Are BU coins worth adding to your collection?
Brilliant Uncirculated is one of the highest adjectival grades a coin can receive. You may see this term used interchangeably with Mint State and Proof State.
What Does Brilliant Uncirculated Mean?
This term can seem somewhat ambiguous. Let’s define it more granularly.
The Sheldon Grading Scale is a numerical scale from 1-70 used for grading coins. Coins with a grade of 70 are perfect and without flaws. Coins with a grade between 60 and 70 are considered Brilliant Uncirculated or BU. GEM Brilliant Uncirculated is often used to describe coins with a Sheldon grade between 65 and 70.
Are Brilliant Uncirculated Grades Considered Collectible?
BU coins, like Proof coins, will often be minted and sold separately from regular bullion strikes because of their collectability. For instance, when the annual American Silver Eagle is released to the public, there is a different release specifically for the Brilliant Uncirculated coins.
One of the primary attracting factors for collectors is that BU coins will gain value over time and, if kept safe, will enjoy even greater value in the coming years.
