Coin Album Slide Marks: Can You Still Get MS67 with Contact Marks? 2025

Album slide marks—parallel scratches caused by sliding coins in and out of album pages—represent one of the most common and debated grading challenges in numismatics. Collectors frequently ask whether coins with visible slide marks can achieve premium grades like MS-67 or whether these marks automatically limit grades to MS-64 or lower. Understanding how PCGS and NGC evaluate album slide marks, where they're acceptable, and when they disqualify coins from high grades determines whether you submit coins for grading or sell them as-is.

Before submitting album-stored coins for professional grading, using AI pre-assessment helps you evaluate whether slide marks are minor enough to permit high grades or severe enough to limit grades below certification threshold, potentially saving $30-150+ in grading fees on coins that won't achieve desired grades.

What Are Album Slide Marks?

Album slide marks occur when coins are inserted into or removed from album slots, with the cardboard or plastic edges creating parallel hairline scratches across coin surfaces. These marks differ from bag marks, which occur during the minting and distribution process.

**Album Slide Mark Characteristics:**

- **Parallel Lines**: Multiple hairlines running in same direction - **Consistent Pattern**: Marks show where album edge contacted surface during insertion/removal - **Surface Level**: Scratches on coin surface, not deep gouges - **Location**: Typically along edges where album slot contacted coin - **Direction**: Usually parallel to coin edge or across specific design elements - **Quantity**: Can range from single mark to dozens of hairlines

**How Album Marks Form:** - Coins slide against cardboard or plastic album pages - Friction creates fine scratches during insertion/removal - Accumulated marks from decades of viewing - Worse on albums with tight-fitting slots - More severe on softer metals (copper worse than nickel)

Album Slide Marks vs. Bag Marks: Critical Differences

Understanding the distinction between mint-caused bag marks and post-mint album marks is essential:

Bag Marks (Mint-Caused, Acceptable)

**Origin**: Occurred during minting, counting, bagging, and distribution **Pattern**: Random, multidirectional contact marks **Depth**: Vary from light to moderate (but still in mint state) **Grading Impact**: Expected and acceptable for grades; severity determines exact grade **Location**: Anywhere on coin, including protected areas **Value**: Coins with bag marks can grade MS-60 through MS-70

Album Slide Marks (Post-Mint, Problematic)

**Origin**: Occurred after coin left mint from collector storage **Pattern**: Parallel, directional scratches following album insertion path **Depth**: Usually light but clearly post-mint alteration **Grading Impact**: Can limit grades significantly; severe marks may result in details grade **Location**: Typically edges and high points that contact album **Value**: Severity determines if coin grades mint state or receives "Genuine—Improperly Cleaned" or "Genuine—Surface Hairlines"

**The Key Distinction**: Bag marks happened AT the mint (acceptable); album marks happened AFTER the mint (problematic).

How PCGS and NGC Grade Coins with Album Slide Marks

Professional grading services apply nuanced standards to album-stored coins:

Minor Album Slide Marks (Acceptable)

**Grading Impact:** - May achieve MS-65 to MS-67 if other factors strong - Minor slide marks treated similar to light bag marks - Eye appeal remains key determining factor - Graders more lenient if marks in non-focal areas - Can receive numerical grades without "details" designation

**Example Grades with Minor Album Marks:** - Morgan Dollar with light edge hairlines: MS-64 to MS-66 possible - Lincoln Cent with minor slide marks on rim: MS-65 RD achievable - Buffalo Nickel with edge hairlines: MS-64 to MS-65 realistic

Moderate Album Slide Marks (Limiting)

**Characteristics:** - Visible parallel hairlines under normal lighting - Cover moderate surface area (10-25% of coin) - Noticeable but don't dominate appearance - Affect focal areas or multiple locations - Some luster disruption visible

**Grading Impact:** - Typically limits grades to MS-62 through MS-64 - MS-67 unlikely regardless of other qualities - May receive numerical grade but won't achieve premium grades - Graders penalize marks in focal areas (faces, central design) - Still acceptable for mint state if not excessive

**Example Grades with Moderate Album Marks:** - Morgan Dollar with visible obverse hairlines: MS-62 to MS-63 typical - Peace Dollar with slide marks across Liberty's face: MS-63 maximum - Walking Liberty with edge-to-center hairlines: MS-62 to MS-64

Severe Album Slide Marks (Details Grade or Rejection)

**Characteristics:** - Heavy parallel scratches clearly visible without magnification - Cover large surface areas (25%+ of coin) - Dominate appearance and destroy eye appeal - Deep enough to disrupt luster significantly - May appear similar to light cleaning

**Grading Impact:** - Often receive "Genuine—Surface Hairlines" or "Genuine—Improperly Cleaned" - No numerical mint state grade assigned - Details designation destroys significant value - May be rejected entirely by grading service - Treated as impaired surface regardless of technical mint state

**Result**: Details grade coins typically worth 20-50% of equivalent numerical grade value.

Can Coins with Album Marks Grade MS-67 or Higher?

