Maturing as a collector: Becoming comfortable with your own opinion
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
In my opinion, the emergence of TPGing has revolutionized our hobby for the better and it came at the right time. All of my collection is slabbed--some I bought that way, others I submitted to have an extra pair of eyes confirm my opinion.
My collection is diverse and global, so I don't have the same level of satisfaction in knowing from an academic standpoint that I've found the best grade, variety, or year or type like some of you who specialize in one or a few series do.
But I do think I'm becoming more comfortable with my own opinion when it comes to things like eye appeal. And knowing what to look for when I seek the ultimate example of a particular coin or type.
As real estate in the Box of 20 collection is very, very limited, you find yourself seeking examples that have "the extra". I've noted before that rare, early slabs, or CAC gold beans (or both), for example, add depth to our pieces in a way they might not to typical series collectors. Same coin, deeper attributes.
This includes eye appeal. It is something most of us seek but I think many are unwilling to trust ourselves on when given a choice between grade--especially the grade of a top tier TPG--and eye appeal. In instances where you can't have both, which do you choose? Higher grade or your opinion of higher eye appeal?
About 2 years ago, a Tibetan 100 Srang note walked into a local B&M in a much larger collection. I don't really collect currency, but this piece kind of blew me away. It's essentially a hand-made woodblock large size and intricate work of art with all sorts of lovely symbolism. I missed that piece locally, but started to seek one online. A few weeks later I snagged one graded by PMG 55EPQ (pick 11a) on HA for a couple hundred bucks:
Then unexpectedly a few months later, HA offered the pop top of the same note: A PMG 65EPQ. Actually a more rare note with an inverted seal (pick 11d). IIRC, they didn't indicate that it was a pop top and with few other bidders, I picked it up for what I felt was a very reasonable upgrade to the 55.
But when I got it, I just didn't like it. I lived for it for a few weeks not wanting to trust my own gut. It was a huge upgrade technically. But it didn't strike me the same way that the 55 did. So kinda catch and release: I let it go (for a huge profit, but enough about me). And I'm still kind of shocked that I did that. I don't know currency from jack, so it was a must that I got a graded example. Especially of this series, for which there are tons of fakes. But I actually chose my opinion of eye appeal over a substantial technical upgrade. Never felt bad about it, either.
In the same vein, I periodically seek out upgrades to other pieces in my collection. A few years back I found a bronze example of MacNeil's 1901 Pan American exhibition medal. Shortly thereafter, I found that HA was offering one in silver. Graded ATS MS63 with lovely autumnal toning obverse and reverse. Got it. Love it.
A couple of days ago I searched to see if anything else was out there in this series. And found an NGC MS64.
My initial instinct was to UPGRADE! Marshal forces, shoot images of the 63 in order to list it. Out with the old, in with the new.
But hold on there.
Take a really good look at what you have and why you pursued it in the first place. And check out the "upgrade". Which do you really want?
Would you sell your 63 and buy the 64 for that much money and then some? Nope.
Would you trade your 63 outright for the 64? Nope.
Would you sell your 63 for more than the 64 costs and pocket the difference? Nope.
I decided I love my 63 and it's staying put. But you guys are welcome to the 64 
The 64: 
My 63: 
--Severian the Lame
Comments
That 63 is incredible. Great eye.
"I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
Eye appeal trumps grade for me.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I seek out coins that appeal to me... I guess one could call that eye appeal....my only problem with the term is that it is entirely subjective. That is OK when it comes to MY collection....However, what another considers to be attractive, may be mundane or actually unsightly to me...So, I do agree with buying coins that appeal to me specifically... just not with 'eye appeal' being a grading criteria as it is. Cheers, RickO
The 63 medal has exceptional eye appeal due to the beautiful way it has toned. The 64 has a very bland look. I'd take the 63 over the 64 without a moments hesitation.
In the end, for true collectors, it is their own opinion that matters.
our opinions can only speak to the pictures. mine is that the "63" might be over-graded and the "64" might be properly graded or under-graded. a large picture of the toned medal helps to add bias vs. the smaller picture of the other medal. sometimes we can place too much emphasis on color and what it does to our brain.
my thoughts, for myself and based on the pictures, is that all other things being equal I would be more encouraged to own the cleaner "64" and that the tone of the "63" wouldn't be able to overcome the distracting chatter and what looks like scattered fingerprints.
--- now that I have gone to the NGC cert page and seen larger images of the "64" it appears that it has pretty much the same chatter down the leg as the other medal. that renders a different and easier choice.
Good post. I think it comes down to “who are you trying to please?” It’s my judgment that matters and I don’t need someone else to tell me what I like.
It’s the same thing with the registry. I don’t need to compete and make those compromises between higher grade and what I like.
I think your choices show collector maturity.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
One has to choose their own course. I too am diversified in world and currency.
My opinions as to PQ in US coins and outlook on the market are my own. One thing that stands out is from 1972-89 the market had nowhere to go but up. Since then seems to be the other direction.
Generic MS65 dollars and walkers (a coin market cornerstone) are really bid low after a 2019 bloodbath. Will they stay same, drop, or rebound? MS65 Generics are bid $75 WLH, $80 Peace, $96 Morgan. What say ye? For a $10,000 investment, assuming you acquire around bid (avg 83.67 each) that’s about 120 coins. Another $10,000 for better date and type material, $10,000 for quality graded currency, then about $20,000 gold and silver bullion material. I would suggest portfolio that could be easily stored in 2 bank boxes or good sized safe.
Maybe, I am maturing then. I have a (to me) stunning '91 Lincoln, and as I recently learned here it will be limited to a 67 because of the weak reverse in the "of AM". I will be sending it in on the next order anyway because I love the way it looks, color and luster.
I'll likely never mature. Fart jokes are funny and I like the occasional fingerprinted Morgans.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
My maturing moment happened a couple of years ago. I bought an xf-45 1836 Capped Bust half and I liked it better than all the other higher graded 1836 half dollars that I already had. I don't care what anybody thinks. I like it the best. Good enough for me. I bought it from John Agre. Nice guy. Sells nice coins. I hope he's o.k. Does anybody know?