Mint State Gold

Selecting the right silver product is very easy. That decision is primarily based on two factors:

• Timeframe
• Purpose for investing

Timeframes and investment criteria can vary from one individual to another. Ask yourself the following questions to determine which option gives you the most ‘YES’ answers. Then, scroll down to view the gold product recommendations for that option.

Selecting the right gold product is very easy. That decision is primarily based on two factors:

• Timeframe
• Purpose for investing

Timeframes and investment criteria can vary from one individual to another. Ask yourself the following questions to determine which option gives you the most ‘YES’ answers. Then, scroll down to view the gold product recommendations for that option.

I strongly recommend storing your coins in one of the two places outlined below. NEVER let a dealer store your coins. It is crucial for you to hold on to your own coins and not leave them in the hands of any third-party. Whether you keep your bullion and/or coins in a bank safe deposit box or a home safe, always keep an ongoing and updated inventory of all coins for your protection.

Safe Deposit Box at Your Bank

If you secure your coins in a bank safe deposit box, remember these things:

Since ancient times, no other substance on earth has been so desired, fought over, revered or mythologized as Gold. Gold has long been equated with power and beauty in virtually every culture. Gold has been written about in the biblical Book of Genesis and by Greek sage and poet Homer who warned of its allure. It is, perhaps, the only metal universally accepted as a form of wealth, long before the first coins were ever minted. 

Mythological tales have been passed down from generation to generation surrounding Gold. Greedy King Midas was cursed with the Golden Touch and everything he touched was turned to Gold, including his beloved daughter. Jason and the Argonauts searched for the fabled Golden Fleece against Herculean odds, a mythological tale rooted in reality. Ancient miners used a sheep’s fleece as a type of sieve to capture the tiny, but heavy, flakes of Gold found in water. After the fleece dried, it was gently shaken and the Gold flakes were collected. This method was even practiced by some miners in the California Gold Rush of 1849.

The table below shows each of the point scores on the modern Point Grading Scale along with their corresponding descriptive categories and abbreviations, and is followed by a list of detailed category explanations and defining characteristics.

 Note: The Difference between Mint State and Proof Grades

The term “Mint State” is a grader’s designation for a regular Business Strike coin that has never been circulated: e.g. one in the same approximate condition as when it was first produced. A Mint State (MS) coin is graded between 60 (with marks) and 70 (flawless/gem-like)—the highest grade a Business Strike coin can achieve. 

The earliest known examples of coins date back to 7^th century Turkey. They were irregular in shape, stamped on one side, and made from a gold-silver mix, known as electrum. The Greeks refined the minting process, and later the Chinese, who were the first to use non-precious metals in their coins—a practice that soon spread to the West and became common among developed countries. Coin manufacturing techniques continued to evolve throughout Western cultures up through the industrial revolution and the invention of high-powered presses. Since then, with the exception of computer advancements, the coin making process has remained relatively unchanged.