🤔 Would You Ever Buy a Modern MS68 Coin… or Is That the Kiss of Death?
ScarsdaleCoin
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Curious to get some opinions here — would you ever consider buying a modern coin graded MS68?
I get it when it comes to MS70s — especially for those chasing set registries — even if you’re paying a serious premium over an MS69 (and let’s be honest, most of us can’t even see the difference).
But what about a 68? Is that grade basically the stepchild nobody wants in the modern world? Or could there be exceptions — like if the mintage was tiny (say, under 100 pieces total)?
I’m wondering if MS68s have any real place in a modern collection, or if they’re destined to be passed over forever.
What do you all think — smart buy, situational, or total kiss of death?
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Buying it to crack for an album, sure.
Not sure if this qualifies as “modern” and tbh I didn’t buy it graded, I bought it 20 years ago in its original RCM case thing.
Point is I know you don’t see much toning on moderns, but I can see color being a reason many would buy a 68.
As a type collector, I would prefer a PR-69. I used to buy those years ago, but you can’t purchase them for less than $20 these days. The grading services have clamped down on the supply. I can’t find a Washington crossing the Delaware quarter for less than $75. I just won’t pay that for a very common modern coin in what used to be an undesirable grade, like PR-69. The demand is for the PR-70 coins.
Obviously you are referring to made for collector issues and not those made for circulation. Many many moderns made for circulation don't exist in such high grade as MS-68.
All day long!
Near spot, I prefer the slabs for display, particularly PCGS.
I do buy 21st century type coins meant for circulation (no proofs, no bullion) just to keep my type collection current. I look at these as a likely hobby expense without any future upside, more likely a financial loss. The best grade at a reasonable cost then, since the goal is simply an attractive coin representative of the type. A 67 or better usually qualifies.
Sure if price is right.
When it's an expensive one for the small fish: example the 2014 gold Kennedy, yeah, I'd gladly take an MS 68.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
If I thought my US Mint purchase would only grade MS68, spots or abrasions, I'd return it. If buying from the secondary market at spot, or less, sure why not.
spot
Depends on the eye appeal. Key date with good eye appeal and priced right, no problem. 1995-W ASE comes to mind.
I would.
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If you define modern as post 1965 then definitely I would buy some PCGS MS68 coins.. I would prefer to make them at PCGS of course....
If it had cool toning then sure, why not. I’m also trying to wear some down to circulated condition so I can slab them and use them in my circulated type sets. I have no real interest in buying modern 69s and 70s in slabs though, in fact I’m selling off several modern mint products that are 69s and 70s that I submitted myself so I can use the funds to buy more slabbed circulated coins for my type sets. I have a bunch more modern mint products that I’m planning on keeping raw, I don’t see any real reason to slab moderns when more than 95% of them are all 69s or 70s.
Mr_Spud
ASE's at spot.
If it looks like this, yes:
I have a 5-ounce ATB silver coin that is MS-68 PL.
Very nice coin, I am sure there are even 67's out there, esp. on larger size coins where blemishes are easier to see and it's tougher to get a 69 or 70 grade.
How modern? Some of the post WWII proof and mint coins are worth good money in that grade. Some of the proof silver eagles will be 68s even if they'd been untouched for whatever reasons.
Some modern coins are highly collectable coins in MS-68.
https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1MZNFR/2000-p-sacagawea-cheerios-dollar-fs-902-boldly-detailed-tail-feathers-ms-68-ngc
If talking about circulation strike U.S., then absolutely. A quick look at the PCGS population report shows very few above MS68 across all denominations. A prime example being the Lincoln cent from 2005 to current showing only 7 total in MS68, and again very few prior.
Made two top pop Mint State 68 and 67+ in modern quarters.
Had the never ending urge to sell, because if I could make them from a random pair of rolls... how soon could the top pops stand and premium last?
Sold them.
Always dreamed of finding a 1938d MS68 Buff. Should have just bought MS67 and given gradeflation time to work its magic. The pop went from 4 to 80 in my two decades in the hobby.
Speaking of 20th Century moderns .. Would I buy 68?
Yes because they are unique and harder to come by than people think.
They are fun challenging to make.
