POLL: The term AU/BU

Outhaul

There is a distinct difference between an AU and BU coin. With this in mind, how do you feel about a seller using the term AU/BU in their listings?

Personally, I think it's crap. It's either or, you're the seller, what is it?

Smittys

AU58-MS62 sometimes a crap shoot.

mirabela

I think, in all honesty, it usually means "I know it's AU but maybe you won't, so I'll pretend I don't either and that way I'll get more for the coin than if I were straight about it."

longtimecollector

Since it probably only grades VF, price it as a VG and GO !!!!!!!

Outhaul

<< <i>I think, in all honesty, it usually means "I know it's AU but maybe you won't, so I'll pretend I don't either and that way I'll get more for the coin than if I were straight about it." >>


I was waiting for someone to say that.

XpipedreamR

<< <i>I think, in all honesty, it usually means "I know it's AU but maybe you won't, so I'll pretend I don't either and that way I'll get more for the coin than if I were straight about it." >>

Cameonut

I've never bid on a AU/BU auction, but if I did I would never bid above AU money.

mgoodm3

It blows.

originalisbest

AU/BU's just fine, if you know what you're doing. It means AU-58. And since even the lauded PGS's have all, on occasion, called what are truly AU-58's "MS-62", it all boils down to paying/haggling an appropriate price.

ER

"AU/BU". Sounds like Robert Chambers.

WaterSport

Even if once side of the coin is AU and one side is BU, it is NOT a BU coin. I am from the day when a BU coin was just that, Brilliantly Uncirculated. Everything else that had the least bit of a finger print, rub, mark, etc was AU.

WS

mgoodm3

AU/BU means they think it's AU but want tot sell it for more. If they really thought it was BU they'd advertise it as such.

UncleJoe

I'm OK with it with the understanding that it still must look at least AU and I will only bid AU money.

I personally do not collect MS coins because I do not have the "eye". I have a hard time sometimes determining if a coin is AU or BU and if I am "sure" it is BU, I have about 1 shot in 100 of getting the grade "right". Since I know this I stay away from MS coins.

Joe.

xbob

I don't give a ratz so much when a small time non-dealer eBay seller just states a coin as uncirculated or BU.

But, I hate the big ads from large mail order houses that call everything BU (or Gem BU) when they are usually AU (and cleaned). I've learned my lesson there. Those companies have the resources to have good graders on staff so that they could list the coins properly - but that would hurt the bottom line, wouldn't it?

KurtHorn

The difference can be tiny between an AU 58 and a MS 60 or 61. When I took advance grading last summer at ANA it is the one area that instructors would sometimes miss. calling a 58 a 61 or 62, or vice-versa.

As far as auctions go... An ebay seller saying AU/BU (if their honest) is probably just more confused than even a professional. A few probably know the difference but are trying to highlight the fact that a 58 is darn near an MS coin. Unfortunately the real truth is that many ebayers are just dishonest and trying to pass off an AU coin as being BU.

RotatedRainbows

About the same way I do when PCGS continually calls Bust AU coins MS60-61-62 especially for the special dealers who submit the same coin over and over until they finally get their MS grade on the AU coin. Makes it much easier to scam the less experienced when a dealer can claim it is Mint State because PCGS says so, unfortunately a large number of collectors do not understand how the grading game is played.

greymars

It would be more like buying a graded NGC "Brillant Uncirculated" slabbed coin from the CoinVault

"Brillant Uncirculated" is the grade on a NGC slab, promoted by Robert Chambers, who claims that the coin goes to 1 NGC grader and 1 NGC finalizer to "save some money" on the costs...actual numerical grade??

Anyone ever see these being "hawked" or for Heavens Sake buy one?

midwestcoin13

just grab it and slab it.

mathprof

From what I've seen, AU/BU = XF.

RYK

From what I've seen, AU/BU = XF.

From what I've seen, AU/BU = harshly cleaned XF.

Outhaul

For the night crew.

Cheers,

Bob