Mark Host Coins

Discussing the Term PQ - Interview with Don Willis

Click for the direct link to the article. The PQ (premium quality) designation has always be allusive for coin submitters and unknown to most laymen. This article offers a great discussion about the term. As stated in the article, an entire book could be written on the subject. By no means is this a comprehensive guide or article, but does offer quick bits of information for the novice or expert...

Numismatic Edge Lettering Explained

Accurately assessing edge lettering can be difficult because it is uncommon. The US Mint has been utilizing this design style lately but it hasn’t been this popular in American for years. We have more examples from Europe but we need like kind examples to asses edge lettering and how it will affect the grade of your coin. We have now seen all sorts of genuine edge letter errors and the...

Grade Population Reports

The “pop reports” as their known by many or population report is an ongoing list or book put together by the different third party grading services. This report shows the amount of coins graded in a particular grade for a particular coin. It is a very detailed table of data, which can heavily affect price or determine a coins rarity. The modern version of these quarterly books are tabular data...

Rare or Uncommon? A Discussion of Rarity

When describing a coin there are different aspect that make up the value or perceived worth for a collector or investor. One aspect is population , though this should not be confused with rarity. While rarity is based on population it is also determined by population of the particular grade of that particular type/pattern. A coin is rare can be described as rare, uncommon, hard to find or just very...

Difference Between Mint State and Satin Finish

Their is a slight difference between the two distinct surface designations made by the third party grading services. You must understand this difference in buying coins on Ebay or from a dealer. The difference can be significant in terms of price and value due to rarity. Some coins in a particular grade are much more valuable than the same grade for a coin in the other surface finish. This is...

What is Deep Cameo or Ultra Cameo?

Ultra or deep Cameo is a designation that applies only to proof coins. It is the measure of the contrast between the frosted devices (raised portions of the design) and the mirrored fields (all the flat areas of the coin). On a Modern coin, you should expect for it to be Ultra or Deep Cameo. When you get to older proofs, it is often times an exception, not a rule,...

What Does Burnished Mean?

In 2006 the US Mint offered the “W” Gold and Platinum Uncirculated Sets using specially burnished blanks (also known as planchets) in the Mint product family. Later that year they also produced Silver Eagles struck on the burnished blanks. A common misconception is that the actual dies are burnished, when it is the blanks themselves that are burnished before being struck with the die. Burnishing is a process resulting in...

Sheldon Grading Scale

The basic coin grading scale created by Dr. William Sheldon to more accurately assess the value of ones coins. At the time the numbers represented the multiple in value for a coins worth in comparison to a lower number. For example, a coin graded good is worth four times the amount for that same coin in Poor condition. The system has evolved over the years with the advent of third...