What do you think of the AU grade?

topstuf

Other than 58, do you like 53s and 55s? 50 seems to just be an XF (and not too pretty at that)
But the 53 and 55 are seeming to blur into one grade but different pricing.

Lately it seems that 53s look better than 55s.

Opines?

majorbigtime

AU 50-55 coins generally look circulated to me! I'd call 'em XF45s!

bidask

I like them alot if they are original and technically graded.

MikeKing

I'm liking them more and more as I become more serious in my collecting habits

In fact, you've all seen the DEALER HYPE about AU58 Bust Halves!


Well let me tell you............

....................................................................IT'S A CROCK.....................................................


Catering to 'PRETTY" and what they can get the most money for


..let's get down to the real nitty gritty, REAL collecting..........and I'm talking about AU55, 53,50 XF and 'lower' grades.

topstuf

<< <i>AU 50-55 coins generally look circulated to me! I'd call 'em XF45s! >>



Then what would you call what passes for 45 nowadays? Are ALL the grades too high?

topstuf

Further, are "grading concerns" a sign of a weakening market? A "change" if you will. Like the CHANGE when the TPGs first started.

JRocco

That entire zone 45-55 is a big fuzzy grey area.
So many 45's are 50's and 50's are 45's....forget the coins that float between 50 and 53 let alone 53 to 55....see what I am saying.

I love the coin weenie dealers that insist a 55 is worth a ton more than a 53 or an AU 50 is worth 2-3 times an XF 45....bullcrap !!!

Each coin has its own space. I prefer to just refer to a coin as a Fine example or an Almost Uncirculated example and not get bogged down with a F12 vs a F15 or an AU53 vs an AU55. The "better" Fine or AU example---and better encompassed a lot of factors---strike/color/evenness/luster, basic eye appeal----- will stand out and be worth (or cost) more than the weaker example. Wear puts the coin in a zone and those other factors make the coin higher or lower in that zone.

AU coins are awesome because they are nicer to look at than a baggy uncirculated coin.

And don't get me started with those buffoons that call a circulated coin MS 60-63 because they think it only has a touch or wear or a bit of rub------- let their daughter come home one night and tell them they are just a touch of pregnant or they are expecting a bit of a baby.

MadMarty

I love AU58s!!!

Leiana

AU coins can look really nice! My problem with AUs is that some AUs are holdered as MS coins, and if a coin has wear, then it is definitely not an MS.

But that falls under market grading, I guess.

-Amanda

Bear

Great value for the money. However,

this grade has been heavily mined for

PQ examples and upgrades. Each day,

the percentage of dogs in this grade

continue to increase. I have foud that the

AU-58, is the most pleasing grade for me.

robertpr

<< <i>AU coins can look really nice! My problem with AUs is that some AUs are holdered as MS coins, and if a coin has wear, then it is definitely not an MS.

But that falls under market grading, I guess.

-Amanda >>



I agree, AU coins can be very nice, even more than some of the low end (true) MS coins, and at a small fraction of the price. Unless they're my coins coming out of the grading room, I'm a big fan of the AU grades.

roadrunner

AU coins have taken over what used to be called XF. That's it.
Call 80% of them XF.

Very few 55 and 58 coins carry lots of luster and eye appeal. If they do, they disappear to forum members or to dealers looking for MS61 or better.

roadrunner

majorbigtime

<< <i>

<< <i>AU 50-55 coins generally look circulated to me! I'd call 'em XF45s! >>



Then what would you call what passes for 45 nowadays? Are ALL the grades too high? >>





Oddly, most XF45s are accurately graded--the AU 50-55s mostly are no better, but ofter are "clean" appearing.

RTS

AU50...

topstuf

Aw, too bad RTS. But, I can see my way clear to take it off your hands. (Gee, what a shame...all worn out like that)



XF45:

Barndog

coins are what they are, no matter what the plastic says. I know my series and I have AU-50s in my collection that I like better than some AU-53s, 55s, and 58s.

ziggy29

One of the confusing thing is the way people use the grades. To some people the primary determining factor as to whether a slightly worn coin is EF or AU is the remaining luster. If very lightly worn coin has almost full luster, it can be a 55 or 58 but some might grade the same coin 45 if it had almost no luster.

MikeKing

That's a really nice looking Penny you got there RTS!

au58

<< <i>AU 50-55 coins generally look circulated to me! I'd call 'em XF45s! >>



This is an absolutely true statement. In the old days, if you could see the wear without a glass, the coin was not AU.

This is not the case today.

SkyMan

Generally in the series I go for it is easy enough to find slabbed MS/PR examples. However, for type collecting I LOVE a nice AU... particularly when it is raw. Several years ago I sold a NGC Type 1 Standing Liberty 1917-P in MS66FH and used the proceeds to purchase some other coinage including a type 1 '17-P in AU. It is ever so much nicer to actually be able to touch a coin.

As to the AU grades in plastic, they are like anything else in plastic, buy what you think is correctly graded.

Excellent cent RTS!

JRocco

<< <i>Generally in the series I go for it is easy enough to find slabbed MS/PR examples. However, for type collecting I LOVE a nice AU... particularly when it is raw. Several years ago I sold a NGC Type 1 Standing Liberty 1917-P in MS66FH and used the proceeds to purchase some other coinage including a type 1 '17-P in AU. It is ever so much nicer to actually be able to touch a coin.

As to the AU grades in plastic, they are like anything else in plastic, buy what you think is correctly graded.

Excellent cent RTS! >>



Great point SkyMan..I too love to hold my coins. Slabbed coins are different. I don't know if this is understandable-but I don't feel like slabbed coins are mine.....even though I own them and don't plan on selling them, they are ......commodities.
On the other hand- circulated coins are awesome--you can touch them, hold them, OWN them.....
Great observation SkyMan

mrearlygold

Here's a "low" grade coin:






Personally, I like em like this. I like em in higher grade too. But there's something about this grade thru AU ( long as it's original ) that I really enjoy

TwoSides2aCoin

GoldenEyeNumismatics

a 55 is a 58 with a lot of heavier hits. a 53 is a real nice 50

Dog97

I agree with this reply so I'll just C&P it.

<<<That entire zone 45-55 is a big fuzzy grey area.


I love the coin weenie dealers that insist a 55 is worth a ton more than a 53 or an AU 50 is worth 2-3 times an XF 45....bullcrap !!!

And don't get me started with those buffoons that call a circulated coin MS 60-63 because they think it only has a touch or wear or a bit of rub------- let their daughter come home one night and tell them they are just a touch of pregnant or they are expecting a bit of a baby.>>>

Cam40

AU-50

what?!?
thats a 53 all day!

BlindedByEgo

The various AU grades are IMO an opportunity to practice grade arbitrage.

mozin

AU58 has always been my favorite grade in the Bust series. Problem now is that too many collectors also like them. I normally collect all AU grades in the Busties. The last few I bought were in AU50 holders, and I am quite satisfied with them.

BAJJERFAN

AU should be 55 and 58 only. xf/ef should be expanded to ef/xf 50 and ef/xf 53. There is no way a 50 can be almost/about unc.