Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Me, myself and EYE APPEAL

Comments

  • Options
    SonorandesertratSonorandesertrat Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Surface quality

    By this I mean the following: ignore marks at first, ignore toning/color at first. Focus on the smoothness of the fields and the appearance of the devices/letters/digits. Much of my collection consists of large cents and other coppers (mostly purchased raw), so I habitually look at surfaces first, irrespective of whether the coin is circulated, MS business strike, or a proof. Many coppers have porosity issues, were recolored and/or brushed (leaving a glossy look), so my view may not be relevant to collectors of other types of coins. However, I think that surface quality does manifest itself very clearly when looking at MS coins of all types in the 62-67 range. Of course, eye appeal must take into account marks that go beyond minor ones that are sometimes termed chatter, toning, etc. too---there is no single indicator of eye appeal in my opinion.
    Member: EAC, NBS, C4, CWTS, ANA

    RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'

    CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
  • Options
    TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,091 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's a fabulous answer. ^
  • Options
    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree with surface quality....which I define as blast white, as minted ... or as close as

    possible. Negative surface quality, for me, is scratches, dings or tarnish. Cheers, RickO
  • Options
    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,864 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Surface quality and good color are essential.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • Options
    YorkshiremanYorkshireman Posts: 4,613 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ricko
    I agree with surface quality....which I define as blast white, as minted ... or as close as
    possible. Negative surface quality, for me, is scratches, dings or tarnish. Cheers, RickO


    Rick,
    Since you like blast white coins and consider the natural aging process as unsightly "tarnish", what do you collect?
    Not trying to seem argumentative, but are you saying that you would rather own a coin that was made "blast white" again by artificial means than one that naturally evolved to have a bit of toning (whether rainbow colored or grey)?
    Yorkshireman,Obsessed collector of round, metallic pieces of history.Hunting for Latin American colonial portraits plus cool US & British coins.
  • Options
    goldengolden Posts: 10,493 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: BillJones
    Surface quality and good color are essential.


    image
  • Options
    Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 12,122 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well said, Sonoradesertrat.

    I also try to be realistic (and forgiving) with earlier copper, but still try to attain the best surfaces for the money.

    My 1804 is a cleaned/recolored VG....but there is no corrosion, verdigris, or major marks. I find it more appealing

    than a lot of others that may have a higher technical grade, but has dark, rough, or damaged surfaces.







    Successful BST transactions with 177 members. breakdown, scotty1419, mattniss, bigjpst, onlyroosies, Manorcourtman, guitarwes, Ebeneezer, Tonedeaf, Shane6596, Piano1, Ikenefic, RG, PCGSPhoto, stman, Don'tTelltheWife, Boosibri, Ron1968, snowequities, VTchaser, jrt103, SurfinxHI, 78saen, bp777, FHC, RYK, JTHawaii, Opportunity, Kliao, bigtime36, skanderbeg, split37, thebigeng, acloco, Toninginthblood, OKCC, braddick, Coinflip, robcool, fastfreddie, tightbudget, DBSTrader2, nickelsciolist, relaxn, Eagle eye, soldi, silverman68, ElKevvo, sawyerjosh, Schmitz7, talkingwalnut2, konsole, sharkman987, sniocsu, comma, jesbroken, David1234, biosolar, Sullykerry, Moldnut, erwindoc, MichaelDixon, GotTheBug

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file