Numismatics Collections

Surprisingly, many overlook this aspect unless they delve into collecting graded coins or manage their numismatic budget. Grading companies such as NGC and PCGS employ a numeric grade to succinctly characterize a coin's condition. However, certain coins, particularly copper coins, necessitate a more nuanced description of their condition and appearance. When copper coins are minted, they typically exhibit a distinctive red luster. Over time, this red luster diminishes, eventually transforming into a rich brown color due to oxidation. Graders use three primary strike characters following the numeric grade to depict the amount of red and brown present on the coin's surfaces: "RD" (for red), "RB" (for red-brown), and "BN" (for brown). A coin labeled the RD strike character must retain a minimum of 85% of its original red luster. A coin labeled with an RB strike character should retain a minimum of 15% of its original red luster. A coin labeled with a