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What grade (s) do you prefer collecting?
WildWestHalfDollars
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In my case G-04 to F-12 with the rare exception of details grades in the same grade ranges. I would also go up to max VF-20 if I cannot locate a nice enough coin. I truly like coins that circulated and still have nice eye appeal.
Liberty Seated Half Dollars
2
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Depends on the coin and how rare it is but I like to get 62-65 whenever possible for Morgans mainly and then just get whatever I can (comfortably) afford for anything else
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Liberty Seated Dimes VF20 - AU58 (will drop below VF20 as needed)
Buffalo Nickels XF45- AU58, MS63
Standing Liberty Quarters AU50-58. MS 63-64
Two Cents PC- AU55-58, MS63-64
Liberty Nickels MS63-64
No limits. 0 to 70.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
MS64-66 usually with exception of ANACS photograde, I like MS65 Morgans.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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With colonials sometimes you just take what you can get, there aren't always options!
Half dimes start as hole fillers, then I'll upgrade as I'm able to. I have just 15 left to find from the main run of 1829 to 1873.
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35 - 55, 64 -67 grades. Its all good 👍
The highest grade just before the big price jump in the next higher grade.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Those that have strong eye appeal for the grade - VF to UNC
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
My core collecting zone is VF-XF.
67+ or better, unfortunately my budget seldom cooperates with those levels.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
67+ Cam or better with the Barber proofs
Not that I have a lot of them but there's something about AU-55's I always liked.
Here’s is my list by U.S. coin category:
Early 1792 to 1840s AU, but very expense non gold types, the best I can afford. I don’t buy low grade gold below EF
1850 to 1891 MS-63-64, Proof, at least PR-64, but no higher than 65
1890s to date Choice Unc and Proof
The most attractive that fits what I want to spend and what’s reasonably available. For US federal this boils down generally to 64 or better for 20th century, 55 or better for latter half of 19th century, VF or better for early 20th century and VG or better for 18th century. Colonial VF or better, Pioneer gold XF or better. World similar to US but very tolerant earlier than 18th century as availability becomes a real issue, details grades sometimes ok. All are type coins, all are slabs, and don’t care about any registry or pops.
Generally prefer investment grade MS64 or higher. Material. However I might buy a lower grade Like AU or XF for expensive type material.
For bullion coins like slabbed MS 69-70.
I've been stuck in what would be the AU53 to AU58 grades for so long, they didn't even have numbers back then. It's been ChAU and VChAU for much of my primary collections.
And while some of the later series gravitated into Ch/Gem Unc's, and I have a sprinkling of VF to Superb Gems, it really has been that hunt for nice 55/58's for most coins as long as I can remember.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
It depends on what your collecting goals are for any given set. For me, my 7070 was done in mostly XF - AU. ..although I do have a couple of VF coins (Classic Head LC, and my Capped Bust Dime). My Large Cents range from AG3 Details to AU58... mostly VF - XF for the Middle and Late Dates. My Box of 20 runs VF -Details (Chopmarked) for a 1796 8-Reales to MS-65 $20 Saint.
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For me, all grades can be quite beautiful if they are original and just have that “look“
Typically, I like Gem 65 and up, but I have coins as low as fine-12 and all of them are quite beautiful to me…
In no particular order, here are a few that I am very fond of:
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PF67 and better for 1936-1970 Proof and SMS coinage, preferably with a CAM or DCAM designation and/or multi colored toning.
I prefer crusty VF/XF material. Coins that have been around the block. I collect mint state examples as well, but there’s something magical about middle grades.
Dave
I buy coins I like and understand.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
For me, it's completely a matter of economics (except for certain very old coins).
I like high grade coins, but, for all but the most common coins, I rarely buy above MS64. As they get more expensive, I'm often quite happy with AU58. The more expensive the coin is, the lower the grade I can/will buy. But I want the coin to look good to me, even if not in high grade.
The key exception to this is that old coins (where old is ancients and colonials) take on, for me, a romance for having circulated at famous times (think, e.g., the golde age of Athens; during George Washington's presidency, so some honest circulation for those is a must.
I only collect business strikes……but I try to be quite flexible on grade range.
Some of my worst coin purchases were because I was too fixated on finding certain dates in certain grades…..took me a long time to realize I was much happier with an appealing original 45 than a washed out 58, and ditto with a nice original 58 over a duller 64 and so on.
For me, it’s not so much about the number as it is the coin’s eye appeal, but if I had to give a range, it would be the AU-55 to AU-58 range.
I got the 1807 bust half as well. Nice coins 🪙