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Low end for the grade

GazesGazes Posts: 2,315 ✭✭✭✭✭

Have you ever bought a coin knowing that it was low end for the grade? If so, why? I can imagine there are many reasons one would---curious to hear real world examples.

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,816 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 5, 2018 7:20AM

    Yes, if the price was cheap enough, and that coin did not represent an issue for which I wanted to pay a great deal of money. For example my 1839-C and 1839-D half eagles are not very inspiring. I wanted examples of the coins to fill the type coin spots in my Charlotte and Dahlonega type sets, but I didn't want to pay the $20,000 + price tags to go along with the really nice pieces. Furthermore one has to be in the right place at the right time to get such coins. So I bought "fillers." which were not great but would also not shame the rest of my collection.

    A couple of years later, one of the important dealers in southern gold showed me the ideal 1839-C half eagle. It was really a great coin and would have looked wonderful in my collection, except for three problems:

    1. It had sold for over $20,000. That was more than double what I had paid for my piece.
    2. It had already been sold to a collector. I was in not in the right place at the right time. So I really had not “found” anything with respect to my collection because it was not available.
    3. It was in an NGC holder, which people seem to dislike these days.
      3(A). And for those who believe in such things, it didn't have a CAC sticker.

    There are reasons for not buying the best if you don't have unlimited funds but have collecting priorities.

    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 ... ?
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    tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 5, 2018 5:55AM

    Yes - several times I bought finest or near finest known seated dollars in NGC holders and downgrade crossed them. Most later ended up with pluses

    Specifically, the MS64 1852, MS651857 and MS661860 in the seated dollar set come to mind

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    oldabeintxoldabeintx Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, I buy coins that meet my condition criteria for the issue, which can mean that the coin is low end for the grade assigned by the TPG. Especially true for me with colonials, but can also happen with very scarce or rare coins, as Bill alluded to. In the case of the latter it can take years to find the right coin, just to meet one's own minimum condition requirements.

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    BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,681 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes with the express intent to down-cross the coin. In this market a low-end NGC one grade higher is worth less than a high-end PCGS CAC a grade below.

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    tommy44tommy44 Posts: 2,341 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes, I like to fill holes, especially if they have been empty for a long time and the price is fair for the grade. A well worn coin indicates it served the purpose for which it was created in the first place. They all have a story to tell if they could talk.

    Coin collecting is one of my many hobbies and I'm in it for my personal enjoyment. It's not like I'm spending the grocery money. If I end up with a profit long term I consider that a bonus.

    it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,816 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @tommy44 said:
    Yes, I like to fill holes, especially if they have been empty for a long time and the price is fair for the grade. A well worn coin indicates it served the purpose for which it was created in the first place. They all have a story to tell if they could talk.

    Coin collecting is one of my many hobbies and I'm in it for my personal enjoyment. It's not like I'm spending the grocery money. If I end up with a profit long term I consider that a bonus.

    Yes, it's good to step back and enjoy the hobby now and then. That's what I have done with my British collection.

    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 ... ?
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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,458 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Boosibri said:
    Yes with the express intent to down-cross the coin. In this market a low-end NGC one grade higher is worth less than a high-end PCGS CAC a grade below.

    It really varies with the rarity, value, and series of the coin. For early federal, rare gold, and many low pop top pop issues, I definitely agree.

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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,458 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes. If the price is right, the grade on the holder and the brand of plastic (if any) are immaterial. I've even bought a few junk slabs and cracked them to flip for a profit after submission to our host.

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    divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,714 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have not done that with any coins yet, but as a registry whore on the PSA Registry I have done it with some of my Nolan Ryan cards. I've bought some PSA 9's and PSA 10's that do not belong in those holders. I have replaced a few over time that really bothered me.

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,458 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @tradedollarnut said:
    _If all the coins look like something the cat dragged in, then I'm for buying the cheapest dead mouse.
    _

    Ok now - that’s a good one!

    I can somehow see Laura using this one in a blog post about unstickered coins. o:)>:)

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    ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not yet and I don't know if I will.....because 1st I don't flip for profit; 2nd I only like pretty things.. <3
    @Gazes said:

    Have you ever bought a coin knowing that it was low end for the grade? If so, why? I can imagine there are many reasons one would---curious to hear real world examples.

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    earlyAurumearlyAurum Posts: 786 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yes. I have bought low end for the grade or even over graded for that matter when buying a super rare coin. I have a $2.5 1804 13 Stars reverse in PCGS 58. I also have a $2.5 1834 capped bust in PCGS 63. Both are highest graded and opportunity was a big consideration. I do like both but there was compromise.

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    gtstanggtstang Posts: 1,812 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This one. It's the lowest graded ogh Peace $ I have seen to date.

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    Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 9,804 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 5, 2018 12:12PM

    If it’s cheap and I like it, especially if needed fill a hole.

    Investor
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    TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If the price is right, then I might consider it.

    Frank

    BHNC #203

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    ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,623 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When they go low....I won't go there ;)

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,816 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 7, 2018 9:30AM

    If all the coins look like something the cat dragged in, then I'm for buying the cheapest dead mouse.

    Here is the "cheapest dead mouse." Meet King Henry I of England, youngest son of William the Conqueror.


    If you would like to know more about Henry, here is a link to his "bullet page" in the World Coin Forum:

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1000266/british-kings-bullet-book-henry-i-1100-1135#latest

    And if you would like to know more about Henry got to be king, here's the story of his brother, Rufus:

    https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1000170/british-kings-bullet-book-william-ii-a-k-a-rufus-the-red#latest

    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 ... ?
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    mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It's always about the price.
    If I can move it for a profit, I don't care what the label says.
    Call me what you must, but that is the TRUTH.

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,816 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mannie gray said:
    It's always about the price.
    If I can move it for a profit, I don't care what the label says.
    Call me what you must, but that is the TRUTH.

    As long as you are not pushing a counterfeit or a problem coin off on a less than knowledgeable person, I agree. Most every collector coin has a place.

    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 ... ?
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    mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BillJones said:

    @mannie gray said:
    It's always about the price.
    If I can move it for a profit, I don't care what the label says.
    Call me what you must, but that is the TRUTH.

    As long as you are not pushing a counterfeit or a problem coin off on a less than knowledgeable person, I agree. Most every collector coin has a place.

    Yes of course. I would not do that.

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