A plus graded coin VS one in the next higher grade….which would you want and why?
drddm
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Sorry, no pics here. Just a hypothetical question. I’m more curious as to the reasons for your choice though.
Two caveats however:
1. The coin in question can’t be an AU58+ vs one in let’s say MS60, 61 or even 62….and
2. You don’t care or compete in any type of registry so the points don’t matter based on the grade.
Dave
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There is no answer.
I want the better coin for the money. If the 64 is nicer then the 63+ and only a few bucks more, take the 64. If the 64 is 10x more money, then I might treasure the 63+.
Is the 63+ nicely toned? More lustrous?
I'd rather have an MS65 than a MS64+ because it's a higher grade..
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You may be misinterpreting the +. That does not mean PQ. It means it didn't make it to the next grade.
From PCGS
Plus Grades
"Plus Grades" exhibit exceptional eye appeal for the grade and constitute the top 30% of the coins in the grade.
Only XF-45 through MS/PR-68 are eligible for Plus grades. Numerically, this includes 45, 50, 53, 55, 58, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, & 68.
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Without any information regarding what the coins are, what they look like, how accurate the grading is and how much each one costs, how can the question be answered?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It would be based upon eye appeal to me.
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LOL! You knew you would get bombed if you allowed the mystical 58+'s!
How about like this:
"I want the coin that I like better." That means it looks better and represents a good value for the money-not necessarily the best value. I don't care what the holder says.
Pluses and starts don't mean much to me. If I don't care for the coin, I don't care what the grade is.
Higher grade coin unless plus lower grade looks better and easier to move. Example nice looking 58 vs ugly MS60.
Say looking at off bourse: On surface higher grade would trump plus because of its higher MV but I would need c the coins. Other factors would be cost (vs sell) and eye appeal, potential move quickly. Not a registry contest guy. Not a fan of baggy MS60 material either. A nice lustrous 64 plus would be more desirable to me than a C coin in MS 65 spotted w unattractive toning.
I honestly pay very little attention to grades or designations (+/*). It is all about the coin. That being said, years ago, like 25/30, I did look at grades and was influenced to some degree (there were no pluses or stars then). I grew away from that long ago, and make my decisions on my appraisal of the specific coin. Cheers, RickO
I think it is relevant whether CAC will sticker it at the higher grade. For instance, say we are talking about an average date Dahlonega half eagle that is stickered at XF45. I’d much rather get the plus grade and keep the sticker if the alternative was getting the upgrade to AU50 but losing the sticker. This is purely from a value/liquidity standpoint as I believe the coin would likely fetch a higher price as the stickered XF45+.
I don't think there are any hard and fast rules but I will lean towards a + vs the next one up if the cost differential is sufficiently large that going up to the next level would be silly. Same thing happens with a slab marked without a plus vs a plus. Sometimes the + slab costs sufficiently more that I don't want to spend the money.
While I do the registry I know I could never really compete with people with a lot more resources so I don't look for the little bonuses for + and such. I haven't resubmitted anything for reconsideration or any CAC item hoping for a minor bump. Actually, I try to avoid coins with a + because I'd rather find the + myself even if it never gets designated on the slab.
I take a 63+CAC over a 64 nonCAC almost every time. Sorry to bring that in to the discussion but it is part of it.
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Generally, I would prefer the nicer coin in the plus vs a next higher grade coin, but only if that much nicer in eye-appeal than the higher grade coin if keeping for myself. however, on some coins where the value is significantly higher , and Im selling, would prefer to have the higher grade coin. Many folks buy based on label at auction and such , and truly don't know what premium specimen looks like. Plus you can always guarantee that bidders will step up to pay a plus coin close to next grade level at auction.
In the absence of any information... I'd buy the one that looks better...
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I only have Peace dollars in 64, 64+, and 65.
Pics to reflect on those grades.
Where does price enter into the discussion? What if the + graded coin is nice but priced well above the next higher grade?
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If I could afford to buy the next higher grade, I would.
My registry sets do contain + grade coins.
Usually the cost skyrockets on higher end coins when trying to go from a + grade to the next solid grade.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
Whichever one is attractive and affordable to my budget.
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In essence, this question is no different than:
"Would you rather have a coin at one grade, or a different coin at a different grade?"
Well, assuming everything is properly graded, it would come down to the individual coins, the price, the difficulty finding another one, and which one I liked better.
Sometimes the coin in the lower graded holder is the better coin. YMMV.
Without a description of the coin, the question being asked is...
"Which label would you want and why?"
I would pick the coin I liked best.
I am simply trying to get some feedback on which grade appealed to those who decided to answer the question and why they felt that way.
You can present any scenario you want for the two coins…the lower plus coin being more eye appealing than the higher graded one, the higher graded one being close in cost to the lower graded plus coin, etc.
Dave
The question is too open ended with too many variables to give an exact answer. In general I would choose the coin I liked better at the price point that fits my budget for that coin. Many times I like a "+" graded coin as very often those coins have blistering luster (in the mid to upper MS grades) but may fall short of the next grade for a soft (ish) strike or minor blemish.
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That’s an acceptable answer. I’m not looking for a response that actually discusses two specific coins, just the rationale between those two grades. That’s all.
63+ CAC is identical to 63CAC. do you consider a green CAC s an automatic upgrade, even though JA doesn't?
In which case I'd rather have it raw and underpriced.
I don't send coins in for upgrade. I only buy CAC gold coins for my collection. I will always the CAC plus option over the next one up that is not CACed. If the coin is at one of the big auction houses it has probably gone to JA and been denied. He knows gold much better than I ever will.
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I like CAC. But 63+ and CAC use redundant. CAC does not consider the +. So your better value bet us 63 CAC not 63+CAC if the CAC means that much to you
Thanks for your advice but that is not what the OP asked. I was not given the choice of 63 or 64. It was plus grade to next grade up.
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To be fair, the OP didn't ask about CAC, either.
>
I was giving an example of when I would take a plus graded coin over the next grade up 100% of the time. Easy answer for me.
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The nicer one.
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Show me the plus graded coin and the next higher graded coin AND tell me the price of each coin. Only then can I tell you which coin I would buy. The plus coin will usually be nicer than another coin in the same grade without the plus but isn't necessarily nicer than a coin in the next higher grade.
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
A very coin specific question.
For me, it would depend on the price gap between the two grades assuming they are both nice and eye appealing. If the gap was close, Id go with the higher grade coin. If the gap was VERY wide, then the plus coin would make the most sense.
I had to made that decision twice this week. In each case I made a different decision. It really depends.
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