We sell a lot of coins that are offered on our site, lcrcoin.com as well as other popular platforms. One question we hear often is why is one coin graded a 70 and another not? We hear this in relation to many popular coins we sell online. The American Silver Eagle, the Mercanti signed Silver Eagle, the American Gold Eagle, the American Gold Buffalo, the Chinese Panda and of course rare United States Mint coins. Rather than focus on the lesser grades in the "Sheldon Numerical Grading Scale" that denote the lower grades we will discuss the perfect examples. As a summary here are some points on lower grades starting with "PO-1" considered barely recognizable to "Good" where the general outline of the design is visible to "AU" where you are looking at varying degrees of surface friction and very slight wear to "Uncirculated", (MS), where starting at MS60 we are talking very slight imperfections up to the grade in question MS70.

The providers or services who physically grade the coins and seal them in tamper proof holders that all collectors and dealers buy, sell and trade without concern are PCGS, (Professional Coin Grading Service), and NGC, (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), we only offer graded, certified rare and modern U.S. Mint coins graded by these two companies.

MS70 as a term means the following. Perfect in every way, no signs of wear, the finest quality possible. Very few coins ever achieve this designation. If you had a mintage of coins in the hundreds of thousands maybe a handful at most or maybe none would ever achieve this grade. Therefore, they are prized and sought after and this is why they perform as an invest above lesser grades.

What about a Proof version? Proof is not a grade. This is a term related to a method of manufacture and coins can receive varying grades as a Proof manufactured coin. As you may know only a fraction of coins produced as U.S. Mint coinage for use is created as a special production run of the Proof example. Based on this fact when you have a coin that is designated PR70 you now have something that is as rare as a coin can be and as perfect as anything made by man.

Good luck in your collections and whenever possible choose the highest grade you can. When you see any coin graded MS70 or PR70 you know you are buying the perfect example of that coin.