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Coin Grading
Coin grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a coin, one of the key factors in determining its collectible value. A coin's grade is generally determined by six criteria: strike, preservation, luster, color, attractiveness, and occasionally the country/state in which it was minted. Several grading systems have been developed. Certification services professionally grade coins for tiered fees. Overview A "grade" measures a coin's appearance. There are generally five main components which determine a coin's grade: strike, surface preservation, luster, coloration and eye appeal. Grading is subjective and even experts can disagree about the grade of a given coin. History U.S. coin grading has evolved over the years to a system of finer and finer grade distinctions. Originally, there were only two grades, new and used. This changed to the letter grading system beginning with the lowest grade – ''Basal State'' (also ''Poor'' (PO)), then continuing ''Fair'' ( ...
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American Numismatic Association Certification Service
The American Numismatic Association Certification Service, better known as ANACS, is a coin grading company founded in 1972. History Originally founded in June 1972 as the American Numismatic Association's authentication service, ANACS expanded into third-party coin grading in March 1979. ANACS was founded in response to the rise in counterfeit and altered coins in the numismatic marketplace. During the coin collecting boom of the 1960s, counterfeiters would alter common-date coins, and either add or remove a mintmark in order to sell the coins as their more-valuable counterparts. (For example, an 'S' mint mark would be added to a 1909 VDB Lincoln cent in order to increase the coin's value by making collectors think it was a genuine 1909-S VDB cent). ANA sold ANACS to the publisher of ''Coin World ''Coin World'' is an American numismatic magazine, with weekly and monthly issues. It is among the world’s most popular non-academic publications for coin collectors and is coveri ...
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Troy Weight
Troy weight is a system of units of mass that originated in the Kingdom of England in the 15th century and is primarily used in the precious metals industry. The troy weight units are the grain, the pennyweight (24 grains), the troy ounce (20 pennyweights), and the troy pound (12 troy ounces). The troy grain is equal to the grain unit of the avoirdupois system, but the troy ounce is heavier than the avoirdupois ounce, and the troy pound is lighter than the avoirdupois pound. Legally, one troy ounce (oz t) equals exactly 31.1034768 grams. Etymology Troy weight is generally supposed to take its name from the French market town of Troyes where English merchants traded at least as early as the early 9th century. The name ''troy'' is first attested in 1390, describing the weight of a platter, in an account of the travels in Europe of the Earl of Derby. Charles Moore Watson (1844–1916) proposes an alternative etymology: ''The Assize of Weights and Measures'' (also known a ...
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Proof Coinage
Proof coinage refers to special early samples of a coin issue, historically made for checking the die (manufacturing), dies (as in demonstrating that something is true) and for archival purposes. In modern times, proofs are often struck in greater numbers, especially for coin collecting, coin collectors (numismatists). Nearly all countries have issued proof coinage. Preparation of a proof striking usually involved polishing of the dies. They can usually be distinguished from normal circulation coins by their sharper rims and design, as well as much smoother "fields"— the blank areas not part of the coin's design. The dies for making modern proof coins are often treated with chemicals to make certain parts of the design take on a frosted appearance, with the polished fields taking on a mirror finish. Several other methods have been used in the past to achieve this effect, including sand blasting the dies, and matte proofs. Proof coins of the early 19th century even appear to b ...
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Exonumia
Exonumia are numismatic items (such as tokens, medals, or scrip) other than coins and paper money. This includes "Good For" tokens, badges, counterstamped coins, elongated coins, encased coins, souvenir medallions, tags, wooden nickels and other similar items. It is an aspect of numismatics and many coin collectors are also exonumists. Besides the above strict definition, others extend it to include non-coins which may or may not be legal tenders such as cheques, credit cards and similar paper. These can also be considered notaphily or scripophily. Etymology The noun ''exonumia'' is derived from two classical roots: ''exo'', meaning "out-of" in Greek, and '' nummus'', meaning "coin" in Latin (from Greek νοῦμμος – ''noummos'', "coin"); thus, "out ideof- he categoryoins". The equivalent British term, paranumismatica, may also be used. The words ''exonumist'' and ''exonumia'' were coined in July 1960 by Russell Rulau, a recognized authority and author on th ...
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Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals, and related objects. Specialists, known as numismatists, are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, but the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other means of payment used to resolve debts and exchange good (economics), goods. The earliest forms of money used by people are categorised by collectors as "odd and curious", but the use of other goods in barter exchange is excluded, even where used as a circulating currency (e.g., cigarettes or instant noodles in prison). As an example, the Kyrgyz people used horses as the principal currency unit, and gave small change in sheepskin, lambskins; the lambskins may be suitable for numismatic study, but the horses are not. Many objects have been used for centuries, such as Cowry, cowry shells, precious metals, Cocoa beans#History, cocoa beans, Rai stones, large stones, and Gemstone, gems. Etymology Firs ...
