Best Way To Spot Gem Grade Cents? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,409
LibertyEagle20 Pillar of the Community United States 1192 Posts	Posted 01/17/2016 3:13 pm So over the past year I've accumulated a few boxes of 2014 and 2015 cents. Originally I thought I'd just hold onto the boxes but after another member posted mintage numbers I just don't think it's worth it. It appears the mintage on the 2014's is over 8 billion while the 2015's is over 9 billion! I'd have to hold onto these for like 200 years before they would be worth much. Just not worth the space they are taking up! I still may open them up to look to cherry pick a few rolls of gem cents (MS67 or up?). I know they are all uncirculated but is blazing luster the best indicator of a high grade coin? I don't have any experience grading the shield cents. I don't know if this is even worth it but since I have the coins already I may as well pick out the best ones before I turn them in. I may also search for errors if anyone has suggestions for good ones to look for in the 2014/2015 coins. Thanks! Report this Post to the Staff

sel_69l Bedrock of the Community Australia 21788 Posts	Posted 01/17/2016 4:09 pm Blazing luster is NOT the best indicator of a high grade coin. The first strikes off a new die usually show surfaces on a coin, where radial flow of metal during the strike is not obvious at all. This is the case with proof coins, where radial mint luster is not present. When looking for high grade MS coins grade them in the usual ways of looking for quality of strike and the absence of nicks, scratches, hairlines etc. Gem grade coins have the benefits of top quality strike, as well as the complete absence of any damage of any kind. Close examination under 10X magnification is required; that is what the TPGraders do. Report this Post to the Staff
BadThad Bedrock of the Community United States 19961 Posts	Posted 01/18/2016 08:12 am On the newest coins it's the black, water spots that kill the grade. Most of them have nice luster, it's the other marks and black spots that determine the grade. Lincoln Cent Lover! VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/ Report this Post to the Staff
TTcoins Valued Member United States 51 Posts	Posted 01/25/2016 12:34 pm Search for: -Little or no surface contact marks whatsoever -Strong luster is a good way to weed out circulated vs. uncirculated coins, but as sel_69l points out, when it comes to ultra-MS vs normal MS, it is not too helpful. -Strong strike details. Does the design appear to be very sharp, crisp, and well-defined? Those 3 factors are a great place to start. Report this Post to the Staff
MSI2 Valued Member United States 223 Posts	Posted 07/12/2017 09:44 am Are there any good photos of the different grades of Lincoln Shield cents to compare the coins to? Report this Post to the Staff
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