What Does "Mint" Really Mean?

chris, yes, that's a common definition today. Some generations ago, "to mint" was to create, even an idea.

On the coin grading scale, there are 11 different numerical grades for mint state (i.e. uncirculated) coins, MS60-MS70. A coin in MS60 state hasn't been in circulation, but it still might be nicked up quite a bit from being in large bags with other coins. The higher grades have fewer and fewer flaws up to MS70 which is essentially a perfect, flawless coin, even under magnification. While stamps aren't given separate numerical grades for condition, what we're talking about here is similar. Many collectors will only use the term "mint" for the equivalent of MS70 while others happily use it for stamps at the equivalent of MS60 or 65. At the end of the day, for me it doesn't really matter what terms are used as long as what I get matches what I expect.

Mint to me is post office fresh also. I don't even considered a hinged stamp mint after a hinge has been fixed to it. And so many people say mint hinged. Nada, no, never in my book.

I'm still unclear, but thanks for all the helpful replies.

Don

Don, don't worry; we're all unclear.

It is unclear because "mint" is a meaningless abused & distorted term nowadays in describing stamps.

I share your definition, carlberky. That's how I roll too.

We see many common misuses of the term "mint" primarily when a stamp seller is not an experienced stamp collector. I recently reviewed a stamp collection posted on ebay that was described by the seller to be "all mint". Actually, many stamps were obviously used showing cancellations.

I communicated this error to the seller, but in that case I think the seller meant that all the stamps are in good condition without tears or damage. After all, to folks outside stamping something in "mint" condition in the US is expected to be undamaged, pristine, with little noticeable wear such as a used car that is outstanding condition.

However, there is no such misunderstanding of the term "mint" as provided in the Introduction reference language printed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue:

Under gum categories there are 6 descriptions: "MINT NEVER HINGED", or "Mint N.H." is the only category that includes "mint". Then "ORIGINAL GUM (O.G) includes 4 different variations. "NO GUM" and "REGUMMED" are considered the same for purposes of grading.

Has the term "MINT" morphed over the last 60+ years since I began collecting? Coin Collecting? Websters? I was taught that "MINT" referred to the gum side of the stamp indicating "free of any disturbance" as in "...freshly printed and gummed off the press….", period-end-of-story. JARNICK has it right.

Seems like the "K. I. S. S. Principle" and Common Sense applies today the same way it did over 60 years ago. The term "Mint" is only meaningless if you misuse the term.

Usage changes. 1960s Gibbons catalogues simply refer to unused or used. Standard practce in auctions here is to use the range - unmounted mint, mint (for stamps with gum, but hinged), unused (for stamps without cancellations but without gum) - which seems to work perfectly well.

sdtom said, "The can of worms has been opened".

Tom, you sure got that right!

GeoffHA - see that's the problem… here, across the pond, we never learned proper English, and probably never will. Heck, we don't even know the difference between football and soccer, how would you ever expect us to understand


I think I'll just stick to my covers (not first day) and postal history, letting the "Mint" and "Mint NH" people to fight over semantics.

Hal

I shouldn't like you to think I care about MNH/UM. I like to look at stamps, not pristine adhesive!

Geoff

One of the greatest changes in stampdom that took place between my early teen years in the 1960's when I stopped collecting to 2010 when I started seriously collecting again, is the increased interest in collecting strictly M OG. I think the usual premium pricing is great for the dealers, but I agree with GeoffHa -- I enjoy the printed graphics.

Forget the gum! Once I slip the stamp into my albums I am never going to view the gum side again.

The only big benefit from the unused or mint issues I've collected is that the image side is not marred by cancellations. But I refuse to get sucked into paying considerably more for M OG US Classics.

To me, "mint" has always meant stamps with gum and no cancellation. This allows the separation of CTO stamps from the definition. Perhaps CTO should be further divided into CTOWOG (CTO with original gum) or CTONGAI (CTO no gum as issued).

The problem with the word "Mint" is that it cannot be used without a qualifier, thus the difficulty in this thread in pinning down the meaning of mint. With qualifiers it makes much more sense:

Mint- never hinged
Mint- heavily hinged
Mint- lightly hinged
Mint- large part original gum (ala the British)

And so on. One definition that really troubles me is "Mint No Gum." My belief is that the vast majority of mint no gum stamps are actually "Used No Cancellation" and they should be termed as such. Gum is a qualifier to call a stamp mint. For stamps where the gum has been intentionally removed, the term should be "Unused, Gum Removed."

Just my two cents.