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Yes, my modern commems. They are for the stories with my grandchildren. I want to share American history with them
I settled on a ms68
I generally stay away from slabs. If I were to buy a modern, it's either going to be straight-graded with wild toning, and error like above, or an NIFC graded AU-53.
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Only slabbed modern I own that I truly enjoy and it's an MS68.
Jim
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I submitted $10 AGE’s to CACG and received the following:
Item Grade Cert
1904 $20 PL MS62PL 874641221
2023 Gold Eagle G$10 MS67 775426978
2020 Gold Eagle G$10 MS70 870611643
2020 Gold Eagle G$10 MS69 192544424
2004 Gold Eagle G$10 MS69 697369168
https://res.cloudinary.com/disdxyln7/image/upload/q_100/2025-08/dtakqgezgnw1zgxtifpi
I was ok with the MS-67. I paid below spot for these. AGE,s and above spot for the 1904 $20. The 1904 $20 was a crossover from NGC.
I think the OP's definition of modern needs be more clearly defined, if they truly meant some other term.
I have these MS68 RDs so not kiss of death:
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My current Registry sets:
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Tramp:
Your 1983 DDR and 1995 DDO 1c are not the typical modern coins and are actually pretty scarce so I would not call them “ moderns.”
That follows CAC willing to sticker them.
If the eye appeal is there, any grade can be acceptable.
Here is an MS 68 modern that I recently picked up (it's the only toned graded version of this coin I have found).
One of my favorite type of toning. I call it "halo" toning. Nice example.
I always agree with you because when I look at your avatar I feel like I better.
I know what you mean. This guy will send you to the corn field just for bad thoughts.
There are MS68 moderns that are in top 1% of their graded pops and MS68 moderns that are in the bottom 1%. The latter is not a good buy except for cracking out to put in an album or stack as bullion.
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As @cladking mentioned made for collectors or made for circulation?
I recently made and sold both of these modern 68s handily. One for 65. & the other for 4K. But me? No I would never buy one unless the toning was phenomenal and the price was right which almost never happens in unison.
Well, I didn't buy it, I found it in one of these 1982 sets. But I did pay to have it graded.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Never, especially those coins with mintages in the 100’s of millions to billions of coins minted. A 1968 or 68-D in MS 68 a few years ago at SB sold for over $20K. I could call it a day by spending up to $200 or so for an MS 67 and have plenty of cash left over to buy say some draped bust coinage, a Fugio cent, maybe a Massachusetts silver, some cool Seated material, etc.
I love modern coins and have played in the registry for years. You need to be very careful chasing top pop MS68 coins, especially single top pop(1/0) and paying up for them. It just takes one other to crush the premium. Look at the Statehood quarter program. That series has lots of MS68s and even MS69s available. Modern coins are well made currently, but back in the 70s, 80s and early 90s this was not the case. A coin from that era might be a safer long term purchase.
Not even going to bring up gradeflation into the discussion
Sure - would buy MS68 coin. Just refer to CPG MV for 68. Is somebody trying to bs u that MS 68 coin only worth melt?
If you learn how to grade, like to search rolls etc. and know which series/dates to look for then the high grades can be very profitable. The "money" is typically in being the submitter and re-selling the coin(s) because there is way too much potential downside. The collectors who tend to get "hurt" are the Registry Set owners and 1st in when a high grade top pop coin is made and sold.
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It depends on the coin, this is a “modern” but try to find one that’s better…
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I had some 2006 ASE Annv sets that had some PR68 come back. I sent back for review. Some were corrected. Those that know know that there isn't a lot of time spent looking at modern coins/bullion when getting graded, so they sometimes aren't "right".
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
CDN CPG $1650 on the 1/4 oz PCGS 68 1981 gold Libertad Mexico coin. Really like it, super nice coin. Many of these are low pop. Very strong for investment. Tough to find too. Would want a slabbed stack of about 6 of them.
You bet I would buy something like that. They are fun to collect by date too.
Indeed! Speculators get burned in every market, why not moderns? I would need to see an enormous sample before I put much money down for a coin just a little nicer.
I would buy a pretty DCAM proof Roosevelt dime for my 20th century type set in 68 from the 1950s or 60s. Especially if was scarcer, but affordable. I'd go several hundred dollars, but not up to $1000. Do proofs count or just MS?