Question About Grading - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 905
jbakic Valued Member United States 251 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 09:23 am Hello everyone. I just started collecting coins a few months ago and have a question about grading. I can't seem to find an answer to the question, I've tried searching here to no avail. I see the term BU used a lot in ads for coins on ebay, etc. I understand that means Brilliant Uncirculated, and AU means About Uncirculated. What are the actual differences? I don't see a category in the RedBook for BU. Is it comparable to another grade? Thanks for taking the time to answer a beginners questions. Jim Report this Post to the Staff

SeatedNut Pillar of the Community United States 2797 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 10:37 am jbakic, The difference is evidence of wear ... rub on the highest points of the devices. A BU coin can still have contact marks (from coming in contact with other coins in a mint bag for example) but it won't have that rub/wear on the high points. This is a simplified explanation but it should serve to understand the difference between AU and BU. Report this Post to the Staff
Bilbo Pillar of the Community United States 812 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 10:56 am BU does not have a precise definition (at least not one that's universally accepted). A BU coin should equate to the MS-60 to MS-63 grades. If it is above MS-63, it will probably get additional adjectives (Gem, Superb, etc.). Report this Post to the Staff
jbakic Valued Member United States 251 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 11:13 am Thanks, that helps a lot. I suspected it was a subjective grade open to controversy. THe MS-60 to 63 is a good bookmark. Report this Post to the Staff
SeatedNut Pillar of the Community United States 2797 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 11:41 am Jim, Sellers who use just "BU" in the description are usually offering an MS-60/61 coin; Choice BU = MS-62/63; and Gem BU = MS-64/65. This is not hard and fast, but a good rule of thumb. I find the best defense to be honing your grading skills and not bidding on a coin without quality pictures. Report this Post to the Staff
Metalman Pillar of the Community United States 7123 Posts	Posted 11/13/2007 1:15 pm Seatednut has it right. those are the numbers associated with the BU and the varied decriptors. AU coins will show very slight wear or scuffing on the high points of the coin only ,, this can be very hard to determine from pictures ,especially those provided by many ebay sellers. It is very important that you learn the high points of the coin series your interested in and expand that knowledge as your interests develope to include other coins ,, It is also very important that you learn to see those differences in less than Ideal pictures ,,its not easy but with practice you will be right more often than wrong. Metalman Report this Post to the Staff
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