Is AU55 the new AU58?
ARCO
Posts: 4,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
When I began collecting 15 years back and before the advent of the Registry sets, AU58 grades seemed to be a sort of "poor mans" Unc. AU58 was a coin that a buyer would look down on compared to a nicer 63 or 64. Later, maybe 7-9 years back, AU58's became more popular (still before the Registry set) because you could actually buy a coin nicer than many 62-63 Uncs at a much reduced cost.
Nowadays, AU58's seem to be all the rage for the 'Everyman's Set'; Ugly AU58's sell high, and really choice 58's go through the roof (compared to prices a decade prior). In fact, I have seen many 58's go for prices far surpassing ms62 and 63 grades, rivaling 64's in some cases. Granted, most 62's are not great, 63's only slightly better, but still, there are a lot of pretty nice MS63 coins out there.
Now when I peruse auction sites, I notice that the lowly AU55 grade is treated a lot like 58's were in the past. Many 55's are every bit as nice, or nicer than some of their 58 counterparts, but because of the Registry sets, if you buy a 55, you have already lost the contest.
I won't touch a 58 generally these days, but I find tremendous value in grabbing choice 55's.
Tyler
Nowadays, AU58's seem to be all the rage for the 'Everyman's Set'; Ugly AU58's sell high, and really choice 58's go through the roof (compared to prices a decade prior). In fact, I have seen many 58's go for prices far surpassing ms62 and 63 grades, rivaling 64's in some cases. Granted, most 62's are not great, 63's only slightly better, but still, there are a lot of pretty nice MS63 coins out there.
Now when I peruse auction sites, I notice that the lowly AU55 grade is treated a lot like 58's were in the past. Many 55's are every bit as nice, or nicer than some of their 58 counterparts, but because of the Registry sets, if you buy a 55, you have already lost the contest.
I won't touch a 58 generally these days, but I find tremendous value in grabbing choice 55's.
Tyler
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Like a box of chocolates.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>Might I guess you are talking about Barber Half's?
Bust, Seated and Barbers. Bust halves especially. I am working on the complete half dollar set. It is a twenty year project I figure.
TYler
The past few years, I bought a number of 1827 PCGS 55 examples, simply because I felt the PCGS 58 examples were not worth twice as much, at least to me they weren't.
tastes the AU55 was a much nicer coin. And the AU55 was a great value at $140.
Doug
(I've always thought MS62 was also a good "bargain grade" packing much bang for the buck.)
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
<< <i>Well, I guess the secret's out on AU58, then.
(I've always thought MS62 was also a good "bargain grade" packing much bang for the buck.) >>
LM, these days it's 62+ or nothing for me
If not for the very late die state, I'm thinking for sure 58.
I just recently crossed this...was NGC 58 and I always saw it as a 58, but the spots probably hold it back
Before certification and even now folks said the dealers were ripping collectors by calling sliders mint-state. They say everything has changed but has it really? Now the grading services put them in low mint-state holders. Newer people in Numismatics learn this way and I see even on GTG on here it clearly shows rub/wear and they see it but call it new. I guess I show my age here because to me rub is still wear no matter how it got there. In my worthless opinion of course.
These days the AU-55 is often called 58. Not what the OP was getting at but thought I'd throw that one in too.
When I had Premium Numismatics a few years ago I put together a set of CBH in 58. I started the set as a marketing project just to show everyone how beautiful CBHs were. It turned out to be much more than that as I regularly bought every nice CBH in PCGS AU58 that became available and added the ones with the finest eye appeal to the set. Later when I sold the set through Bowers & Merena every coin brought record prices for a 58. They all sold for what was 63 or 64 money at the time.
My definition of a 58 is "a 64 with a touch of rub". All the detail is there. If you can find a really attractive 58 it can be one of the most beautiful examples of the date.
For some series AU58 is scarcer than most other grades. Barber halves for example. Check the pops. 58s are more difficult to collect than any other grade except pop top.
I agree there are some very nice AU55 coins, just like there are some very nice 63 & 64 coins. I collect Colonials but I only want them in circ (that way I can imagine who handled the coin way back when).
Everyone has different collecting interests. I always appreciate someone else's collection. That's what makes it fun!
Added: STMAN there are always coins where it's debatable whether it's a 58 or a 61. But those are not the coins that have great eye appeal which is virtually never seen on a 61. In my opinion PCGS is pretty strict on 58s.
Gotta love those everyman registry guys , way to ruin collecting for actual everymen collectors.
<< <i>Added: STMAN there are always coins where it's debatable whether it's a 58 or a 61. But those are not the coins that have great eye appeal which is virtually never seen on a 61. In my opinion PCGS is pretty strict on 58s. >>
Somehow I knew that was coming, Don.
<< <i>Gotta love those everyman registry guys , way to ruin collecting for actual everymen collectors.
