Are the RD, RB, and BN designations for copper necessary (or even useful)?

dan1ecu

Hi, Everybody -

From the coins I've seen, a "red" copper coin doesn't necessarily have better eye appeal than a "red brown" or a "brown" example.

Do you think that it would be better for the grading services to leave off the color designation, and just let the buyer decide how much the coin's eye appeal is worth?

Dan

lordmarcovan

Necessary? No.

Useful? Sometimes.



<< <i>From the coins I've seen, a "red" copper coin doesn't necessarily have better eye appeal than a "red brown" or a "brown" example. >>



Most definitely correct.



<< <i>Do you think that it would be better for the grading services to leave off the color designation, and just let the buyer decide how much the coin's eye appeal is worth? >>



Nah- I say let the grading services put the designation on there if they want. Wise buyers will buy a coin on its own merits regardless of what the label says, anyway.

merz2

I have to agree with LM.The designations are necessary.

291fifth

I'd keep the designations. That said, you still have to make your own decision. You can't rely on the holder.

airplanenut

They give a basic idea of what the coin's color is--the real problem is with toning. I've got some brown cents from the 1960s... but they're blue... and plenty of rainbow-colored RBs...

Jeremy

MrEureka

First, there's no turning back. The designations are here to stay.

Second, the history. When sight unseen trading was "invented", color designations were necessary.

Finally, the current reality. The only significant benefit of color designations is in ranking Registry Sets. Any baboon can tell you if a coin is red, brown, or somewhere in between.

shylock

I think they're more necessary for pricing than they are useful for determining eye appeal. The market value and of a full original red copper will (and should) always be more than its RB/BN counterpart, so they have to be certified as such to price them with some degree of accuracy. Especially for sight unseen and internet buyers. As inconsistent as these designations are, I'd still rather have PCGS or NGC determine a coin's price range than whoever is selling it. Then let the buyer decide the coin's value within that range.

I agree with you that many RB's and BN's are more desirable than their RD counterparts!

coinbuf

From the coins I've seen, a "red" copper coin doesn't necessarily have better eye appeal than a "red brown" or a "brown" example.


This is very true. I have two MS65 1931-S Lincolns, one is graded red the other is brown. While the color designation is correct the brown coin is far more lusterous with an electric blue color.

Chris

Lakesammman

If your going to pay the price for red copper, it's nice to know the color is guaranteed by PCGS. Other than that, like Andy said, any Baboon....

MrEureka

it's nice to know the color is guaranteed by PCGS.

Is it? (I really don't know.)

dorkkarl

<< <i>Are the RD, RB, and BN designations for copper necessary (or even useful)? >>

no

K S