Demark Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 I am a novice and just received this coin which is graded as MS 69. Should an MS 69 have visible scratches like this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Bill347 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Just bag marks from the mint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Welcome! It is impossible to tell much from your photo. However, if those scratches are in the coin and not the holder then no it isn’t a MS69. MS70 is literally the perfect coin, with no blemishes under magnification. Most of us, me included, can rarely tell the difference in an MS69 and MS70 because it is a minor defect somewhere in the coin. With that said an MS69 coin is darn near perfect except for a minute blemish. Are you certain it is the coin scratched and not the slab? GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinbuf Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 (edited) Assuming the marks are on the coin I would not like it at that grade myself and would return if possible. Edited March 1, 2021 by Coinbuf GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demark Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 Just now, Woods020 said: Welcome! It is impossible to tell much from your photo. However, if those scratches are in the coin and not the holder then no it isn’t a MS69. MS70 is literally the perfect coin, with no blemishes under magnification. Most of us, me included, can rarely tell the difference in an MS69 and MS70 because it is a minor defect somewhere in the coin. With that said an MS69 coin is darn near perfect except for a minute blemish. Are you certain it is the coin scratched and not the slab? 1 minute ago, Woods020 said: Welcome! It is impossible to tell much from your photo. However, if those scratches are in the coin and not the holder then no it isn’t a MS69. MS70 is literally the perfect coin, with no blemishes under magnification. Most of us, me included, can rarely tell the difference in an MS69 and MS70 because it is a minor defect somewhere in the coin. With that said an MS69 coin is darn near perfect except for a minute blemish. Are you certain it is the coin scratched and not the slab? As best I can tell, it looks like it's the coin, this is the photo from the NGC registry file. I'm a little surprised as I thought MS 69's wouldn't have visible to the naked eye scratches like this. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demark Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 10 minutes ago, Coinbuf said: Assuming the marks are on the coin I would not like it at that grade myself and would return if possible. It's disappointing but returning is probably what I will be doing. Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsshog40 Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 I would presume those scratches are on the holder but no way of telling unless you have it in hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Those are NOT just bag marks from the mint. Those are scratches, and they are almost certainly on the holder. GoldFinger1969 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Bill347 Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 According to this article https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/grading-mint-state-coins-4129278 bag marks can be acceptable as they are mint and shipment handling marks and not wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woods020 Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Mr.Bill347 said: According to this article https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/grading-mint-state-coins-4129278 bag marks can be acceptable as they are mint and shipment handling marks and not wear. Mr Bill, 1. This isn’t a bag mark. If it’s in the coin it’s a scratch. Bag marks are smaller nicks than this generally. 2. Yes an MS coin can have bag marks, but they definitely detract from the grade. Morgan dollars are a perfect thing to study this concept. They notoriously were highly bag marked, and the size/location/severity of the marks all impact grade. 3. An MS 69 shouldn’t have bag marks. Again this is near perfection, and only minute flaws. Yes a bag marked coin can grade mid MS, but unless it was one small nick in a non prominent location no way it would be 69. However again this isn’t a bag mark. 4. the spruce is not somewhere I would get numismatic info. If you want to review grading standards check out the ANA standards, or for free download PCGS CoinFacts app and use the photo grade tool. You will quickly see if this coin had a scratch like that it wouldn’t be a 69. Edited March 2, 2021 by Woods020 GoldFinger1969 and Mr.Bill347 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demark Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) Any suggestions on how to determine if this is a scratch in the slab? I have looked at it from different angles and light, with magnification, really doesn't change much. Edited March 2, 2021 by Demark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morpheus1967 Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 6 hours ago, Demark said: Any suggestions on how to determine if this is a scratch in the slab? I have looked at it from different angles and light, with magnification, really doesn't change much. There are probably 10's of thousands of MS69 silver eagles out there (depending on the year) to spend this much time worrying about it. I would just return it if possible. 7 hours ago, Mr.Bill347 said: According to this article https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/grading-mint-state-coins-4129278 bag marks can be acceptable as they are mint and shipment handling marks and not wear. 11 hours ago, Mr.Bill347 said: Just bag marks from the mint Since when are silver eagles shipped in bags? Lancek and Ray, USMC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demark Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 Thanks everyone for the responses. The company that I purchased the coin from has agreed to exchange it for same yr/mint/grade. Surprised how easy that was. Woods020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinbuf Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 19 hours ago, Demark said: Any suggestions on how to determine if this is a scratch in the slab? I have looked at it from different angles and light, with magnification, really doesn't change much. You already have the solution, however for future reference. Take your fingernail or a toothpick and gently pull it across the area where the marks are, if it "catches" or you feel bumps then the marks/scratches are on the plastic. If you go across the area and its totally smooth then the marks are on the coin. Ray, USMC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demark Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 8 minutes ago, Coinbuf said: You already have the solution, however for future reference. Take your fingernail or a toothpick and gently pull it across the area where the marks are, if it "catches" or you feel bumps then the marks/scratches are on the plastic. If you go across the area and its totally smooth then the marks are on the coin. It seems totally smooth. Just surprised that this would be graded MS69 if the scratches are on the coin. You can see the scratches even on the photo when you look up the coin on NGC's verification tool. It's a bit of a mystery, fortunately not something I will have to figure out. Thanks for the advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
