Would you rather have a" better" date, or a better grade?

NeophyteNumismatist

You are interested in buying a coin from a classic US series. The dealer has two coins, one is a semi-key date in VF30, the other is a common date in MS66. Both coins are attractive and problem free for the grade. You have neither coin. Both coins are priced (and valued) the same.

Which do you pick?

lermish

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Except for one series, I'm a type collector. Easy.

MFeld

I’ll base my decision upon 1) which I like better for the assigned grade and 2) how difficult it would be to obtain the equivalent or better for each coin.

ShaunBC5

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I like the better dates. If it’s a decent looking 30, I’m in.

jesbroken

If talking about an MS 1805 large 5 Draped Bust Half Cent vs a VF 1805 small 5 Draped Bust Half Cent, then the VF. Too many coins that vary in value, hard to come in decent grade, even VF that are far harder to come by than common date MS of the same series. My answer would be, Maybe.
Jim

mr1931S

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

VF30 is a perfectly acceptable grade for better dates in every series, even gold. Common date, even in MS, is called common for a reason, that reason being that common is always easy to find. Can't always find better dates even though the money for better dates might be burning a hole in one's pocket.

PeakRarities

Too many variables to consider, this is a decision I make on a coin by coin basis. Generally I like better dates but I buy the coins that speak to me, and sometimes they are common dates.

alaura22

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

@jesbroken said:
If talking about an MS 1805 large 5 Draped Bust Half Cent vs a VF 1805 small 5 Draped Bust Half Cent, then the VF. Too many coins that vary in value, hard to come in decent grade, even VF that are far harder to come by than common date MS of the same series. My answer would be, Maybe.
Jim

He said:
Both coins are priced (and valued) the same.

alaura22

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

I'll take the bright and shinny one.............MS66

fluffy155

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

Tough call... going to go with the VF30.

Kliao

I guess it depends on the series. If it's a seris that I focus in on, I'll take the better date. But if it's a coin for my type set, I'll take the better grade.

alaura22

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

@fluffy155 said:
Tough call... going to go with the VF30.

But, put both of those coins in a display case and see which one people ask it look at first, of course if they aren't specialists in that coin.

fluffy155

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

No doubt, but the 1794 dollar has been a dream coin of mine since I was 8. Most other series I would go with MS.

Namvet69

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

King Solomon would have a tough time with this choice. I like me some MS.

ponderit

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

I'm in on the MS selection first, but I might just go for both,,, it's been know to happen...

jacrispies

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

This is a vague question. But, if I were to have a rare bust half in VF vs a common MS 1834, I'd take the VF.

braddick

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

Better date, please.
Thank you.

TomB

I guess I would have to see the coins first.

coinbuf

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Better grade most of the time, but there are exceptions.

keyman64

Eye appeal is everything. Sure you can sometimes have eye appeal in lower grades but it sure is a lot easier in the higher grades. I could have a nice MS FB 1916-D Merc but I would have a lot fewer coins and the 1916-D would not be nearly as nice to look at as the Mercs I have.

Elcontador

Depends on the situation. I got a 38 D Buff and upgraded it to MS 67, because I wanted a type coin and bought the most attractive coin I could find.

Might think differently if it was Matron Head Large Cent.

Walkerfan

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Even if key, VF 30 is too low for me, so I chose MS common date.

lkenefic

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

For the sake of the Poll, I chose VF30, but it really has to come down to the coin and the purpose for it in my collection. If we're talking about Type, I'd likely go for the MS coin. That said... my 7070 has many VF-AU coins. I mostly collect copper and finding MS pieces would likely break the bank very quickly... VF is tough enough! Here are a couple for the VF30 crowd...

Tomthemailcarrier

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I’m happy with this one.

Onastone

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Value is varied to each collector. Personal choice. What would you prefer, this old beat up nickel or this bright shiny cent? Maybe the value is the same...

may

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

All tied up.

Jzyskowski1

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I’m still building my collection so I’m going to say that ms is nice but I’ll go with the rarity over looks. Thanks 🙏 Maybe 🤔

Jzyskowski1

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

Here’s my vote. VF 30

ricko

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Very difficult to answer such a question without seeing the actual coins. That being said, I would tend to go with the better condition coin - though at times in the past, I have sought a 'special' coin and would settle for less than optimum. Cheers, RickO

PerryHall

If you're trying to complete a type set, you'll want the high grade coin.
If you're trying to complete a series, you'll want the better date coin.