The short answer: **Yes, but rarely and only with very minor marks.**

**Requirements for MS-67+ with Album Marks:**

**1. Exceptional Base Quality** - Strike must be full and sharp - Luster must be complete and attractive - Surfaces pristine except for minimal album marks - No bag marks, spots, or other distractions - Outstanding eye appeal despite minor marks

**2. Minimal Mark Severity** - Hairlines barely detectible under normal viewing - Limited to non-focal peripheral areas - Don't interrupt major design elements - Visible only under certain lighting angles - Don't affect overall visual impression

**3. Coin Type Considerations** - Large coins (dollars, halves) more forgiving than small (cents, dimes) - Coins with active luster hide marks better - Proof surfaces show marks more obviously than business strikes - Toned coins may mask minor marks

**Reality Check**: MS-67 represents top 2-3% of mint state population. Album marks typically disqualify coins from this elite tier even when minor.

Understanding MS-65 vs MS-66 value differences shows why achieving MS-67 with any post-mint marks is exceptional.

Identifying Album Marks Before Submission

Accurate pre-grading evaluation prevents wasted submission fees:

**Examination Technique:**

**Step 1: Lighting Test** - Hold coin under single bright light source - Rotate slowly watching for parallel hairline patterns - Raking light (45-degree angle) reveals marks best - Album marks show consistent directionality - Compare to bag marks which appear random

**Step 2: Magnification (10x)** - Examine suspected marks under loupe or microscope - Album marks show V-shaped cross-sections (scratches) - Bag marks show U-shaped profiles (compression) - Check if marks penetrate luster layer - Verify marks follow insertion/removal path

**Step 3: Coverage Assessment** - Estimate percentage of surface affected - Note whether marks in focal areas or periphery - Consider impact on overall eye appeal - Compare to known graded examples with similar marks

**Step 4: Severity Rating** - Minor: Barely visible, peripheral only, <5% coverage - Moderate: Visible, some focal area impact, 5-20% coverage - Severe: Obvious, significant focal area impact, >20% coverage

Use proper photography techniques to document marks before submission for comparison after grading.

When to Submit Coins with Album Marks

Apply this decision framework:

**Submit If:** - Album marks are minimal and peripheral only - Base coin quality exceptional (strike, luster, surfaces) - Estimated grade MS-64+ even with marks factored in - Coin has significant value at MS-63 to MS-65 range - Value spread justifies $30-50 grading cost - Similar coins with minor marks have graded successfully - AI pre-assessment shows strong base quality - You need certification for sale or documentation

**Don't Submit If:** - Marks clearly visible to naked eye across focal areas - Coverage exceeds 10-15% of surface - Marks disrupt luster significantly - Similar coins with those marks grade details or low MS - Estimated grade MS-62 or lower won't justify costs - Coin value minimal (under $100 even at MS-65) - You're submitting hoping graders miss the marks (they won't) - Base coin has other problems beyond album marks

Grade Expectations by Album Mark Severity

Realistic grading outcomes based on mark severity:

Minimal Marks (Barely Detectible)

**Grade Range**: MS-64 to MS-67 **Success Rate**: 70-80% receive numerical grades **Value Impact**: 5-15% reduction vs. mark-free **Submission Worthiness**: Yes, if base coin MS-65+ quality

Light Marks (Visible Under Light)

**Grade Range**: MS-62 to MS-65 **Success Rate**: 60-70% receive numerical grades **Value Impact**: 15-30% reduction vs. mark-free **Submission Worthiness**: Maybe, depends on value spread

Moderate Marks (Clearly Visible)

**Grade Range**: MS-60 to MS-63 **Success Rate**: 40-50% receive numerical grades **Value Impact**: 30-50% reduction vs. mark-free **Submission Worthiness**: Rarely, unless valuable coin type

Heavy Marks (Dominant Feature)

**Grade Range**: Details grade likely **Success Rate**: 10-20% receive numerical grades **Value Impact**: 50-80% reduction vs. mark-free **Submission Worthiness**: No, sell as-is or keep ungraded

Album Storage: Preventing Future Slide Marks

For collectors still using albums, prevention is key:

**Safe Album Practices:** - Use albums with gentle fit, not tight slots - Insert/remove coins carefully at angle to minimize contact - Consider archival flips or capsules instead of albums - Never force coins into slots - Avoid repeatedly removing coins for viewing - Use cotton gloves when handling - Store albums flat, not upright (reduces sliding in slots)

**Modern Alternatives:** - NGC/PCGS slabs (zero additional mark risk) - Air-Tite capsules (individual protection) - Archival flips with backing boards - Coin presentation boxes with capsules - Digital photography for viewing (minimize physical handling)

**Transition Strategy**: Remove valuable coins from albums before slide marks develop; leave common coins in albums for enjoyment.

