Home U.S. Coin Forum

Is there a grade you avoid collecting?

HallcoHallco Posts: 3,622 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited February 11, 2019 7:35PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I know it depends on the individual coin and there will always be exceptions for fantastic eye appeal...but for some reason I really struggle with the XF/AU grades. And to be fair, this is for the coins I tend to like most(Buffalo Nickels, Mercury Dimes, Walking Liberty Halves and Morgan & Peace Dollars), Give me a nice, evenly worn F-VF or a barely circulated slider 58 with tons of luster all day long. Feel free to try and change my mind if you'd like!! ;) Anyone else have hang ups with certain grades?

«1

Comments

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭

    +

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • CommemKingCommemKing Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For some reason I do not prefer MS63.

  • TPRCTPRC Posts: 3,738 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @CommemKing said:
    For some reason I do not prefer MS63.

    Funny..me also.
    I used to collect all grades, while focusing on quality for the grade, but Bill Jones made a comment on the Boards a while back that he collects on vf or better and ever since then I have tried to follow that rule. Having said that, I own a most appealing Wreath Cent in G-4 CAC and I still love it...though I would prefer a vf.

    Tom

  • ChrisRxChrisRx Posts: 5,619 ✭✭✭✭

    @Broadstruck said:

    +

    "Add" me to that.

    image
  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 8,896 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't collect anything below mint state 63.

    It's just my personal preference.

    “I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For me it varies by the series and also I want nice for the grade coins. It really irritates me to see low grade sliders like G's that really aren't, VG's that really aren't etc.

    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
  • ElmhurstElmhurst Posts: 768 ✭✭✭

    @Walkerfan said:
    I don't collect anything below mint state 63.

    It's just my personal preference.

    That's the way to go for walkers.

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,208 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I avoid lowballs. Some love them, just not something that interests me except in extreme rarities.

  • sniocsusniocsu Posts: 1,284 ✭✭✭

    I don’t really avoid any grades. For some series a details holder is perfectly fine

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 22,612 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not particularly, at some point, you'll find a coin in every known grade that has eye appeal. Although AU50 seems like one I'd perhaps not care for.

    Also the plus grading annoys me, I just want a regular grade like before....

  • scubafuelscubafuel Posts: 1,723 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Uncirculated.

  • SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Anything sub-VF just doesn't have enough detail for me. I'd rather not own the type if it's only available in < VF.

    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
  • DCWDCW Posts: 6,935 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I would have thought there would've been a lot of MS62's in the replies, since that grade is usually saved for a mint state coin with distracting marks or spots that keep it from grading higher.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I stay away from plus (+) grades. They are really debatable especially when they don't always end up getting a CAC which are believed to be given to "A" and "B" coins. And why spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars more for a fraction of a grade?

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,721 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t generally like coins below Fine, but really it depends on the coin & series. In my type set I have just about everything from F12 to MS68. Call me strange but I usually try to spend roughly the same amount for each coin. Moderns are pretty nice and the 18th century stuff is well-loved.

    I suppose if you gave me a chain cent or 1792 half disme in VG I wouldn’t throw a fit.

  • SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 9,953 ✭✭✭✭✭

    60, 61 and 62

  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 11, 2019 11:03PM

    Depending on the degree of their rarity .... I may not have much choice on those Busties but the very Fine but generally I like AU58 and >69 :)

  • scodalscodal Posts: 78 ✭✭✭

    MS60 is a problematic grade - there always seems to be a good reason why those coins are stuck in limbo.

    That said, in my quest to put together a high end Everyman set, I've found that the best place to look for premium 58s is often among the 'junk unc' 61s and 62s.

  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I do not prefer 53 and 60. Have a few, but would love to replace them with nicer coins

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 19,642 ✭✭✭✭✭

    60 and 70.

  • mannie graymannie gray Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mirabela said:
    AU53. "Not Very Choice AU" -- somehow it costs a premium to buy but does not warrant one when selling. And it's often -- not always, but often -- a way to denote a coin with nice technical attributes like good luster, little actual wear, whatever, but something doggy about it anyway.

