Would you buy coins with a very attractive obverse but an unattractive reverse
Joey29
Posts: 458 ✭✭✭
I usually never buy coins with an unappealing reverse even if I love the obverse. To me a coin has 2 sides even though the grading services weigh primarily the obverse and the eye tends to focus more on that obverse. I need to like the reverse as well. Opinions please. Post examples of such coins if you like in their holders.
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Do TrueViews only show one side of the coin?
I have gallery mint items with very attactive obverse, the reverse got "copy" on it..
Avoid the uglies.
And then there's these . . . .
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Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!
Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, . . . . who'd I forget?
I need to like both sides of a coin before I'll buy it.
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
If I'm making a belt buckle...
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That's where it came from.
Z
Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!
Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, . . . . who'd I forget?
I evaluate the entire coin... and would avoid coins with an ugly side.... I would never say never, but offhand, cannot imagine buying ugly. Cheers, RickO
Did it sticker? 😈
This is my best example - to be fair, I like the obverse too but it is not for everyone. The reverse is super clean and has crazy cartwheel luster.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
For toned coins, sure. I have a few where the reverse is just ok. I wouldn’t call any of them ugly but some are definitely neutral. For non-toned coins I need to like both but an amazing obverse (e.g cameo DMPL) can carry a mediocre reverse.
Generally speaking, I have to like both sides in both design and preservation.
No
It's a good question. Sometimes with the rare stuff, you don't get much choice. Settle or you'll never own it.
There was a banker in Massachusetts during the early 1900s that was a also a collector. He had the brilliant idea of gluing all sorts of Civil War tokens and merchant cards on his walls, some of which are considered very rare and possibly unique.
He made sure to have someone polish them every morning so they looked nice for all the customers.
Consequently, the apoxy on the reverses are the least of our concerns.
At least that comes off with acetone.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Every rainbow Morgan lover has to get around this one.
Avoid "but for" coins. They will always bother you after ownership and remain a "but for" coin for others when it comes time to sell.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I'm not a big fan of all the British commonwealth coins that have one really cool side but with Queen E's mug on the opposite. I'm sure engravers across the world are waiting for her to pass away. I also prefer the Peace's Obverse to the Morgan's. But prefer the Morgan's reverse. Anyone know a guy I can send one of each to to make me a mule coin?
I would not buy a coin if I considered the reverse (or obverse) ugly. But these two come the closest, for both I really liked the obverse. The Rossie reverse is a bit bland, not ugly but not wow either. The Merc again not ugly but I am not a huge fan of the dark tone around the right rim. But in both cases because the obverse was interesting I bought them.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Absolutely! But sometimes I'll shy away if the side that's ugly has the designation (like Full Bands), because why pay a premium for the side of the coin I don't like
Not usually.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I think you just gave @dcarr his next big idea for a fantasy coin!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Obverse is beautiful on these 2 coins. Reverse not bad. What is the grade on the Mercury dime. Would you ever consider selling it?
Why do all the new people ask if others will sell their coins to them? This is not the BST.
Young Numismatist • My Toned Coins
Life is roadblocks. Don't let nothing stop you, 'cause we ain't stopping. - DJ Khaled
I see other people posting items for sale in the forum, or posting coins needed as well. Didn’t know it was inappropriate and only confined to the BST section
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Interesting that @micotu and you should mention this.
I actually own one . . . . . .
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Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!
Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, . . . . who'd I forget?
If "unattractive" means ugly, then no. If "unattractive" includes so-so, then yes. Particularly on certain coins like early cents.
No.
But did it sticker ?
Let’s add a picture to add some specificity to this thread. This is one of those coins where the reverse isn’t helping but I don’t think it hurts the overall appeal (although it probably keeps it from a 67+).
Here's one where the reverse was the obverse in NGC's opinion. I never purchased toned coins but bought this on a whim. The reverse toning is better than it looks in the picture but I couldn't get past the "goatee" on Ms Liberty so I did sell it on eBay after I got it home and pondered it for a few weeks. I did OK on the sale but in the end decided she wasn't my type.
Mark
I understand exactly. In some cases though the reverse can be as important as the obverse, although I don’t think the grading services necessarily agree. An example is the Buffalo nickel. There maybe some other series as well but I can’t think of it now, maybe some of you can.
If it hadn't been for the cheek and "goatee" I wouldn't have sold it but I just couldn't get past those areas. Coin toning was nicer than shown and nice enough for someone who usually purchases blast white examples only.
I started with a low bid and let the eBay members decide if I would make a couple bucks or lose a few. I guess some like it because it got decent bidding action throughout the auction.
Mark
No worries, to answer your question no I would only sell it if I had found one I like better and I am not searching for a replacement.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Depends on rarity and price. If I have been looking a long time for one the ugly one may have to do, at least until and if I find a better example.
Perhaps if it were a rare variety, but otherwise no.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I was thinking of a lucite-coated table top… similar solution.
Sometimes a CAC sticker isn’t enough to make up for a disappointing reverse. This looked like a nice example for my Peace rattler set until I saw the second photo. There’s an S hidden in the muck.
I'll give CAC the benefit of the doubt and assume they forgot to look at the reverse.
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
Can’t understand how the reverse got so bad as it is usually the protected side of the coin
It was most likely laying face up in a box with a high sulfur content that reacted to the reverse side of the coin.
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
"Would you buy coins with a very attractive obverse but an unattractive reverse"
Nope!