Generally speaking would you rather have a straight AU50 or Unc details?
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
On a 1930s silver crown. I figured it might have been very lightly cleaned but was hoping for AU50.
NGC is sending her back UNC details cleaned.
I kinda feel that's a step down from what I was hoping.
Thoughts?
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
3
Comments
I'd definitely prefer the straight grade, even if it's lower.
Problem coins are distracting and difficult to sell.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
My thoughts exactly.
Dave
The late Graham Chapman screams in agreement.
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/1ea6a469-7938-4737-89d5-a83452b62a54
Throw a coin enough times, and suppose one day it lands on its edge.
I would want - The problem free coin.
Details coins not on my shopx list. They are tough to sell too IMO. Now a problem coin dealer I know of might buy them if he can get them really cheap. His primary market - people who want crack them for their albums / folders.
I’d rather have a straight grade XF-45 or even lower than a details UNC
Mr_Spud
I can't generalize 'details' coins, some are much worse than others while others are questionable
Definitely a straight graded piece, quality is everything for me.
Type collector, mainly into Seated. -formerly Ownerofawheatiehorde. Good BST transactions with: mirabela, OKCC, MICHAELDIXON, Gerard
No interest in coins that are in details slabs. I will say the CACG is making details slabs more popular now (since a large number of coins are ending up in CACG details slabs).
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
I think it's more difficult to own!
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Depends on the severity of the cleaning. I've had AU & Unc. details coins eventually straight grade. Of course, I originally thought they would straight grade or I would not have sent them in to start with.
Does this change your mind, or no?
--Severian the Lame
I'm in the straight graded problem free coin column.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Straight grade.
Based on eBay sold results of unc details and straight graded AU 55 (did not see any sales of AU 50), you are looking at fairly close pricing. The AU 50 might be easier to sell though.
If the issue is minor enough and the cost is similar, I would take the unc details over an AU 50. With this coin, I wouldn't really want it in either grade as the eye appeal just isn't there. Below is an example of an unc details coin that I would take over almost any AU 50:
As others have mentioned straight grades work better for a collection and problem coins are just that and when it comes to sell it, it will be difficult.
In the Market, you are always better off with a straight grade. But that is a simplistic analysis.
Let's say I have 2 coins, an UNC details and a straight AU 50. The AU will likely sell for more. But that would also mean it would cost more to buy. If the details coin is prettier and the problem not distracting, I see no good reason not to own one if the price is right.
I'd rather have this one. Try to find one of these for what I paid, for the amount of detail this has.
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)
"popular?" Or did you mean to say "common?"
Probably the AU-50, because I always believed that a little wear gives a coin "character".
Pete
Straight grade.
Raw problems look more collectible than entombed problems. Give me problem free, in or out of the plastic. Then again, some problem coins are no problem. Authentication is a must for some coins , even with problems. Funny hobby : the coin business
Have you thought about cracking it out, give a dip and sending it in? Worth a shot, you never know
What's the worst that can happen???
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
rather submit for restoration and reconsideration ? A small fortune on the table or big chunk of meat on the bone. I semi agree.
I disagree with having TPGs put pretty nice coins in body bags for some things (like very gentle, and/or old cleaning), while giving straight grades to some really ugly coins. But that's the world we live in, so I'd take the AU50 over uncirculated details any day.
I get that. The non gradeable coins can dissuade many submitters/ collectors , who may feel “shafted” from “ doing that again”. Double-edged sword for our hobby. Tuition cost is the caveat.
NGC must have really hated your coin. It's rare for them to put "JUNK" on a slab label.
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
I stay away from all coins with a “details” grade. Usually I find their problems to be too distracting to warrant my ownership. I would be drawn to the problem every time I looked at the piece. From the resale side, the problem will always stand in the way of realizing the full potential of an upward swing in the market.
I have to laugh when coin collectors claim they would never buy a details graded coin. While I avoid details graded coins, I would certainly consider buying an extremely rare coin that was very lightly cleaned if it was priced low enough.
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
>
You know, I hadn’t noticed the word “junk” until you pointed it out. That is a slap in the face! And I’ve haven’t seen it used on a label before. Is this sometimes used on a details coin? What about PCGS?
I guess it’s fortunate they avoided calling it a POS!
The coin is a Chinese junk dollar. It's the type. They weren't calling the coin junk. He meant it as a joke.
@HillbillyCollector Junk is the type of boat on the reverse.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Everyone talks about the exit price and not the entry price. Yes, the details coin will always sell at a discount. You also bought it at a discount.
I think the question isn’t really “What grade would you rather have?”, but “What grade would you rather receive?”.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
>
😂 Learned something new! I thought that was strange. Thanks for clearing me up on that.
Didn't you see the winky emoji on my post?
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
>
Nah, that one totally flew over my head.😂 I don’t know jack about Chinese coins, I think this is the first ‘Junk’ dollar I’ve seen. Learn something new everyday.👍
I would rather have the straight AU50.
Something I've noticed on many details graded coins is the grading companies often seem to bump the grade up a point or two. Seen too many UNC Detail coins that showed definite high point wear and should grade no higher than AU.
Fair point, although the OP asked the former.
Even if not extremely rare, if the price is low enough I can be enticed if the issue isn't distracting. For some reason, I can't be enticed into tooled coins or holed coins. But light cleaning or even light porosity on old copper doesn't automatically turn me off.
I had a nice collection of raw portrait and pillar 8's at one point.
Before selling them, I sent them to pcgs in 2 batches about a month apart. There where 5 of these beautiful Charles IIII. All toned just like this one. 4 went in the first submission and came back high AU.
This one went in the next and came back AU details cleaned... which wound up working out great for me since I cracked it back out and kept it!
If not for the deets result it would've been sold and an ancient memory now...😄
When grading or purchasing coins, I always prefer a problem-free grade.
The original skin is a must for my collecting interest. Cleaned coins definitely not.
Always an AU50 over an UNC details cleaned, no exceptions.
Agree, details coins sell every day. They even sell through the well known auction sites. Of course we would all prefer completely problem free over "details" coins but there are times where the cost may be prohibitive. At the right price I would be (and have been on a hand full of instances) a purchaser of details graded coins.
Mark
If given the choice, I'd always take the straight grade. There's still lots of meat on an AU coin.
Just to play devil's advocate for a moment... I also collect Early Copper coins and finding straight graded pieces is sometimes cost prohibitive. In these cases, it depends why the individual coin got a details grade... corrosion is usually the kiss-of-death for copper but a scratch on an area that's not a prime focal point might be acceptable. For example, I'll likely never have a straight-grade 1793 or 1799 (or 1804) but I'd be tickled pink to even have a details piece of those difficult dates. I'm looking at 18thC half cents and that Type will likely be a details piece... unless I hit the lottery... lol...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
I will take the straight graded AU50 over any UNC Details coin.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
More to the
Imagine a lightly cleaned, naturally retoned, slightly banged up and obviously circulated 1799 Bust Dollar in an AU 50 holder. In other words, a typical 1799 Bust Dollar in 50. Now, imagine a perfectly original and strictly uncirculated piece with beautiful color, except that someone neatly carved a small X in the reverse field 200 years ago. Now in a details holder, of course. Which one would you rather own?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Interesting about the OP's implication that the AU50 grade is undesirable. I have a couple of seated halves in that grade that I cherish. As such, if the AU50 example has attractive qualities, I would choose it over an UNC details coin.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I thought it was the opposite implication-that the unc details is less desirable than the AU 50.
By comparison! ala both are undesirable, choose the least.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"