2004-D-1-DR-001 LMC

I thought this forum was for getting coins graded.
I was not aware that you actually had to ask.
Or could it be that 97 members checked it out and had no clue how to grade it?

BadThad,
Can you expand a little for me why you disagree with the practice you mentioned above.

This is an area that I find myself struggling with...that fine line between AU and MS. I wold say AU in this case too because the luster is diffidently not what it was when it left the mint, BUT, is it worn...I dunno. I see contact marks, but MS coins can have contact marks...so what is it that might cause an professional to grade this coin or one similar with an MS grade?

Basically, the TPG's look at details on modern cents. IMO, they are ignorant of the high points of the design and exactly how they wear. I have seen a ton of AU modern cents in MS slabs.

On this coin the rims clearly show rub and I can see it on the obverse device high point, the temple/forhead area. On the reverse, the pillars on the side of the steps are the high point, then the cornice, they show rub. The luster is also reduced, an MS 2004 will have bright, cartwheel luster. Also, the dirt is consistent with having been circulated a good bit. If a red, MS coin is put into a drawer and never circulated, it will not look like this at all.