Contact Marks

Definition: Contact marks are marks on the surface, sides, or rims of coins that have been in contact with things that can ding them or damage them. Typical sources of contact marks include:

• Jingling against other coins in the cloth sack during transport from the mint.


• Getting edge and rim dings from coin counting and rolling machines.


• Being scraped and scratched during automated processing through machinery at the mint and elsewhere.

Basically, any source of dings, dents, and scrapes that mar coins as a result of contact with other coins and coin processing machinery can be called contact marks. The larger the coin, the more susceptible it is to this type of damage. It is important to note that many types of contact marks, especially those caused by coin counting machinery, are considered to be damage.

Examples: If it wasn't for one little contact mark, my MS-68 penny would have graded MS-69.