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Paper Currency Grading
Paper currency grading is the process of determining the grade or condition of a bank note, one of the key factors in determining its collectible value. A banknotes grade is generally determined by crispness (Rigid, not limp paper), brightness, and depth of color. Other factors that are taken into consideration include centering of the printed area, artificially suppressed folds, repairs, and pinholes. Certification services professionally grade banknotes for tiered fees. United States United States banknotes are graded by a system much like the 70 points Sheldon coin grading scale which is used for coins. Top-quality grades include "Gem" or "Choice" condition which is usually dubbed as "New" by sellers down to "poor" for notes barely identifiable. Paper money, in general, can become "ugly" over time which in turn affects eye appeal and value as it does with coins. Circulated grades See also *Coin grading * Coin slab *Numismatics Numismatics is the study or collection of ...
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Coin Collecting
Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of Mint (facility), minted legal tender. Coins of interest to collectors include beautiful, rare, and historically significant pieces. Collectors may be interested, for example, in complete sets of a particular design or denomination, coins that were in circulation for only a brief time, or coins with mint error, errors. Coin collecting can be differentiated from numismatics, in that the latter is the systematic study of currency as a whole, though the two disciplines are closely interlinked. Many factors determine a coin's value including grade, rarity, and popularity. Commercial organizations offer coin grading, grading services and will grade, authenticate, attribute, and encapsulate most coins. History People have hoarding, hoarded coins for their bullion value for as long as coins have been minted. However, the collection of coins for their artistic value was a later development. Evidence from the archaeologica ...
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Cameo (coinage)
In coin grading, cameo is the amount of contrast between the relief (raised or recessed design) and field (background). Cameo is usually seen on proof coinage, with the relief featuring a frosted finish and the field being mirror-like. Not all proof coins have a cameo effect, however. History Cameos can be found on some of the earliest American proof coins, but have not been produced intentionally for the public until recently. The US Mint, like many mints around the world, now specifically sells cameo coins, which could previously only be found randomly in mint proof sets. Non-proof cameos Though rare, general circulation (non-proof) strikes may exhibit cameo as a result of die polishing. These coins are often designated "PL" (Proof-Like) if the cameo effect is strong enough. Coins with highly mirrored fields may even be designated "DMPL" (Deep Mirror Proof-Like, sometimes shortened to "DPL" or Deep Proof-Like). These designations are found mostly on Morgan Dollars, and ar ...
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Cleaning (coinage)
Coin cleaning is the controversial process of removing undesirable substances from a coin's surface in order to make it more attractive to potential buyers. The subject is disputed among the numismatic community whether cleaning coins is necessary. Those that argue in favor of cleaning are also in dispute on which methods work best. It was once common practice to clean coins as the method was recommended by experts in the field. Solutions from pencil erasers to wire brushes and potassium cyanide were all used as cleaning agents with the goal to make the coin look brilliant again. When certified grading came into use in the mid 1980s though, the practice of cleaning coins diminished over time. Most coin experts have since come out against cleaning coins, as doing so can negatively affect them both in grade and value. If a potentially valuable coin must be cleaned (for example if the coin is deformed) then professional work is recommended. Commonly found coins are mentioned as ideal ...
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Mint State
Mint or The Mint may refer to: Plants * Lamiaceae, the mint family ** ''Mentha'', the genus of plants commonly known as "mint" Coins and collectibles * Mint (facility), a facility for manufacturing coins * Mint condition, a state of like-new quality Arts and entertainment Fictional entities * Mint, in the video game '' Threads of Fate'' * Mr. Mint, a character in the ''Candy Land'' board game series * Mint, a ''Ranma ½'' character * Mint Adnade, in the video game '' Tales of Phantasia'' * Mint Aizawa, in the anime and manga ''Tokyo Mew Mew'' * Mint Blancmanche, in the video game/anime series ''Galaxy Angel'' Film and television * ''Mint'' (film), a Japanese drama * ''The Mint'' (film), a 2015 American comedy * ''The Mint'' (Australia game show), 2007–2008 * ''The Mint'' (British game show), 2006–2007 Music * Mint (band), a Belgian music group * Mint Records, a record label * ''Mint'' (Alice Merton album), 2019 * ''Mint'', a 1983 album by Meiko Nakahara ...
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Professional Numismatists Guild
The Professional Numismatists Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to coin collecting Coin collecting is the collecting of coins or other forms of Mint (facility), minted legal tender. Coins of interest to collectors include beautiful, rare, and historically significant pieces. Collectors may be interested, for example, in co ..., as well as the buying and selling on coins and paper money. History Founded in 1955, the organization is composed of many of the top coin and paper money dealers in the United States. References External links * Numismatic associations 1955 establishments in the United States Organizations established in 1955 {{US-culture-org-stub ...
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