot of other really nit picky stuff.
Mint State Also Uncirculated. A coin in the condition in which it left the mint. Never circulated: ...
Mint State (MS) - The term Mint State (MS) can be interchanged with Uncirculated (UNC) to describe "new" coins showing no trace of wear.
Mint State: "brand new" or Uncirculated coins that range from 60 to 70 on a grading scale of 1 to 70.
mintage: the quantity struck by the Mint of a particular coin.
Mint State The term corresponding to the numerical grades MS-60 through MS-70, used to denote a business strike coin that never has been in circulation.
Mint state - A level of preservation signifying the same basic condition as when originally delivered from the mint.
Mintage - The total number of pieces of a specific date, type, denomination and mintmark originally struck for circulation.
Mint State 1835 Quarter Eagle
Prooflike Tendencies
281 1835 Breen-6141. Tall Head. MS-60. Lovely greenish gold with considerable reflective prooflike surface among the fields of obverse and reverse.
Mint State - Same as Uncirculated.
Mintage - The quantity of coins produced.
Motto - A phrase or slogan on a coin that is often political or religious, and meaningful to a particular country.
Mint State - describes an unworn coin and means the same as Uncirculated
Mirror - the brilliant surface of a coin, typically the fields of a proof or prooflike coin ...
Mint State - Also known as uncirculated. Mint State coins rnage in grade from MS60 (Basal) to MS70 (perfect). All Mint State coins have no wear what so ever.
Mint State: describes a coin in uncirculated condition.
Modern issues: current coins, whether struck for circulation or for sale to investors or collectors.
Mint State: "MS" Coins that do not circulate and therefore have no signs of wear are considered "Mint State". The abbreviation "MS" is used to denote this. These coins are graded on a scale from MS 60 to MS 70, MS 70 being considered "Perfect".
Mint state - Describes an uncirculated coin. The state of the coin is mint quality.
Mint State - In the same condition as when delivered from the mint (natural toning excepted); uncirculated.
Mule - A coin struck from two dies not intended to be used together.
Mint State - Same as Uncirculated. A coin free of any trace of wear.
Mintage - The process of striking coins. Quantity coined.
Modification - A minor alteration in the basic design of a coin.
Mint State
A grade of a business strike coin that has never been in circulation. It may have many marks, or none at all.
mintage ...
Mint State
A coin or other numismatic piece which exhibits it's original state of preservation - in grading terms the equivalent is Uncirculated.
Mis-strike ...
Mint State
Describes a coin that has never been in circulation. Thus, the coin has no wear. A mint state coin may still be weakly struck, and therefore lack the detail of even a lower grade coin.
Gem Mint State (MS-65)
There is a definite look of quality to an MS-65 coin that easily distinguishes it from lower grades of Mint State. On initial examination, with the naked eye, the piece will appear nearly perfect.
MS-70 (Mint state perfect uncirculated) - is as perfect as a coin gets, considered "perfect uncirculated". All coins MS-60 and higher are Mint State coins. It is worth noting that Proof is not a grade, but a type of coin.
Mint State (MS)
Mint State coins have been preserved exactly as they were struck. These command a substantial premium over other coins of the same type. I don't own any ancient coins that can be fairly described as mint state.
Mint State Rarity Factor - The total number of all Dahlonega Gold Coins graded MS 60 or higher by PCGS, including all grades and denominations.
Mint state survivors from the years before 1874 are scarce to very rare, but the occasional gem randomly appears, often in collections completed decades ago.
Mint State coins are graded on the basis of four characteristics: surface, luster, strike and eye appeal. “Surface' includes the presence (or absence) of contact marks as well as any evidence of handling that the coin may show.
Mint State
Unc
The UNC graded coins are uncirculated and have totally no trace of wear.
Mint State (MS)Uncirculated. Coins showing no trace of wear. Coins graded MS 60-70.
MintageThe number of coins originally struck at a particular mint with a particular date on the coin.
ObverseFront, or "heads", side of coin.
Mint state - 60-70 on the Sheldon grading scale.
Matte Proof
A proof coin with a fine granular surface - rather than mirror like.
Mint State - 60, 63, 65, 67, 70
Current practice allows intermediate grades such as Very Fine-25 or Mint State-62 to be used.
