Mint State refers to a grade used in numismatics. It is given to a coin which was not used in circulation, and thus can be described "as new".
In modern-day United States numismatics, mint state coins are given a number from 60 to 70, with 70 being a perfect coin with no visible blemishes such as hits or wear. Coins with a low grade (60-63), although unworn, may suffer from weak striking, bag marks and other defects that make them less attractive to the collector. Some early coins appear quite worn in mint state, due to striking problems.
Famous quotes containing the word state:
“The State never intentionally confronts a man’s sense, intellectual or moral, but only his body, his senses. It is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)