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Rules for Judging Contact Marks

After luster the most important consideration in grading mint state coins is contact marks. Contact marks are normally caused by contact with other coins. Because the marks often occur when the coins bang against each other during transportation in bags they are referred to as “bag marks”.

Three factors come into play when examining a coins surface: location, severity and quantity with heavy emphasis being placed on location.

The portrait of a coin and the area the portrait is looking at is called the prime focal area. Marks within this will reduce a coin’s grade more then marks that appear elsewhere such as in the fields outside the prime focal area. When examining a Liberty Head Dime the prime focal area is the face, which includes the area from the forehead to the chin. The secondary prime focal areas are the field in front of the face, the neck, the top of the cap, bottom of the cap (below the wing) and the field behind the head.  

Another consideration in severity, that is how deep, damaging or distracting the marks appear. MS60 coins will have at least one major gash, flaw or other imperfection in the focal area along with scratches, abrasions, and imperfections visible to the unaided eye as well as major detractions. MS63 coins will have noticeable marks visible to the naked eye. MS65 coins will have very minor imperfections visible with a 5-power glass.

The last consideration when judging contact marks is their quantity. MS60 coins will have at least one imperfection in the focal area along with several scratches and abrasions typical for the grade. MS63 coins will have better surface quality and better luster then an MS60. While they may have noticeable marks they will be fewer then the MS60 graded coins. MS65 coins cannot have excessive nicks, scratches, marks or flaws of any kind.

 

Winged Liberty Head Obverse - MS66

This 1943-S is virtually flawless. Using a 5-power glass I was unable to find any nicks in the prime focal areas. I can only guess it received a grade of 66 for lack of luster.

Winged Liberty Head Obverse - MS64

This 1938-D has just a few minor nicks on the cheek and on the neck. It does lack the luster that the 1943-S shows and is graded MS64 by PCI.

Winged Liberty Head Reverse - MS66

The reverse of the 1943-S is just as clean as the obverse. It shows nice full split bands and no noticeable marks.

Winged Liberty Head Reverse - MS64

The reverse of the 1938-D shows minor abrasions in the field to the right. There are also some minor nicks in on the rods below the bands. It does show a very nice split in the bands. Note the difference in luster between this and the 1943-S.

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