which coin/grade would you rather have?

Doogy

Imagine one of your favorite coins, that has a beautifully designed reverse. You know, the kind of reverse that when devoid of distracting marks, full of luster and stunning to most viewers, is a true work of art.

Now picture this series of coin in your favorite TPG's holder, whether PCGS, NGC or otherwise. Both coins have show the same grade on the holder, the same mintmark and same year. Both coins show to be accurately graded. Basically, the market will probably dictate that both of these coins will bring close to the same price when sold.

Now, coin #1 has the following: (for the sake of this thread, i'll use a common date Peace or Morgan dollar as example)

#1: After studying the coin for a minute or so, you agree that PCGS/NGC/other has graded this coin as MS65. However, the reverse with the nice stately Eagle motif has "carried" the obverse. The obverse is a nice solid 64, and nicely struck. The reverse is remarkably devoid of hairlines, bag marks and other things, and also very nicely struck in all areas. Let's call the reverse a strong 66+.

#2 After studying this second coin, it too has a strong strike on both side, but even a somewhat novice eye can see that they are both evenly sided 65s. Either side isn't any better than the other in terms of small marks, friction marks, et cetera that defines a 65 coin but keeps it out of a 66 holder.

As a collector, which coin would you rather have in your collection? Do you lean towards #1 with the stunning reverse and weaker obverse, or coin two that is more evenly "balanced"?

ricko

Evenly balanced.... Cheers, RickO

STONE

I would prefer the evenly balanced coin.

Now, if the scenario had a coin with a 66 obverse and a 64 reverse, then I would choose this one.

speety

Evenly balanced.

Edscoin

I'll go with evenly balanced too.

PerryHall

<< <i>I would prefer the evenly balanced coin.

Now, if the scenario had a coin with a 66 obverse and a 64 reverse, then I would choose this one. >>

Mercury10c

I'll take the EB.

cvan68

I would agree with the evenly balanced coin.

ModernCrapNut

I would take the coin with the 66+ reverse and have it reslabbed with the reverse to the front.

coinpictures

<< <i>I would take the coin with the 66+ reverse and have it reslabbed with the reverse to the front. >>



Ditto.

bsshog40

I would take the odd balance. With the grading standards and practices with todays TPG's, there is a chance for a future upgrade to a solid 66.

MidLifeCrisis

Definitely the more evenly balanced coin #2

Unknown

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Bullish

#2 most likely

dogwood

I would side with EB in most cases. But right now I have a 93s Half With a fully seperated wingtip XF reverse that may kick it through my next submission as an xf 40 despite this and other early BH S-mint tendencies to have softly struck obverses showing weakness in the liberty. The band under liberty is mushy. At first glance it's a 35, but flip it over and viola! On your topic, aren't all Morgans baggier on the obverse cheeks and field? That's just a massive target.

Elcontador

Practically speaking, the reverse can hurt the coin, but it rarely helps the coin's grade. I'd prefer the EB coin. Ie., I have a Walker that's in a 6 holder. It's correctly graded imo; the obverse is a 7, but the reverse is a 5, as there are a few minor hits on the upper wings.

Konahead

EB every time