    Yeah, 53 is usually the kiss of death.

  • ReadyFireAimReadyFireAim Posts: 1,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 12, 2019 5:19AM

    CAC or +

    Those are for ME to get AFTER I buy the coin.

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,114 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I've seen coins that are choice, and ugly, in the same grades, so I can't generalize about a grade to avoid.
    I avoid coins that don't look appealing, regardless of the TPG grade.

    I have what was an old ANACS holdered MS60 seated quarter in my 7070 that knocks most people's socks off.
    My 21D walker is in an old AU53 NGC holder and it's one of the nicest 21Ds I've seen in any AU grade.
    That said, I've seen a lot of 'doggy' 53 graded coins in newer holders - usually marginal AUs that are dipped out, etc.

    I used to avoid late date walkers in high grades, thinking they were over rated and overpriced. Time has borne that out, for the most part, and now you can pick up 66s at pretty reasonable prices, so I've acquired some.

    Successful BST transactions with 170 members. Recent: 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
  • CCGGGCCGGG Posts: 1,267 ✭✭✭✭✭

    61 and 62....

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 43,794 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Considering grade: with strike detail, luster and eye appeal being elements , no. I only avoid buying and collecting coins which lack those elements . This is not to say I don't buy or collect coins that don't grade, but they're heavily discounted , as a general practice and rule. We all know intrinsic value vs. face value. There are many collections that have had coins most of us would call "junk" in them. Never throw out the baby with the bath water. Not every coin is entombed.

  • 1Mike11Mike1 Posts: 4,414 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I enjoy viewing Lincolns with a strong strike. I've seen Lincolns that look like they were made of playdoh (soft and little detail) and have a 65 on the slab simply because it has luster and it is in my mind a complete DOG. I've seen 45 to 58 with lots of detail and brown and absolutely love it. The slab doesn't mean a lot as far as avoiding the coin, it just has to have eye appeal according to my likes and of course price dictates everything. I don't have a problem buying a raw coin either if I like it. So the answer is no. :p

    "May the silver waves that bear you heavenward be filled with love’s whisperings"

    "A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
  • ColonialcoinColonialcoin Posts: 618 ✭✭✭✭

    Poor-1, Unc-68, 69, 70

    Anything else is game as long as it has eye appeal.

  • ProofmorganProofmorgan Posts: 707 ✭✭✭✭✭

    53, 60, 61, 70. I left out 62 because some nice AU58s can be found in 62 holders.....

    Collector of Original Early Gold with beginnings in Proof Morgan collecting.
  • No HeadlightsNo Headlights Posts: 2,032 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Gold CAC. I would love to. But they always seem to go for crazy money
    I could see strong money for the next grade up, but that never seems to be the case. Love my green stickers though!
    Oh and the AT market is just plain idiotic.

  • mightyhuntermightyhunter Posts: 476 ✭✭✭

    AU 50 silver coins that don't have original surfaces.

  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,438 ✭✭✭✭✭

    anything over 65 or so...with the exception of Kennedys...and those I avoid ALL slab grades.

    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,411 ✭✭✭✭✭

    detail grades and I try to avoid ms 61 62 and 63. fwiw

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When looking at slabbed coins, I am usually searching for specific coins... i.e. Buffs, Morgans, Mercs etc..... As I scan the slabs, I look for the coin that attracts me.....it could be in any TPG slab, or raw....first and foremost, for me, is the condition/aesthetics of the coin....If I see such a coin, I will pick it up for further evaluation...after that, I read the label (if not raw). This is probably not a good method for investors or sellers... However, I get coins that I enjoy living with...Much like my choice in a partner ;) . My hobby, my choices....Cheers, RickO

  • 3keepSECRETif2rDEAD3keepSECRETif2rDEAD Posts: 4,285 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 12, 2019 8:34AM

    ...rarely have I ever seen a graded Morgan at ms62 that didn’t have some sort of problem...62 is a problematic grade with Morgan’s IMHO, steer clear ;)

Leave a Comment

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