I have several ANACS coins that they have noted as "CLEANED". The one I'm looking at now then continues with "MS 60/DETAILS". What exactly does "MS 60/DETAILS" mean? Is it a MS-60 coin that has been cleaned thus to be treated as a lower grade? OR Is it a higher grade coin that has been reduced to MS-60 because it's been cleaned?
IMO... yes - sort of. It might be better than 60 details. Anyone can quantify the details on a coin. Usually we agree on "details" or "sharpness". That's easier than arriving at a total grade, which is much more contentious. Most coins have problems of one degree or another, and it's much more difficult assigning an "impact" to problems. To some, a given problem is a big deal; to others, not so much. In this case, ANACS says "it's cleaned". How badly ? To some folks, it might be so light they still see cartwheel; MS63 details is worth MS62 money. Others see the same coin and wouldn't pay more than XF money. I would use classic Halperin-style grading to arrive at a total grade without the cleaning (strike, details, nicks, bumps, remaining luster, etc). Then determine how bad the cleaning drops that number.
Is this why they changed their new slabs to that pretty SGS Yellow and are leaving a spot on the bottom of the sticker? So you can put in what grade you think it nets? Interesting concept. Pay me to grade your coin, I will say it needs more detail and you decide what you want to put in that box.. LOL.
ANACS is giving the coin a technical grade. They are stating the grade, and giving the problem(s) separately. So, in this case, if the coin had not been cleaned, you could call it MS-60. However, they are recognizing that the coin has been cleaned, and the buyer may want to take that into account. Different generations of ANACS slabs have given different information. At one time, they would have given a net grade as well. For instance, that same coin might read "MS-60 details, cleaned, net AU-50." In that case they would be giving you the same information about the coin as in the previous case, but in addition, they would be offering the opinion that the cleaning is of a severity such that the coin is "equivalent" to an AU-50 coin for market purposes.
Pity they do not appear to issue the NET grade anymore? As you mention, it is an Expert opinion of the net grade of the coin, after the issues are discounted. I found thast very useful. Eduard
They are saying the coin would grade MS60 - but - it has been harshly/improperly cleaned, so it is not worth as much as another coin that would grade MS60 and that was not cleaned.
I asked ANACS the question. Here's the answer straight from the horse's mouth: MS60 is the highest grade given to "problem coins". Therefore a coin could be a MS-63 in all other respects, but because of the cleaning MS-60 is the best ANACS will give it.
The coin I was looking at is in one of the new "gold" label ANACS holders. Didn't ANACS change ownership with the past year? That could explain the policy change. One that REALLY piques my curiosity is another of their "gold" label holders with the coin graded AU-58. It's a DETAILS coin (cleaned). I'm not quite sure what the grade would have been if it hadn't been cleaned. Best guess would be MS-60.
The policy change occured back when they stopped giving net grades as policy. (They will still give net grades if you request that they do so. or at least they would before the ownership change. I do not know if the new owners will still do that. Not that it matters since no one asks to have their coins net graded.)
