44 Days Of Loonacy!

cool loonies

Keep 'em coming EastVanRob !

Might be the only way we'll see the Cup this year.

Petersun wrote:
"EastvanRob,
The loonie seems to have some scratches and direct contact from a hand. How could it be graded MS 65? I am just learning about grading so this is just a matter of curiosity."

You have to remember that it was scanned through two layers of plastic, and that the grade was before it was put into plastic. The outer layer especially tends to pick up marks which are picked up in the scan. In hand, these appear to be scratches on the holder (or in some cases the scanner bed), not the coin.

In technical grading, fingerprints are not considered to be a factor reducing a coin's grade, although they will frequently reduce eye appeal.

Also, the scan magnifies the coin about 4x actual size. The criteria for MS 65 is nearly perfect to the naked eye, with small marks or strike or lustre weaknesses visible under magnification.

I hope this answers your questions.

2 varieties of circulation strikes for 1994

The regular loon (ICCS MS65):




The Remembrance dollar depicting the National War Memorial (ICCS MS65):

One of my favourite designs.

1994 proof 25th anniversary of the RCMP Northern Dog Team Patrol

1995 325th Anniversay of the Hudson's Bay Company.

1996 Loon MS65 ICCS:




These are sideways in the holders. Rotating the images was distorting them, so I didn't.

There are no circulation strike loons for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, or 2001.

If folk like I could post some uncertified non-circulating BU or specimen strikes for those dates.