Best type of “details” grade
may
Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭✭✭
Whats the best details grade in your opinion (raw or graded) ? If you have an example of your favorite coin of that grade, please show it.
If you have no interest in details coins, please say so. 
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
Best type of “details” grade
This is a public poll: others will see what you voted for.
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Altered surfaces would be the worst for me. Cleaned as far as small scratches from a cleaning cloth isn't terrible if they are very fine and not very noticeable.
None of the above
I don't and won't buy detailed coins
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
I haven’t bought any but if I did the only one I might consider would be planchet flaw. Within reason I don’t see any real problem with those.
No interest in any detailed graded coins. The poll should have offered that as an option.
If you had to choose one, which one would be the most appealing?
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
Would depend on the type of cleaning or how severe the scratch is. I have seen coins where I struggled to find the, "scratch". Others when I have had a hard time finding the cleaning. Those are details coins that might be worth it.
Best or favorite?? Not really but it is what it is. This was one from my very early days of submitting coins. Don't even know "why" I submitted it! I think it was just a extra coin I throw in for the ANACS 10 coin special.
They called it recolored!! Oh well.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Wheel Mark.
Half the time I can't even see them.
Coin Photographer.
If I HAD to pick... probably a scratch, but much like "cleaning" it's going to depend upon the severity of the problem and whether or not it's in a prime focal area. I mostly collect early copper and sometimes the scratches are pretty severe or the cleaning looks like a Brillo pad. Other instances, not nearly as bad...
Another factor to consider for early copper is the rarity of the issue. For R1 to R2 coins, I'll wait for a better example... so, "None of the above" for the poll. However, if it's a rare piece or truly scarce, I'll weight the severity of the scratch or cleaning...
A non-starter for me is Environmental Damage. But again, with early copper there are micro-porous examples that need a loupe to detect the porous surfaces and there are coins so damaged by corrosion that its difficult to tell what the coin actually is! As a general rule, I usually stay clear of corroded or porous surfaces on copper...
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Planchet flaws are mint errors, everything else is PMD. Questionable color is my second choice because there can be some decent AT coins.
Edit: Photo example added below.
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606
"Questionable Color" can frequently be removed from a coin with a careful dip in E-Z-Est and then resubmitted to your preferred grading service for a straight 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
100%.
In fact, if you crack out that coin and resubmit under the error submission you will receive it back in a problem free slab with the planchet flaw listed on the insert.
peacockcoins
I chose questionable color since the graders could not make up their minds at that particular moment. Who knows what it may garner at another submission?
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None of it is good depending where one starts, fwiw
I chose cleaned. I have personally cracked out a few EAC coins in "cleaned" details holders and had them come back straight-graded.
I chose details cleaned, because I've had several coins that I submitted come back as cleaned that later received a straight grade. This coin here would probably straight grade if resubmitted.
Cleaned. There's a lot of subjectivity between that and coins that have been cleaned and still get straight graded. As a result, you can find some nice coins in details-cleaned holders.
Ownerofawheatiehorde Posts: 638 ✭✭✭✭ July 5, 2023 2:27PM edited July 5, 2023 2:51PM in U.S. Coin Forum
Whats the best details grade in your opinion (raw or graded) ? If you have an example of your favorite coin of that grade, please show it.
If you have no interest in details coins, please say so.
Best type of “details” grade
Filed Rims
Cleaned
Damaged
Questionable Color
Planchet Flaw
Altered Surfaces
Scratched
Environmental Damage
Most of those details-grade categories include examples which are graded subjectively and inconsistently enough to receive straight grades on some occasions. So for those who say they don’t/wont buy details-grade coins - some of your straight-grade beauties might have spent part of their existence in details grade holders.
Regarding prices realized at auctions, in general, a (non-harshly) cleaned coin will tend to bring more than one with filed rims or damage, as well as one that’s scratched or environmentally damaged.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
100% Agree!
I picked QC and I would say cleaned second. I own 2 QC coins that on another day might straight grade. I also own a few coins that were once QC and now have numerical grades. When I find that out it doesn’t really bother me. It isn’t like a cleaned coin that is borderline. I think the prior determination was just wrong. Lastly, on occasion, beautifully toned QC coins will sell for more than a normal coin would at the appropriate grade (though obviously less than if that exact coin with color were straight-graded).
And I don’t mind a light cleaning just as long as it’s not too harsh…
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 picked QC because I also happen to own coins that will one day end up making it into straight holders. I would not mind some cleanings if they are very light or it has retoned, planchet flaws as it is the mint's fault, and also filed rims would not bother me too much because I hardly spend time staring at them!
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
Lightly cleaned coins can be hardly noticeable.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Our host called this cleaned.
Oh well. Damn fine coin nonetheless!
USAF (Ret.) 1985 - 2005. E-4B Aircraft Maintenance Crew Chief and Contracting Officer.
My current Registry sets:
✓ Everyman Mint State Carson City Morgan Dollars (1878 – 1893)
✓ Everyman Mint State Lincoln Cents (1909 – 1958)
✓ Morgan Dollar GSA Hoard (1878 – 1891)
questionable color on Unc silver coins.
Sometimes a good dip can help!
Filed rims might be the least noticeable, especially if it’s stored in an album. Most of the others will bug me, especially if they are really obvious.
Altered surfaces
The best ones are those that make me wonder why the coin wasn't straight graded. QC gives me more head scratchers than cleaned, so I chose that one. Of course, heinously AT coins are no go coins, but then so are naturally toned coins that are ugly and borderline environmental damage.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
The "Questionable Color" is the only option that can frequently be reversed. A QC coin can often be dipped resulting in a coin that will be straight graded by the major grading services.
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
Questionable color can often be resubmitted for a favorable outcome, or dipped to remove the offensive tarnish. Cheers, RickO
Cleaned sucks.
I got hit with two this year.
.
Click on this link to see my ebay listings.
The irony is collectors, TPGs and CAC LOVE environmental damage (tarnish) right up to the point where it's graded as being environmentally damaged. I certainly do, as I just posted photos of four of my coins in another thread as examples of "Black beauties." Two of those coins have, IMO, significant environmental damage, one of them (below) was submitted to a TPG and straight-graded despite some rim etching and pitting, and etched devices.
However, my opinions on environmental damage and hairlines apparently are somewhat out of kilter with the norms of TPGs and the hobby in general at the moment.
With all due respect for our host here, planchet flaws should be noted but should not merit a details designation. As minted is as minted.
There are some very rare coins with post-Mint issues that are discounted as essentially not existing in the census, especially early coins. It is an insane injustice to the hobby. If the highest graded coin is a VF but there is a cleaned AU, that is a very important coin. In truth, the market realizes it too yo some extent, but it goes unrepresented in population reports.