Uncirculated Coins

[colliewalker1 0]

As a begiiner to coin collecting I am puzzled by the UNC grade: I can understand that Proof coins will never be circulated as they are a special issue for collectors.

How is it that uncirculated coins - which presumably are a 'standard issue' never become circulated or - perhaps even more strangely - can be AUNC?

[Sylvester 15]

As a begiiner to coin collecting I am puzzled by the UNC grade: I can understand that Proof coins will never be circulated as they are a special issue for collectors.

How is it that uncirculated coins - which presumably are a 'standard issue' never become circulated or - perhaps even more strangely - can be AUNC?

Just to confuse you further proof coins can be circulated. Many have been broken out of their sets and spent by people who know or care little about coins Older proofs from the 1700s often turn up circulated, more than not.

How can a business strike coin be UNC?

You're in a shop the person behind the till opens a roll of 2p's straight from the bank still in their bank wrappers(i've seen this done), these coins have just entered circulation for the first time as they land in the till. You see this, you get one in change... it's shiny and flawless would you keep it and put it on one side?

(Just incase you're one of those awkward people that answered no there) Well many people do and they take them home, throw them in a drawer and there they stay. Ten years later someone comes across it and thinks wow i've never seen one from 10 years ago look so new (probably cos they've forgot), so they keep it longer... the longer it stays in that drawer the less the chance it is gonna get spent.

It's not uncommon for UNC coins dated 2002 say being off loaded into circulation in 2003/4. People keep them as soon as they find them, but as soon as they start seeing coins of that date turning up left right and centre in decent condition (they gauge that theirs is common and never going to be worth much) so it gets thrown back in circulation. And by that time they are usually looking for the next new ones anyway. [Most of this is subconcious to the general public they wouldn't be aware that they are doing it].

If a UNC coin can get through the first five years out of circulation then there is a good chance it's not going to rejoin circulation all too soon, and even if it does get spent by a child who found it in the drawer, the next person it goes to or the one after that will probably hang onto it anyhow, cos it's shiny! (People generally like shiny new things)

As for AUNC, well thats for a coin say like the one out of the till as before but lets say the person behind the counter drops the coin before she can hand it over to you. It lands on it's edge and gets an edge knock, it's hardly UNC cos it shows signs of being circulated (edge knock and a few small scuffs/scratches) but other than that it still has full detail no wear, because it's not really been used... so AUNC it is. It would have been UNC without the knock and the scratches.

[Half Penny Jon 0]

Sometimes, UNC coins show signs of wear such as cabinet friction or an edge knock. Even though they would have not been in circulation, we have to assume that they are EF or AUNC because we do not know the history of the coin.

[colliewalker1 0]

What a fantastic analysis of the UNC situation - many thanks indeed!!!

[Chris Perkins 228]

Yes, I thought so too!