When buying, do you look for flaws or positives?

Wondo

I find that when I am buying a coin, I concentrate on the beauty of the coin first. If it meets my eye-appeal test, then I look for flaws to determine technical grade.

Y'all?



edited to add: If it doesn't meet the eye-appeal test, I don't bother with step #2.

jcping

Both.

Russ

Precisely the same.

Russ, NCNE

foodude

Yes, I always start with the eye appeal (and authenticity) first, I then access the luster, strike, and marks.

mgoodm3

I think you have to get a first impression of any coin you look at. Color may add to it and heavy marks may subtract from it. It's kinda a gestalt.

Purple73

When I look for my Franks I do the exact same thing. If it doesn't catch my eye then I move on.

PURPLE!

prooflike

I look at it the same, first eye appeal, and then flaws....

ziggy29

As others have said, I either like how the coin looks or I don't -- I don't immediately start quantifying flaws and such. Only then do I bother carefully determining the grade and what I'm willing to pay for it -- or maybe notice a few things upon close inspection which make me look elsewhere.

Shamika

I have to know the flaws. That way, I know what I'm getting.

relayer

First I notice why I want to buy the coin, then I look for the reasons I'll get burned on it

coinguy89

I make sure to look at the flaws above all.

Hadleydog

Eye appeal first, second and third. Then I ask myself if I can live with the flaws. Have found that if they are on focal points, the answer is always pass. I guess that's why I usually only consider toned Morgans ms64 and above, the 63's tend to be just scruffy enough to distract your focus. But again, that just leads back to the eye appeal, doesn't it?

Conder101

I look to see if I need it. If so can I afford it? If it passes both of those tests I buy it. What I get it home and inventory it, then I grade it.

Crackout

I usually fall in love with the "eye appeal", look at all the positives, buy the coin, and then see all the flaws later when I get home..

ms70

Eye appeal & then flaws. I won't buy anything with fingerprints no matter how tiny or faint. I'm also a stickler for making sure the
date & mint mark are clear & not banged up with contact marks. But that's just me..........

nwcs

When I evaluate, I do it as best as I can according to the method I was taught in grading class. When I am wanting to have fun, I do it according to how interesting the coin is and the aesthetics.

Aethelred

I buy coins for a living, so I may come to this with a different mindset, but the first thing I look for are reasons that I should NOT buy a coin. If I don't find any I then assign a number grade and from there come up with a price.

anablep

Luster & Eye appeal first. Then the flaws, unless the coin is so flawed as to detract from luster. Well then it lacks eye appeal and I'll skip right past it...

dorkkarl

<< <i>When buying, do you look for flaws or positives? >>

yes.

K S

BowTieCoins

Eye appeal then flaws.

Katrina