AU58 vs. MS60

291fifth

By my way of thinking an AU58 is an exceptionally nice circulated coin and an MS60 is a very troubled mint state coin. I don't understand why people would pay more for an MS60 than for an AU58.

In practice, do MS60 coins actually sell for more than AU58's or is this just a numismatic fiction created by the various pricing guides?

GFourDriver

AU58 is my favorite grade and I couldn't agree more with you, paying more money for an MS60 is rediculous.

Barndog

PCGS graded these coins MS-60. The first coin is a rather rare die marriage for which I would have paid twelve times what I ended up paying, but the second one was only about $50 more than the typical AU-58 price from the particular dealer who sold it to me:

RYK

Sometimes MS-60 coins are not traditional fugly MS coins but instead super-duper sliders. In these cases, the MS-60 coin is worth more than the AU-58 coin. In the instances where the AU-58 coin is really nice and the MS-60 coin is a pig, despite what the price guides say, most knowledgeable collectors will pay more for the 58 than the 60.

Longacre

I really like the AU58 grade. In the series that I collect, it is unusual to find an MS60 coin. They usually jump to MS61 on the slab, but in reality they are really AU58s.

ColonialCoinUnion

Generally speaking, generalizing about the desirability (or lack thereof) of all coins of a certain numerical grade is a poor use of time in my opinion.

Personally, I would evaluate each coin on its own merits.

Jcarney

Barndog, can you tell us why these coins were graded 60? I've alway associated the 60 grade with a banged up, no eye appeal POS. Those coins you posted are nice looking. Market grading at work or something different?

Barndog

<< <i>Barndog, can you tell us why these coins were graded 60? I've alway associated the 60 grade with a banged up, no eye appeal POS. Those coins you posted are nice looking. Market grading at work or something different? >>



the 1829 has various marks throughout, see especially areas near olive leaves and eagle's beak (not to be confused with the clashmarks). Also, luster is a bit subdued.

the 1830 has subdued luster and weakness of strike on left and lower sides of the eagle along with very minor, fine marks on the obverse. I've seen worse in 62 holders though.

doh

Well, regardless of the price difference when purchased, when it comes time to sell AU58s are usually A LOT easier to sell than MS60s...

lcoopie

is it fair to say, that in general,
an AU58 has more eye appeal,
than an MS60?

Broadstruck

<< <i>is it fair to say, that in general,
an AU58 has more eye appeal,
than an MS60? >>

RYK

<< <i>is it fair to say, that in general,
an AU58 has more eye appeal,
than an MS60? >>



I agree with CCU. It's only fair to take two coins, one AU-58 and one MS-60, and decide which one is nicer.

I have owned one MS-60 graded holdered coin in my life. It was definitely uncirculated and for that reason, definitely worth more than an AU-58.

It is also important to remember that what my end up in an AU-58 holder may not be anything close to what one's idealized version of what an AU-58 should be.

ColonialCoinUnion

<< <i>It's only fair to take two coins, one AU-58 and one MS-60, and decide which one is nicer. >>



By George I think he's got it!

The only time I would be concerned with the the look of ALL COINS in MS60 holders is if I made a deal to purchase all of them in one fell swoop.

But that doesn't happen very often.

Broadstruck

<< <i>It is also important to remember that what my end up in an AU-58 holder may not be anything close to what one's idealized version of what an AU-58 should be. >>





There are different levels of AU58's not all are CHBU eye appeal with just a touch of rub... some dogs I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole.

291fifth

<< <i>PCGS graded these coins MS-60. The first coin is a rather rare die marriage for which I would have paid twelve times what I ended up paying, but the second one was only about $50 more than the typical AU-58 price from the particular dealer who sold it to me:





>>



From the photos, neither coin looks to be mint state or even AU58. While both are nice looking coins, 53 or 55 would seem to be the correct grades.

mozin

I just checked my MS 60 vs. AU 58. I have fifteen times as many AU 58s as MS 60. In isolating into only Bust series coins, I have only one MS 60. For Busties, I much prefer the AU 58 grade.

pennyannie

Nothing wrong with a old ms60 coin. A lot of coins in the early 1800's can fit this bill. I would not mind owning them. Now if we are talking a ms60 1963 common date washington quarter or franklin half i will pass. I would buy all those half dimes in a in ms60 that i could get my hands on. You can have the ms64's i will take multiple ms60's. More is better right?

Barndog

<< <i>From the photos, neither coin looks to be mint state or even AU58. While both are nice looking coins, 53 or 55 would seem to be the correct grades. >>



which is why professional graders inspect the coins in hand (like collectors should) when assigning a grade, rather than by assessing images sent to them via email or posted on the internet.

edit: spelling correction

dizzyfoxx

<AU58 vs. MS60>

Like comparing apples with apples.

Julian

<< <i>Generally speaking, generalizing about the desirability (or lack thereof) of all coins of a certain numerical grade is a poor use of time in my opinion.

Personally, I would evaluate each coin on its own merits. >>

:


agree;

Tbar

I seem to associate ms-60 coins as problem coins in my areas of interest. I prefer the au58 grade myself.

BBN

<< <i>I seem to associate ms-60 coins as problem coins in my areas of interest. I prefer the au58 grade myself. >>



If I want something in MS my minimum is MS62 and if I can't afford that grade I'd just assume gowith a 55-58. BTW, I quoted you because I love that Peace Dollar. Is that yours?

veryfine

Although I appreciate AU-58 coins and own a few with very positive eye-appeal, they are NOT mint state. Of course there are exceptions and arguable grade discrepancies, but an MS-60 is technically part of the mint state category. Therefore, it justifiably sets it apart from any circulated grade, even AU-58.
I might still pay more for a beautiful AU-58 than for an ugly MS-60, but it still misses the mint state scale. That fact should not be taken lightly.

OnlyGoldIsMoney

I have never owned a MS 60 in my series of interest while I own perhaps 25 coins in AU 58 or MS 61. I seek out coins in PCGS MS 61 OGH's. Lumping and dismissing MS 60 graded coins as borderline "problem" coins isn't merited. At this summer's ANA show one dealer had two gold coins in PCGS MS 60 OGH's that would easily grade as MS 62 today.