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08-16-2007, 06:03 PM
|  | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, WI Age: 25
Posts: 6,307
Chips: 1,037
| | | Mint vs. Uncirculated
Can someone please explain the difference between mint and uncirculated?
My understanding is that mint means "right from the factory" and uncirculated means "we sent 'em to the casino, but never put 'em in play." Is this correct? If I'm wrong (which is highly likely) can someone please clarify? What can/should I expect from an uncirculated chip(s)? I wouldn't think it would depend on which chip... 
__________________
And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Power hath descended forth from Thy hand,
That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command.
So we shall flow a river forth to Thee,
And teeming with souls shall it ever be.
In nomine Patri, et Fili, Spiritus Sancti. |
08-16-2007, 06:06 PM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Indianapolis Age: 29
Posts: 1,843
Chips: 471
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
For me:
Uncirculated - Never seen table play.
Mint - Virtually indistinguishable from uncirculated, but may have had brief table play. |
08-16-2007, 06:08 PM
| | In the Money | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: niagara falls, Canada Age: 33
Posts: 473
Chips: 287
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Quote:
Originally Posted by links_slayer  Can someone please explain the difference between mint and uncirculated?
My understanding is that mint means "right from the factory" and uncirculated means "we sent 'em to the casino, but never put 'em in play." Is this correct? If I'm wrong (which is highly likely) can someone please clarify? What can/should I expect from an uncirculated chip(s)? I wouldn't think it would depend on which chip... | Mint condition means that it has been out of the cage for play but is in mint condition.
Uncirculated means has not been out of the cage for play yet. |
08-16-2007, 07:10 PM
|  | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The People's Republic of California Age: 94
Posts: 3,166
Chips: 3,421
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Mint: Has been taken out, used slightly, although shows ZERO signs of usage, or wear.
Uncirculated: Hasn't been out of the manufactures box, packaging, etc. (other than for moving from one place to another) to see the light of day, oil of hands, fabric of felt, other chips, etc. etc. |
08-16-2007, 07:14 PM
| | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, WI Age: 25
Posts: 6,307
Chips: 1,037
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Excellent. Thank you for all the feedback and clarification thus far.
__________________
And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Power hath descended forth from Thy hand,
That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command.
So we shall flow a river forth to Thee,
And teeming with souls shall it ever be.
In nomine Patri, et Fili, Spiritus Sancti. |
08-16-2007, 07:29 PM
| | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The People's Republic of California Age: 94
Posts: 3,166
Chips: 3,421
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
From the coin collecting peeps website, where I think this would be applicable with chips as well:
mint (mint state)
A level of preservation signifying the same basic condition as when originally delivered from the mint (uncirculated).
uncirculated
A state of preservation used to describe coins that never circulated in the channels of commerce, i.e. a coin without any wear from circulation.
Perhaps that is of use as well. |
08-16-2007, 07:34 PM
| | World Series Champ | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, WI Age: 25
Posts: 6,307
Chips: 1,037
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Yeah, I noticed that the CC>CC collecting guide doesn't really use "mint" and "uncirculated" as ways to grade chips....they use "New" and "Average" according to their guide.
__________________
And shepherds we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for Thee.
Power hath descended forth from Thy hand,
That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command.
So we shall flow a river forth to Thee,
And teeming with souls shall it ever be.
In nomine Patri, et Fili, Spiritus Sancti. |
08-16-2007, 09:28 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 36
Posts: 1,042
Chips: 444
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Quote:
Originally Posted by links_slayer Yeah, I noticed that the CC>CC collecting guide doesn't really use "mint" and "uncirculated" as ways to grade chips....they use "New" and "Average" according to their guide. | I think that is the grading system used by the vast majority of people who collect casino chips for a hobby (ie New, Slightly Used, Average, Well Used, Poor and other variations denoting drilled and notched chips and the like). I'm talking about the one of each type collectors, rather than the people on this board who buy PNYers, Vineyards and the like. |
08-16-2007, 09:35 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Half Empty :( Age: 1
Posts: 12,243
Chips: 1,051
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
I've actually deliberated about the usage of both these terms with my Condado Paulsons. Most have never seen table play and have the sharp edges and chalky exterior that you would expect from such chips that are basically 'new'. A few though have slightly yellowed inlays (from ~50 or so years on the shelf) and a couple have what looks like scuff marks on the inlays. I'm told that the yellowing is from sitting on the shelf and that the marks are just from being transferred from various packaging and racks. I think of them as uncirculated, but not mint. Not sure how accurate that is, but it fits for me.
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08-18-2007, 02:54 AM
|  | ChipTalk.net Article Writer | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Jose Age: 37
Posts: 1,621
Chips: 1,202
| | | Re: Mint vs. Uncirculated
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quads Mint: Has been taken out, used slightly, although shows ZERO signs of usage, or wear.
Uncirculated: Hasn't been out of the manufactures box, packaging, etc. (other than for moving from one place to another) to see the light of day, oil of hands, fabric of felt, other chips, etc. etc. | Just wanted to add a few to what Quads said, mint is new usually use to describe home chips. UNC is for Casino life or retired chips. |
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