Mint State
The grade of a coin with no indication of wear, usually never exposed to circulation. Correlates to between 60 and 70 on the ANA 70 point grading scale. Same as Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)
Modification ...
In Mint State, including MS64, this is either the rarest or 2nd rarest of the short set (The 1943-D and 1942-D are extremely close in certified MS64 examples). Still, it is readily available.
The 1919-D mint state Mercury dime pictured, because of the beautiful condition is worth over $140.
MS - See "Mint State."
Mule - A coin struck from obverse and reverse dies not originally intended to be used together.
Uncirculated/Mint State (MS-60)
The coin may have some small nicks and scratches from being in its original bag with other coins, but it has all its color and no trace of being handled.
Choice Uncirculated (MS-65) ...
"Completing a mint state Barber dime set can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. However, patience and perseverance will be necessary. We wish you luck with this endeavor."
Image courtesy of Heritage Numismatic Auctions ...
The "MS" stands for Mint State. In between,there are grades MS-61,MS-62,MS-63 and so on,all the way up to MS-70--a perfect coin. Each step up the grading scale indicates an improvement in quality.
Canadian Post confederation Canadian numismatics cameo A coin, usually struck as a Proof, with a frosted or satiny central device surrounded by a mirrorlike field cartwheel - The pattern of light reflected by flow lines of mint state ...
luster - a frosty and shiney appearance found on some uncirculated (mint state) coins. legal tender - coins, paper money, or other currency issued by a government and used as money.
The 1796 issue is considerably scarcer than the first year coins, particularly in mint state, but like its predecessor, several well-struck prooflike specimens have appeared on the market over the years.
It means mint state, and there are only a few numbers to remember. MS-70 is the ideal, and is rare. MS-60 to MS-65 are the norm, and the higher the number, the better the coin.
Since grading was theoretically set for circulated grades, the Mint State and proof grades became targets for grade inflation. Dealers, flush with money from a quickly rising bullion market, poured huge resources into coins and coin marketing.
Why is it then that we use every number allocated to the mint state grades, those being MS-60 through MS-70? The answer is because with mint state coins, each slight difference in grade can be measured in monetary terms.
The difference between FDC and Uncirculated is often confusing to the layman, but can be explained as follows: FDC, meaning perfect mint state, is a term which can only be applied to a coin that is in absolutely perfect condition, ...
A splendid Mint State example, rarely seen in MS65 from the Millennia Collection. A real museum-quality gem, boldly struck on a wonderful flan, superb iridescent toning over sparkling original luster.
FDC (Fleur de Coin): Perfect mint state, with no abrasions or marks, and full lustre. Usually applied to proof coins only, or coins from sealed mint sets. (US: MS-70) ...
Mint state coins often show a cartwheel effect produced by microscopic flow lines on the coin's surface, such as seen on this 1881-S PCGS MS66 Morgan dollar.
The price difference between AU and Mint State 63 coins for some coins is virtually non existent.
In mint state they can cost upwards of $1,000 even for common dated coins. Also, because they were a true trade coin they are often found well worn or bent showing the hard life they had to lead.
A reputably certified mint state coin (60 to 63) might cost about $500. You can find a nice AU for half that and a nice Extremely Fine for half again, that is, an EF for about $75 to $125, depending.
Some collectors prefer higher grade coins and they are going to spend their $5,000 budget on a coin (or coins) that are Mint State or thereabouts. Others appreciate true rarity and will like coins like the 1872 eagle.
If you are primarily looking for beauty in your collection, then consider buying proofs or mint state coins in RED condition. I would highly advise buying only certified coins in this area and then only consider well known grading companies.
Uncirculated Grades (MS60 to MS70 The terms Mint State (MS) and Uncirculated (Unc.) are used interchangeably to describe coins showing no trace of wear.
In general there is a distinction between grading circulated coins and mint state. Circulated coins are graded by the amount of wear that is evident.
All dates from 1956 to 1963 can be purchased for as little as $10 and under in basic mint state condition! The toughest dates to track down in basic mint-state condition are the 1949 ($38.50), 1949-D ($43.50), 1949-S ($62.50), and 1952-S ($46).
"MS" is an abbreviation for "mint state". The numbers that follow (in this example 69) indicate the quality of the coin. The quality numbers run from 1 to 70, with a 70 being an absolutely prefect coin.
 See also: Mint, Coin, Grade, Collector, Struck
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