TwoSides2aCoin

Yes, I'd rather have better.

Cougar1978

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Generally I want MS64 or higher. So my buying simply shifts to what I want to spend at that level. However I may buy a nice looking lower grade type piece if deal right.

MidLifeCrisis

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

I'm a big fan of key dates and better dates, but I have learned over the years that VF is just not good enough for me. There are exceptions.

Tramp

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I'm in on the best grade I could afford on a better date coin. Commons are plentiful.

NeophyteNumismatist

I love all the comments. This is a hypothetical situation, and I was really trying to see what is more important to people if all other things are equal... same series, same price, both good for the grade, both nice eye appeal... the idea is that you have $xxx in your pocket and can only afford one coin (assume you would love both).

It's so cool to see that there is NO consensus at all... the forum is 50/50 split - Literally! Thanks a lot for the feedback so far.

124Spider

Did you walk to school or carry your lunch?

Which is just my mildly-snarky way of saying that, in real life, it's not one or the other. If a coin is available for which I have a hole in my collection, I'll buy the best version of it I can "afford." In all the series I collect, I can afford a fairly high grade of a common date, but mostly cannot afford a high grade of a "better" date . If I decide that VF30 is the best I can afford (as I did, for example, with the 1889-CC Morgan dollar), and I want to buy it, I will. I can buy a common date anytime, and I may (or may not) buy both at the same time.

oldabeintx

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

Keeping in mind that the OP defined "better date" as SEMI-KEY and the common coin being common because of the DATE, not the condition. the choice seem obvious. I'm biased because I only do type. I also believe that when my collection is liquidated, the coin in better condition will do better than the semi-key.

Shane6596

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

The more worn the better to me. VF30 is a little to good for my accumulation.

VanHalen

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

All other things being =, I'll take the better date.

VTchaser

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I'll take the better date for sure.

asheland

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

I lean more toward the high grade, but common coin, but sometimes I like the lower grade and scarcer coin…

Examples of both:

Both can be pleasing.

asheland

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

And sometimes you can have both in the same coin.

Manifest_Destiny

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I collect seated quarters, primarily VF, so I would take the VF30.

Smudge

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

I prefer coins with low mintages and survival numbers that are nice for the grade to common coins in higher grades.

Eddi

I'll take the VF30 coin with a "better" date

Besides the general condition of the coins, I would need to know also how scarce is the semi-key coin, and how common is the common one.

If semi-key means 200-300 or so known, and common means many thousands are known, then I'd always chose the semi-key.

NeophyteNumismatist

bumping to get more data for the poll. Even if you don't want to comment, please vote. I am surprised how close the results are. Thanks!

PS. Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there!

MrEureka

Which of the two would you be more likely to upgrade when given the chance?

Project Numismatics

@Tomthemailcarrier said:

I’m happy with this one.

Love this coin - I'd be very happy with that one too.

DisneyFan

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

@NeophyteNumismatist said:
You are interested in buying a coin from a classic US series. The dealer has two coins, one is a semi-key date in VF30, the other is a common date in MS66. Both coins are attractive and problem free for the grade. You have neither coin. Both coins are priced (and valued) the same.

Which do you pick?

If I'm working on a series that includes MS66 coins I'd go without rather than buy a VF30. Just don't feel a VF30 would fit in with the rest of the set. I might, however, decide to start a second set with coins in the VF-XF range.

alefzero

Depends on too many factors. A date that is not necessarily a better date could have conditional rarity in higher grades or qualities that make it superb. Some more common dates have rare die varieties and die states. I would rather have an 1889 Morgan (if it is a VAM-23A) in any grade than an 1893-S Morgan that is always on the market in relative abundance in a range of grades.

Walkerfan

I'll take the MS coin with a common date

@MrEureka said:
Which of the two would you be more likely to upgrade when given the chance?

Generally, but not always, I haven’t done well with upgrades. I lose money in the short term. I feel it is better to buy what you want, in the first place, and then hold it for the long term. I know this isn’t always possible or practical, but I try to do it, when I can.