Question about Barber and Seated Proofs

wrighty

The majority opinion appears to be buy the "best" coin you can afford. My question is on Barber and Seated Proofs what if you can only afford PR 61, PR 62, or "lack luster 63's? Do you think they are still worth buying if you can't afford a nice 64 or 65 or CAM / DCAM designations ?? Or would you scrap the idea of buying those and find another series where you can obtain a stronger graded coin at a compriable price? Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks

gecko109

A 61 is going to have VERY poor eye appeal. I'd pass on something so common. A PR61 1845 $5 gold for example could be an excellent purchase. But there are just far too many 64/65/66 proof Barbers and seated coinage to go around to ever make a 61 a real winnnner IMHO.

rhedden

If you can only afford to collect in the PR61 grade, then don't collect them. Buy a single PR65 CAM, the best you can find, and enjoy it as a "perfect" example of the type. If a single PR65 example is still out of range, then I have a different suggestion. Take your cash to a large coin show, and walk around the tables until you find a coin in your price range that you absolutely can't leave without, regardless of grade. This method seldom produces unhappy results!

Here are some proof Barbers and Seated. Love this stuff.

WTCG

Proof seated coins that have a cameo effect and eye appeal grading in the PR62, PR63 and (PR64) grades are perhaps the best deals out there. I have never experienced anything except ease when selling those coins and they are highly sought after by collectors and dealers.

Contrary to other opinions, I have seen many PR61's and PR62's with exceptional eye appeal although you have to expect considerable imperfections and hairlines that commensurate with the low grade. Consequently you may expect to pay premium prices for anything that has eye appeal.

wrighty

I have a couple of Proof 62's one with a CAM designation and I love the look of them even though the plastic only says 62. Thanks for the opinions.

tradedollarnut

The grade on the holder is just a starting point. There are plenty of technically graded coins that far surpass their grade in eye appeal. Focus on those. For instance, this is graded PR63:

seateddime

I sort of like this dime PCGS awarded a PF62 CAM grade to.

roadrunner

You could age a few years before finding any quantity of eye appealing and higher end 61's and 62's. Why not look at much better dates in the VF-AU range as long as you are looking. Those have done well and will continue to do well.

roadrunner

JeremyDie1

Nice coins guys!! I can really care less about the grade. Eye appeal is where it's at for me.

coinkid855

<< <i>The grade on the holder is just a starting point. There are plenty of technically graded coins that far surpass their grade in eye appeal. Focus on those. For instance, this is graded PR63:

>>



How in the WORLD is this only 63? I'd honestly think it was a 66 or 67....

Edscoin

<< <i>

<< <i>The grade on the holder is just a starting point. There are plenty of technically graded coins that far surpass their grade in eye appeal. Focus on those. For instance, this is graded PR63:

>>



How in the WORLD is this only 63? I'd honestly think it was a 66 or 67.... >>



That's what I was thinking. Must look a lot worse in hand than in the picture!

tradedollarnut

You simply cannot accurately grade a proof from an image. There's a patch of lines in the right obverse field that limit the grade. Wouldn't be surprised to see it in a 64 holder one day, but the lines were severe enough to warrant the 63 grade at the time.