The number of extant coins may be significantly different than the number of coins that were produced. Despite this being common knowledge, modern coin collectors often use mint production statistics as a tool to determine rarity. U.S. coins are likely the best example. A more reliable tool is the population reports published by third-party certification services identifying not only how many coins of a specific date have been examined, but the grades in which they are being assigned. Via this tool grade rarity can also be reasonably established.
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