Avoid European grades. They can be stretched like a rubber band.
Recently I have seen many sellers in Europe trying to "convert" grades to the Sheldon scale.
Needless to say, many pick the higher numbers. One seller suggested that his is a fair conversion (SS-VZ) (VF) to AU 58.
of course he had the coin at 58 which was at the best of times maximum a VF) IMO.
@keets said: It's about quality for the grade not the grade itself.
this is true and the reason I avoid the MS62 grade I started the thread with. my experience has taught me that at that grade level I am almost certain to find a reason why the coin may actually grade lower but almost never will it grade higher. I have seen so many coins graded MS62 that were rather unattractive that I tend not to consider them.....................at any price.
in a nutshell, I don't see much quality at MS62.
I wish @BryceM felt the same way and would sell me this coin cheap:
I have the exact twin of this coin - PCGS MS62 green bean.
If I put it out in my case, dealers swarm like sharks thinking they are going to make their show.
The Indian that is show above is one that I was lucky enough to acquire from Doug Winter from a big @RYK sale. The coin is both net graded, and correctly graded in my opinion. The photos don't show it, and it it has LOADS of eye appeal and really nice luster, but the coin is impaired by a light wipe over the obverse. It isn't enough to justify a no-grade, but it is there and it correctly keeps it out of MS64/65 territory.
I still kinda like it, and happily paid a premium to get it.
Here's another ugly MS62 I own:
To be fair, I don't like most MS62 coins I see either, but there are exceptions to every overly simplified rule in collecting.
I don't usually point out flaws in coins I own, but there seems to be some educational value here. For those who don't photograph coins, a uni-directional patch of hairlines is EASY to hide by adjusting the angle of the light. In this photo, I shot in a way to maximize the hairlines. From this, everyone would think it should be in a body bag. It looks terrible. In hand, the hairlines require a bit of looking to see, but once you see them, you can't ignore them. The overall emotion when you consider this coin is.......... MS62.
a number of years ago forum member Russ did something similar with a Proof Kennedy. one picture showed drastic hairlines and the other showed Deep Mirrored fields which looked almost flawless. hence, the reasoning for why it can be very difficult to grade from pictures. although there are indeed some nice coins graded MS62 which have been shown in this thread I would rather miss them than make other mistakes.
I did have one good experience with an MS62, an NGC slabbed 1926 Sesquicentennial Gold coin. I bought it from Superior at the FUN Show around 2004-5. they had several coins, to compare, the one I bought along with another 62 and a few 63's and 64's. the coin I bought seemed like the nicest one and the price was right. after about two years I cracked it out and it graded MS63 at PCGS. I thought it could still move up a point but I sold it instead.
I avoid 60 and 61 in most classics, and try to avoid anything under 69 in most moderns. But the coin matters, not always the label grade. Every picture tells a story.
Lately I've been unhappy with what I've seen on a lot of MS64-65RB coins. I think MS64-65BN coins seem to have more consistent eye appeal and better value.
I buy coins and don't dwell on the grade, well... so much. I noted more that a few people eschew grades below F12... as I'm contemplating an 18th C type set, there are a number of early copper pieces that would fit nicely at VG grades... provided there's no
net grading for damage.... corrosion, graffiti, gouges, etc... and fit my budget as well.
I really can't make a similar assertion for bullion coins in 70 holders... I usually avoid those. I'm also not a fan of widgets in plastic over MS66 or so. Conditional rarities in a specific series never really appealed to me anyway...
Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;
Comments
Avoid European grades. They can be stretched like a rubber band.
Recently I have seen many sellers in Europe trying to "convert" grades to the Sheldon scale.
Needless to say, many pick the higher numbers. One seller suggested that his is a fair conversion (SS-VZ) (VF) to AU 58.
of course he had the coin at 58 which was at the best of times maximum a VF) IMO.
about 4-5 years ago I was researching some prices on medals and all of the EU auctions I found had three grades which equated to Fine, XF and Unc.
is that standard EU grading??
AU50. Seems they are always bright white from over dipping. Prefer XF45.
I have the exact twin of this coin - PCGS MS62 green bean.
If I put it out in my case, dealers swarm like sharks thinking they are going to make their show.
My favorite coin I own is a 62.
I avoid Morgans in grades higher than 67; too subjective. I also avoid modern bullion coins in the 70 grade.
There is no grade I avoid but I do question my understanding of grading, sometimes.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
The Indian that is show above is one that I was lucky enough to acquire from Doug Winter from a big @RYK sale. The coin is both net graded, and correctly graded in my opinion. The photos don't show it, and it it has LOADS of eye appeal and really nice luster, but the coin is impaired by a light wipe over the obverse. It isn't enough to justify a no-grade, but it is there and it correctly keeps it out of MS64/65 territory.
I still kinda like it, and happily paid a premium to get it.
Here's another ugly MS62 I own:
To be fair, I don't like most MS62 coins I see either, but there are exceptions to every overly simplified rule in collecting.
I don't usually point out flaws in coins I own, but there seems to be some educational value here. For those who don't photograph coins, a uni-directional patch of hairlines is EASY to hide by adjusting the angle of the light. In this photo, I shot in a way to maximize the hairlines. From this, everyone would think it should be in a body bag. It looks terrible. In hand, the hairlines require a bit of looking to see, but once you see them, you can't ignore them. The overall emotion when you consider this coin is.......... MS62.
very well done, Bryce.
a number of years ago forum member Russ did something similar with a Proof Kennedy. one picture showed drastic hairlines and the other showed Deep Mirrored fields which looked almost flawless. hence, the reasoning for why it can be very difficult to grade from pictures. although there are indeed some nice coins graded MS62 which have been shown in this thread I would rather miss them than make other mistakes.
I did have one good experience with an MS62, an NGC slabbed 1926 Sesquicentennial Gold coin. I bought it from Superior at the FUN Show around 2004-5. they had several coins, to compare, the one I bought along with another 62 and a few 63's and 64's. the coin I bought seemed like the nicest one and the price was right. after about two years I cracked it out and it graded MS63 at PCGS. I thought it could still move up a point but I sold it instead.
Details grade.
Indian Head $10 Gold Date Set Album
Authentic... ... ... ...
Anything below 10 and all 61's and 62's.
I avoid 60 and 61 in most classics, and try to avoid anything under 69 in most moderns. But the coin matters, not always the label grade. Every picture tells a story.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
Some of these MS 62 morgans can look night and day differences i like them though idc bout the grade.
Lately I've been unhappy with what I've seen on a lot of MS64-65RB coins. I think MS64-65BN coins seem to have more consistent eye appeal and better value.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
I buy coins and don't dwell on the grade, well... so much. I noted more that a few people eschew grades below F12... as I'm contemplating an 18th C type set, there are a number of early copper pieces that would fit nicely at VG grades... provided there's no
net grading for damage.... corrosion, graffiti, gouges, etc... and fit my budget as well.
I really can't make a similar assertion for bullion coins in 70 holders... I usually avoid those. I'm also not a fan of widgets in plastic over MS66 or so. Conditional rarities in a specific series never really appealed to me anyway...
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