Low Grade = Bad?

sumnom

Do you think low grade coins are bad coins? Are they not worth collecting? Perhaps you think low grade coins have their charms? What do you think?

AU58WALKERS

some people think ms65's are low grade

sumnom

True. I guess "low grade" is a relative term.

UtahCoin

Depends on the coin. I'll take all the low grade Chain Cents you have in FR-2 & AG-3

Steve27

One of my favorites:

itsnotjustme

Several of my 179X and 180X coins are PO01, FA02, AG03 etc. I like them... just think how many people, and whom may have touched them!

curly

Anything is worth collecting, brother. But remember, as a rule, as the grade gets lower the coin gets more common and less in demand as it's higher counterparts.

sumnom

I definately like circulated coins, even well-circulated coins. I often even like them more than uncirculated ones.

doh

Low grade coins are certainly worth collecting. Especially if that's where your price range is. Low grade collecting is better than not collecting at all. And many people, myself included, find worn coins interesting because there were actually used in commerce. Think of the people who might have used those 179* coins....pretty neat stuff!

WaterSport

There are no rules, enjoy what you like.

WS

sumnom

Curly, I think the difference come when one is buying for investment/selling rather than collecting. Low grade coins are probably not going make anyone any real money but I have never collected coins with that thought in mind. It is rare for me to ever part with coins in my collection. I do from time to time but I usually keep whatever I get.

Cladiator

Low grade does not = bad IMO...

fc

boy o boy. i wonder what some people would do when you collect a series where
there is no mint state coins for certain years.

a handful, say 2-3 in AU.

another fistful in XF with 10-30 below that.

i guess they are not worth collecting at all if you cannot complete a whole set in MS?

low grade original coins have more charm and history then a MS in my opinion.
especially those that are dirty, crusty, and original looking.

when there is only 50 left you are very happy to have anyone of those 50!

here are some of my low grade coins:

Elem21wed

If you look at the coin and it makes you happy don't worry about the grade. Some people collect for fun and others for investment. Who's to say is the happier one?

Christopher

sumnom

I am greatly gratified by the responses to this thread.

Bochiman

To each their own, but, for me, if the grade is so low the design is hard to see, then I really don't want to collect it. It may be flippable and quite expensive, but I want to see the design of the coins in my collection.

shorecoll

Low grades don't make money. I once bought a half-roll of 16-D dimes in AG at $100 ea., sold them when they got to to $200-$250 and still kick myself.

IGWT

There's no such thing as a bad no-problem coin. Every coin makes the grade so long as it has been properly graded.

Julian

The collection is paramount.

If a coin complements your collection, then try to add it.

Many coins, die states especially, may only be available as well circulated coins. Never pass a coin without knowing all you can about it.

One of my all time favorite coins was an 1853-O NA half dollar that I owned between 1975 and 1984. It graded G, but it was a nice clean specimen.

There are only three known, with the best being a VF, which now happens to belong to a board member and probably will for the next 40 years.

mgoodm3

A 1910 lincoln in G isn't particularly exciting. An interesting coin is low grade is.

Barbercoin

You know, there's something satisfying about seeing an old worn coin. Take for example, the Barber series; They worked hard, didn't they? You can tell by looking at the lower grades just what I mean. In fact some worked so hard, they plum wore themselves out. I think this gives them character. I love 'em.

FilthyBroke

One of my prized and favorite coins is graded vg10. While it's great to see what they looked like when new, an interesting aspect is also who used your coin and for what. I know this one didn't sit in a vault or box for years, it was out in circulation. The possibilities are there.


Great question though, one that we all have to sit and ponder from time to time.

RichieURich

There are many series of coins where a set cannot be completed in uncirculated, let alone MS-65. Large cents, for example, there are no uncirculated 1799's. Half dimes, there are no uncirculated 1802's. I would rather have a choice VG 1799 large cent or a choice VG 1802 half dime than, say an MS-70 2003 Lincoln cent. JMHO.

TomB

My four favorite coins in my collection are graded, in no particular order, F12, EF45, EF40 and PF10. Low grade coins can be spectacular and can also give large ROI, of course depending on the issue, when the market moves a tiny bit.