Eye Appeal vs. Grade
dfontalbert
Posts: 16 ✭
Good Morning Everyone!
What is your opinion relative to the purchase of a coin for **resale purposes ** - go for the one that has more eye appeal (VF35) or the one with the better grade (EF45). In particular I am looking at 2 1909 SVDB's; one is a nice gunmetal gray, very clean (NGC - VF35) and the other more of a rust color (PCGS-EF45), but clean as well (maybe actually shows more wear imho). Both are great deals I believe, and it looks like about a $100 difference in the PCGS Price Guide.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Dave
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For me eye appeal. Some pictures would help.
When people buy a coin like that I think they want the most coin they can afford. That's one date they can resell easily if they ever want to upgrade. Accordingly, buying either is ok because some can afford the coin in VF while others can afford the XF. In a perfect world eye appeal should rule the day however.
Speaking as a buyer, I first look for a coin that attracts me....the overall picture of appearance and surface quality.... Then I will look at the TPG (if slabbed), then the assigned grade (to assess my opinion vs. the label). Next I will consider the price.... All points must be favorable or I will pass. In your case (the OP), without pictures and price, I cannot really advise you.... Cheers, RickO
YMMV but I have to consider cost vs mv / what I can sell it for. More value / what can I sell it for buyer.
I don’t buy the most coin one can afford theory. This can be spiel rich dealers will give u. They prob leveraged and the interest killing them. I do like the coin with huge bump up to next grade.
I use Harry Laibstains 1995 book on commems as reference in analysis of an issue and amazed how much 67’s have fallen since then. Tread carefully on expensive high grade material.
I buy coins G04 thru MS70. A 1913 PCGS G06 barber half sat in my eBay store all of 2 weeks before selling at good retail.
Eye appeal is tops.
I buy and do not sell. So eye appeal is key for me.
I appreciate everyone's comments.
Here's the two I'm looking at:
Thanks,
Dave
When I look through a case of small cents, I don't look at the grade on the slab - I stop at what catches my eye. Short answer is eye appeal. I've seen 63s nicer than some 65s.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/2819
Eye appeal trumps grade in my decision making.
Hands down, the VF 35 for me.
1 Eye appeal first. I also would prefer the VF35 chocolate brown 09S VDB.
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I almost feel like there must be a hidden camera somewhere or Rod Serling's monologue is about to kick in. Seriously? The 45 blows away the 35. From the pics, superior color and smooth, original surfaces. Since the coins are for sale and not yours, I think I'll leave it at that.
I like VF35 better ..... he has tons of personality
easy, the 45 is not only a better grade but it has MUCH better eye appeal.
Personally, I’d choose the 45.
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Not enough people will "pay up" for the eye appeal vs. the grade on the holder. Sad but true
Eye appeal v grade? I look at the Gold Indians that @jwitten just posted and do not care what # is on the slab as long as they straight grade.
It'd be a lot nicer to choose if the photos were comparable lighting/angling. I do really like the look of the VF35 though.
https://tinyurl.com/wbuh7ba (Search PCGS on ebay)
Eye appeal will always trump grade in my book!
Dave
I cant believe anyone likes the 45 better. The chocolate 35 and its not even close.
I was thinking about this earlier. I would much rather have a beautifully toned lower graded gold indian than a higher graded one that looks like every other one out there. Eye appeal wins for me.
They will find out what "pay up" means when they sell them.
Two things I study with every coin: grade and eye appeal. The final decision rests with eye appeal. I am fundamentally opposed to buying ugly coins.
My preference, as a buyer, is the 45. I prefer copper to be toned a medium to light brown as shown in this piece. The 35 looks too dark for me. I also have issues with the minor rim hits on the 35 piece. Obviously, they didn't prevent it from holdering, but you specifically said... for resale purposes. The rim ticks aren't going away after you buy the coin...
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Agree with this approach. This my thought process when buying a coin as well.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Hopefully price is also a factor in your purchasing decision. If I'm looking at two nice coins and one is slightly nicer I'll buy it but only if the price is only slightly higher.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
With yours truly so tight that he can make Jefferson on the nickel groan for mercy, you bet price is a consideration!
It's hard to tell from those to photographs because most of the space is taken up by the holder. To me eye appeal is more important that the grade. For most collectors, if they don't like the looks of the coin, they won't buy it or they will only buy it at a lower price.
Between the two pictures, the VF-35 looks sharper, but that might be because of the photography. Light brown is usually better than darker brown, but the EF-45 looks tired and washed out in that photo. That may or may not reflect the true appearance of the coin. Also you should be bear in mind that the EF grade has watered down over the years.
If these two pictures are all you have to work with, I would be reluctant to buy either coin. You are not getting a good view of how either coin looks.
For what it's worth, here is the 1909-S-VDB that is in my collection. It is in an NGC EF-40 holder. When I bought it circa 1983, it came with ANACS papers that called it a VF-20, which was a clear under grade in my opinion. I think that EF-40 is about right.
eye appeal wins for me over grade, every time. as to the coins imaged above, I prefer the 45, the whole photo looks overexposed to me, and I expect the coin has richer color than it appears. But I could be wrong, and I think Bill Jones' last sentence applies.
Except in the case of "dirty gold," I expect that the percentage of those who believe it is beautiful compared to those who appreciate gold's usual color or the rainbows found on silver & nickels is very low.
However, that difference is not important to an individual's taste.
Eye appeal for me, too. However, I like the look of the XF on this one..
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You might get more responses if you mentioned that you looking at a 1909-S VDB Cent.
How strange. Seems most people are saying they like coins that look nice. Have to keep that in mind.
I don't dislike either coin BUT look at the color of both coins and ask yourself does the color look like the rest of my run of the mill cents that I have lying around. For me, the 45 does.
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No contest, take the P coin.
The rim damage kills the 35 for me. And S-VDB's are common enough that you don't have to make any compromises. Whatever grade you buy, buy a perfect coin for the grade.
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If I don't like the way the coin looks then it has to be a key or semi-key priced low for the grade for me to consider.