AU Details Coins
skamieniecki
Posts: 98 ✭✭✭
i have three Gold Eagles, 1912 S, 1915 S, and 1916 S that have been graded AU (12S, 16S) and EF Details (15S). Are these coins worth 30-40% less than their AU/EF counterparts? Thanks for any help offered. 
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I'm assuming details cleaned?
I'd bet you would sell them quick at 30-40% off of a straight graded example.
In my opinion No, the details don't knock it that much and depends on the buyer.
I suggest checking auction archives for sales of details-grade examples.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
There's a premium on low grade gold these days. 30to40% is to steep a discount
No, 10% or maybe 12% at most imo. Might not even be as much as 10%.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Gold is selling well right now.... I would guess no more (and likely less) than 10% discount.... If not in a hurry, it may get even better. Cheers, RickO
The prices paid for problem coins amaze me these days. Time was a hole was the worst thing that could happen to a coin. It still is, but that doesn’t stop people from paying a couple thousand for them when pieces without such issues bring ten thousand. When I was young the discount for the hole was more like 95% (less if you could melt the piece.) instead of 75 or 80. A coin for which one paid $1,000 or more was a big deal. Now, not so much.
Dirty math says a 10% discount from retail prices is close to 30-40% discount of the numismatic premium ( or not overall cost).
I only have one gold coin, so not my realm. Does this sound reasonable?
It can be dangerous to make generalizations. The market value of a details-grade coin depends on a number of different factors, including the date, Mint, reason for the details-grade, the severity of the problem and the values of problem-free examples in the next few grades down from the coin in question.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
being certified genuine still gives you premium over melt
So from what I can gather, a coin that might be a $500 coin and is certified AU Details/Genuine by PCGS is worth 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% less numismatically than a coin graded AU without issues? I don't see where a soft cleaning that leaves no marks, like a dip, is any worse a coin that has had a full restoration by PCGS. I've not seen a coin restored by PCGS so I don't know if the grade includes a "Cleaned or Restored" in the certification. In any case, they have both been cleaned. I understand the rarity of certain coins will come into this at some point but it is not easy to place a value on an "issue" coin with so many different views. I couldn't see selling my 1916S AU Details Eagle for a small premium over melt.
Many (relatively lightly) cleaned coins receive straight grades. So typically, it takes more than a “soft cleaning that leaves no marks, like a dip) for a coin to receive a details grade. In the case of an AU-details 1916-S $10, the value is probably only approximately 10% less than for a straight grade example and that doesn’t seem very harsh to me.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
With literally hundreds of 1916S eagles in straight grade AU holders, I expect it would take some discounting to sell it.
You’re right, it’s not easy to place a value on coins with issues. Turning the situation around, how much would you pay for a Details graded coin, when straight graded examples could be fairly easily obtained?
Your coin is still fairly attractive, and it’s certified so it’s genuine, and there is a market for it. What that value is though is still highly variable.
In estimating values of details-grade coins (which I do a lot), in addition to checking auction archives, I look for helpful clues. For example, in this particular case, one piece of information which my gut tells me is highly relevant, is the value of a straight-grade XF example. Which would you prefer - a straight grade XF or a lightly cleaned AU? Whatever your answer, my guess is that the values would be quite close.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.