Do copper color designations affect an MS number?

[Jazzy]

Suppose you had a Lincoln that graded MS 64 BN. If it was an RB, would it then be an MS 65 RB? Or if it was RD, would it become an MS 66 RD?

 

Or does MS refer strictly to elements such as strike and contact marks irrespective of color?

[Hoot]

No. Indeed, it sometimes appears the opposite way - that the services are tougher on RB and RD copper grade-wise. That may be an illusion, however. Grade is typically irrespective of color in market graded copper.

 

Hoot

[Tradedollarnut]

Well ..... they're not supposed to, but they do. For instance, it's common to see a liner coin get the color designation but not the grade, or vice versa, but not both.

[gmarguli]

The color can have the affect of enhancing the eye appeal, so it's possible that it does help the grade slightly.

[James_OldeTowne]

I know it will on ANACS net-graded coins. For example, if you have a coin that is MS-63 RD, but has a faint scratch on the reverse, they will call it "net MS-60 BN".

 

James