When buying and selling coins, one must keep in mind that many issues are virtually non-existent in fully struck condition, even in the highest possible uncirculated grades of MS 68 and MS 69. Most coins from Branch Mints may lack central details due to wear of the die or weakness of strike, NOT due to wear on the coin itself. How does one tell the difference? Quite simply, if there are isolated flat spots on the highest part of the coin, yet some other areas of the coin are sharp or complete and NO breaks in luster/toning and NO slight traces of wear on other parts of the coin, the coin is Uncirculated. Miss Liberty's head detail on Standing Quarters and Saint Gardens' Double Eagles, Horn detail on Buffalo Nickels, Diamond detail on Indian Cents, Feather and hair detail on Bust and Seated coins, Wreath Detail on half cents, large cents, half dimes and Seated Dimes, Miss Liberty's hair detail and the Eagle's feather detail on many Morgan and Peace Dollars, Wheat stalks on Lincoln cents, lines on Mercury Dimes, Walking Liberty and Franklin Halves, steps on Jefferson Nickels, etc., may be weak, fuzzy or non-existent on most issues, while all other detail is bold and crisp. By nature, wear occurs evenly and uniformly all over coins. Weakness of strike is usually confined only to central or isolated areas, leaving the rest of the design fully intact in most cases.

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