Common Mistakes with Album-Stored Coins

Avoid these costly errors:

**Mistake 1: Assuming Minor Marks Don't Matter** - **Problem**: Even light marks reduce grades and values - **Reality**: MS-66 mark-free worth 2x MS-64 with minor marks - **Solution**: Evaluate impact honestly before submission expectations

**Mistake 2: Submitting Entire Album Collection** - **Problem**: Most album coins have some slide marks - **Cost**: $30-50 per coin × 50 coins = $1,500-2,500 in wasted fees - **Solution**: Pre-screen and submit only mark-free or minimal-mark coins

**Mistake 3: Confusing Album Marks with Cleaning** - **Problem**: Parallel hairlines look like cleaning to graders - **Reality**: Both can result in details grades - **Solution**: If uncertain whether album marks or cleaning, don't submit

**Mistake 4: Ignoring Mark Location** - **Problem**: Marks on focal areas worse than peripheral marks - **Example**: Slide marks across Morgan Dollar Liberty face = grade killer - **Solution**: Location matters as much as severity

**Mistake 5: Attempting to "Fix" Marks** - **Problem**: Cleaning or polishing to remove marks creates worse problem - **Result**: Converts MS coin with marks to details grade cleaned coin - **Solution**: Never attempt to remove album marks—accept and grade as-is or don't grade

Market Values: Album Marks Impact by Coin Type

Value impact varies by denomination and collector base:

Morgan Dollars (High Impact)

**Reason**: Large collecting base, high eye appeal standards **Minor Marks**: 15-25% value reduction **Moderate Marks**: 40-60% value reduction **Market**: Very sensitive to surface quality; album marks significantly hurt values

Lincoln Cents (Moderate Impact)

**Reason**: Color designation more important than minor marks **Minor Marks**: 10-20% value reduction if still RD **Moderate Marks**: May drop RD to RB (50%+ value loss) **Market**: Color trumps minor marks; major marks affect color designation

Type Coins (Variable Impact)

**Reason**: Depends on specific series and collector preferences **Minor Marks**: 10-30% value reduction **Moderate Marks**: 30-50% value reduction **Market**: Series with high eye appeal focus (Walking Liberty, etc.) more impacted

Using AI Pre-Assessment for Album Mark Evaluation

AI grading technology helps evaluate coins with album marks:

**AI Assessment Benefits:** - Identify surface disruptions and hairlines - Estimate grade impact of visible marks - Compare to population of graded coins with similar marks - Provide confidence scores indicating certainty - Screen for additional problems beyond album marks - Calculate submission worthiness based on estimated grade

**AI Limitations:** - May not distinguish album marks from other hairlines - Photography lighting affects mark visibility - Cannot predict grader subjectivity on borderline cases - Best used as screening tool, not final determination

**Best Practice**: Use AI to identify problem coins before submission; submit only those with high confidence scores and minimal detected surface issues.

Album Toning vs. Album Marks: The Trade-Off

Interestingly, album storage can create both problems (marks) and benefits (attractive toning):

**The Album Paradox:** - Albums cause slide marks (negative for grading) - Albums create attractive peripheral toning (positive for value) - Rainbow album toning can add 200-800% premium - Slide marks reduce grade/value by 15-50% - Net result depends on toning quality vs. mark severity

**Strategic Implications:** - Beautiful toned coin with minor marks may still bring premium - Moderate marks on exceptional toning still worthwhile to grade - Severe marks destroy value even with nice toning - Toning can mask minor marks (positive) but also cleaning attempts (negative for authentication)

Make Smart Decisions About Album-Stored Coins

Album slide marks present a common challenge when grading coins from old collections. While minor peripheral marks can still permit MS-64 to MS-66 grades on exceptional coins, visible marks across focal areas typically limit grades to MS-63 or below—and severe marks may result in details grades that destroy significant value. Accurate pre-grading assessment prevents wasting submission fees on coins that won't achieve desired grades.

Use CoinGrader AI to evaluate album-stored coins before professional submission, identifying surface disruptions and estimating grade impact to make informed decisions about which specimens justify certification costs.

Start pre-assessing your album collection today and focus grading budget on coins with minimal marks and maximum grade potential.