POLL: luster, lack of marks, good strike?

1907Quarter

we recently discussed this but I don't think we've made it into a poll...which is the most important featur in a mint state coin?

Shamika

I like luster, but I prefer the coin to be without spots and/or fingerprints more than anything else.

Darkmane

i love looking at the detail in a well struck coin.

RYK

The marks, especially in the prime focal areas, really kill me. I regularly sacrifice strike and luster for a relatively mark-free surface.

Longacre

I'm a striker

MikeInFL

You need an "all of the above". My preference, in order:

1) marks
2) strike
3) luster

Take care...Mike

BillJones

I HATE marks!!!! Especially in the prime focal areas, just as RKY wrote.

Bright, lustrous surfaces make marks look even worse, which why I don't like the vast majority of P-L Morgan dollars.

Beyond that I look for a great strike with all of the detail fully struck up. That's why I have tended toward purchasing Proof coins for type recently.

Finally luster is great, and I won't buy anything that is dipped out dull. BUT great luster combined with a mediocre strike and some to a lot of marks will encourage me to pass. There are some coins out there that in high grade slabs that got there though luster alone. Those pieces don’t do much for me at all. I think that they are overgraded.

RYK

There are some coins out there that in high grade slabs that got there though luster alone. Those pieces don’t do much for me at all.

I agree 100%!

I remember looking at some Saints with a dealer once. RYK asked: "How can this be a 66 with that big whack on the reverse?" Dealer replied: "They grade these by luster. Marks don't really count." It appears that he was correct.

mgoodm3

Dings.

FC57Coins

I don't like marks either, but mark free without luster doesn't do anything for me either. As for strike, it depends on the series - on something like an SLQ strike is essential to bring out the character of the coin. On a morgan or a peace dollar - eh - it's ok - I'd rather have mark free, lustrous and colorful coins there

CalGold

<< <i>They grade these by luster. Marks don't really count." >>



Luster sells. Look at all of the hype descriptions of coins as "brilliant" "dazzling" "blast white" or "blazer." Collectors are drawn to shiny coins like ravens. Lack-luster is a pejorative. You just don't see hyping based on fully struck or mark free as much. The luster lovers at the TPGs also cotnribute to the dipping of coins by crack-outers seeking an extra grade point.

On the other hand, putting too much attention on stike leads to strike designation--something I abhor. Who cares if some tiny detail that encompasses less than 1% of the coin's design and can only be seen under magnification is fully struck? Why pay big premiums for those, and relegate all others to orphan status?

That having been said, there can no one answer to this poll. It is a matter of balance. Who seeks out marked up coins with great strike and luster? Or dark and dull ones that are fully struck and mark free?

I won't vote in this poll because, because it ignores balance. For example, all things considered, if a coin is scarce fully struck I would probably prefer a fully struck example so long as it had adequate if not great luster, but if I were acquiring a typical weakly struck example I would want one with superior luster. And in either case marks would have to be considered in the mix.

CG

Edited to Add: I agree with Frank

1907Quarter

Frank-
but what would IGOR say?

PerryHall

Dull luster, weak strike, or a big gash across Miss Liberty's face? No contest. I hate bag marks!!!

anablep

Marks bother me more than weak strike or dull luster.

DHeath

This poll is perverse, and I may have nightmares.

291fifth

I have always been partial to well struck coins but have usually been out-of-step with the market.

tjkillian

For me, a well-struck coin is the best. Sure luster is nice, but it seems that well-struck coins have less luster than coins struck from worn dies. Just look at proofs, they are very well-struck and have near zero luster. Marks, I can take it or leave it.

Tom

1907Quarter

They're at the eighth pole. Strike the Planchet is fading. Big Luster making a big move on the outside challenging Coin Marks for the lead, AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!!!!

coppercoins

Strike is usually what I look for first...the others are secondary. I want a coin that has all the detail it was intended to have.

leothelyon

The strike of the coin is more important to me then the luster but I also care about the location of the marks. This is why I look for fully struck, mark free examples. The luster and toning come last. And yes, if you have any dark and dull looking EDS Jefferson nickels, I'll take them off your hands. As long as they have presentable steps.
It's interesting to note here about the poll. While luster out paced the strike 16 to 12, there was only one post favoring luster to 5 posts....oops, make that 6 posts favoring the strike of the coin. By the way, there were 7 posters on disliking the marks on coins.

Leo

Edited to add; I believe this thread (which I also missed) preceeded the Poll thread. Link!

DickyBetz

How about an "all of the above" choice. I think you need all of them for a nice MS coin but if I had to chose one I would go for A good strike. Actually maybe luster. Actually hits. Hmm, I cant decide.

cladking

Strike.

Really it's a little more complicated than this and tends to be dependent on the series
and the absolute qualities in which most examples are found. I always want a mostly
full strike since a loss of details to a bad strike is just as bad as a loss to circulation wear,
but a complete 100% strike is only of great interest when most examples have weak and
indistinct details. While luster isn't as important to me in coins which typically have good
luster, its importance goes up on coins where luster is usually impaired.

The same holds true for marking. Little marks are not as distracting as missing details but
on coins which are rarely seen clean then markfree examples take on added importance.
Large marks tend to hurt coins a lot to me whether they are unc or circ.

topstuf

Luster covers marks, marks breaks strike, strike cuts luster.

dlimb2

I look at the marks,then strike and last luster...marks can make the best lustered coin look like...smutt!

And just to add, marks can mess up a well struck coin real bad.