Uncirculated coins can be very pretty, but part of the fun of collecting for me is imagining who held my coin in their hand and why they passed it along to someone else before that first collector decided to put it away.
Thank you, Don, for reminding us of why coins were made in the first place!
<< <i>Gotta love those everyman registry guys , way to ruin collecting for actual everymen collectors.
Yep ! And this is exactly why I've begun promoting the slightly corny new phrase " 35 is the new 58 "
I love finding super eye appealing 35's for my various CBH projects.
Often there seems to be a little of the AU 58 phenomenon going on there as well, almost like " we can't really call this XF but it sure is pretty ... VF 35 "
For example...
My nicest 55
Latin American Collection
<< <i>I like the AU58 grade.
When I had Premium Numismatics a few years ago I put together a set of CBH in 58. I started the set as a marketing project just to show everyone how beautiful CBHs were. It turned out to be much more than that as I regularly bought every nice CBH in PCGS AU58 that became available and added the ones with the finest eye appeal to the set. Later when I sold the set through Bowers & Merena every coin brought record prices for a 58. They all sold for what was 63 or 64 money at the time.
My definition of a 58 is "a 64 with a touch of rub". All the detail is there. If you can find a really attractive 58 it can be one of the most beautiful examples of the date.
For some series AU58 is scarcer than most other grades. Barber halves for example. Check the pops. 58s are more difficult to collect than any other grade except pop top.
I agree there are some very nice AU55 coins, just like there are some very nice 63 & 64 coins. I collect Colonials but I only want them in circ (that way I can imagine who handled the coin way back when).
Everyone has different collecting interests. I always appreciate someone else's collection. That's what makes it fun!
Added: STMAN there are always coins where it's debatable whether it's a 58 or a 61. But those are not the coins that have great eye appeal which is virtually never seen on a 61. In my opinion PCGS is pretty strict on 58s. >>
I agree with this statement 110%! Especially when it comes to Barber Half's! I would wager more than 50% of MS Baber Half's are what I consider Butt ugly! While there are some 58's that match this description they are few and far between. Yes I also step up to the plate like Don to buy nice 58's....when my budget allows it! One of the tougher 58's I purchased was more than I could have bought an MS65 direct from Heritage! That Heritage coin was butt ugly!
There is not that much difference between AU55 and AU58, so I can't see why a 58 would fetch so much these days. Sound like the 58's are just the latest craze, and when the "craze" is over, prices on 58's may see a correction.
<< <i>There is not that much difference between AU55 and AU58, so I can't see why a 58 would fetch so much these days. Sound like the 58's are just the latest craze, and when the "craze" is over, prices on 58's may see a correction. >>
Prices for 55s have also gone up, and it seems the same can be said right done the line to 45s and 40s and 35s. Depending on appearance, some 35s and many 45s represent great values, and great savings based on the cost of higher grades. I think the higher grades will hold their value because I think CBHs hold the attention of so many collectors. They have a lot of character. There are a lot of dynamic cracks and clashes throughout the series, and those high-interest attributes can really be appreciated in the higher grades.
Here are some early capped half 55's that didn't cut it as 58's. I still love them but they aren't 58's.
Lance.
US Civil War coinage
Historical Medals
3rd '18 though the strike on the second is much better.
The '17 is the snazziest, but has less character than the first two.
There's a better date in there somewhere that's struck pretty well . . .
Not a slouch in the pouch-full . . .
The largest upgrade that I ever had was with a AU58, when I resubmitted the coin it regraded as a PCGS66. That's a 7 point upgrade! Another reason that I love the AU58 grade. BTW - it was graded by the same service before and afterwards.
While the AU58 grade does have many of the above characteristics, those that can be upgraded from AU58 to higher than 63 or 64 are much harder to find nowadays/
Here are some examples of some more recent examples that I acquired of AU58 & AU55 that I haven't tried to upgrade and I agree with their grade, but the eye appeal are off the charts. Much nicer than most 62 & 63s!
AU55:
World Coin grading do not even recognize the AU grade simply showing values for XF.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
EastonCollection, great examples. Of course you have plenty more. Those two draped halves are wonderful.
There's a big spread between AU50 and 58. I'm not sure AU and Choice AU is enough, but I agree 53/55 could be AU54.
Here are some more AU55's, just for fun.
Lance.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
<< <i>Is 58 assigned only to CBH's?
I submitted a '99 Wide AM Lincoln cent which graded AU 58. At the time, it was only the second specimen in that grade.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
"Buy what you like and like what you buy."
"relicsncoins, that's a super 1818. I'd call it a 58."
PCGS called it an MS62.
<< <i>"relicsncoins, that's a super 1818. I'd call it a 58."
PCGS called it an MS62.
Perfect! LMAO.
Lance.