The different types of coin quality standards

 
When you orient yourself on the coin market and delve into different coins, you will soon find out that there are many terms that say something about the quality of a coin. This is because coins are minted in different ways and this has a lot of influence on the quality of the coin. In this article, we will explain different terms used to describe the quality of a coin.
 

Circulation quality

Circulation-grade coins are used by consumers on a daily basis to pay with. Circulation-grade coins move from consumer to consumer and are stored in different places. As a result, the coins wear faster and are often damaged in different places.
 

Uncirculated (UNC)

Uncirculated coins are minted as if they are going into circulation, however, they we not put into circulation. These coins are sold directly to coin collectors. During the production process the coins are collected in a metal container, this sometimes shows superficial damages. They are often resold to collectors in mint roll packaging.
 

Brilliant Uncirculated (BU)

Besides Uncirculated coins, there is also a distinction in quality between Brilliant Uncirculated. These coins are struck with a new mint stamp which makes them more shiny than circulation-quality or uncirculated coins. These coins too are not intended for circulation but are sold to collectors.
 

Proof

Coins of proof quality have the highest possible quality. This is reflected in sharp details due to a greater difference in background and relief. The background is also cooler and shinier. In the past, the term proof coin meant a coin struck as a test to see how a new design looked on a coin. Only a few proof copies were needed to test the production process. Today, proof-quality coins are minted individually and then stored in a separate capsule to reduce the chance of damage. Because the risk of damage is higher than with regular coins, proof coins should also only be handled with gloves on.
 

Prooflike

Finally, the coin market also uses a quality standard called prooflike. Coins of this quality are very similar to proof coins. However, there is a difference. During the production process of prooflike coins, the stamps are polished and the coin plates are treated in a special way. On the other hand, several coins are minted with the same pair of stamps. Nevertheless, prooflike coins should also be handled with care to reduce the risk of damage.

The Silver Mountain was founded in 2008 by Rolf van Zanten. When we started, we had a clear goal in mind: to enable the purchase of physical silver and gold in an accessible, safe and transparent way.
We are proud to say that we have since grown to become the Netherlands' largest and most reliable bullion dealer online. On the bullion market, we offer a full-service service for buying, selling and storing your precious metals. This is also reflected in our reviews.
 

Disclaimer: The Silver Mountain does not provide investment advice and this article should not be considered as such. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.