Objective and technical grading vs. downgrading for subjective lack of eye appeal. Eye appeal in th

Comments

• Outhaul Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 8:59PM

  I've always been a proponent of technical grading. Eye appeal should rest squarely in the opinion of the buyer/owner. If a coin is a 67, then it's a 67 regardless of how appealing or unappealing the tone is.
  
  As far as I'm concerned, when I send a coin in for grading I expect the service to do nothing more than that. Technical grading is subjective enough without throwing eye appeal into the mix.
  
  Just my eversohumble opinion.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Bob

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• wingedliberty Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:02PM

  Bob, I tend to agree with you, but do you think the grading services are bound to render what is market acceptable by the majority?

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• FC57Coins Posts: 9,140 ✭

  October 22, 2003 9:05PM

  Brian:
  
  I think eye appeal is a must for grading. However, one grading company's view of eye appeal may not be consistent with another's. If we talk about extremes however, that is, blast white versus black toning, rainbow or other colorful toning versus drab brown/grey toning, I think you can definitely make the distinction between what's positive eye appeal and what isn't. On the Kennedy I showed in yesterday's thread, which contains golds, yellows, greens, and purples, I got everything from rave to hideous - that's ok - I like it - and probably PCGS didn't like it and knocked the coin down a grade. So what's the lesson to be learned? If you don't concern yourself so much with the grade on the plastic and just go for the grade you think the coin should be, and the eye appeal is there for you, you might just wind up with a goodly number of bargains that you'll find appealing in your collection.
  
  Frank

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• wingedliberty Posts: 4,805 ✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:08PM

  Excellent observations Frank:
  
  I agree.

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• kranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:19PM

  Do you think that toning is holding the coin back 1 or 2 points? My feeling is that type of toning won't hurt the grade but very attractive toning can help. Yet I don't agree that it should be that way.
  
  There's no escape from eye appeal being a factor in the grade. Otherwise the entire concept of sight-unseen deals can't work because market value would drift too far from being tied to the grade. What I think is the worst part of factoring in eye appeal is that a coin with very attractive toning gets a little bump in the grade, but sellers want an additional premium on top of that because the coin is so nice looking.
  
  Anyway, the thought that occurs to me is - is it as simple as dipping it for the 66 or 67 upgrade?
  
  

  New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

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• Fairlaneman Posts: 10,426 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:28PM

  Brian
  
  Here is a observation that has been seen within the Merc series by myself. It seems that the earlier dates get a little higher grade if they are original and toned like your coin shown. PCGS seems to take a better look at them. If your coin shown was a 1920's dated coin I think it would have went MS66. When you get to the later dates PCGS really looks for the Flash of the coin which could translate to Eye Appeal. The total original look without Flash just does not get the grade with the later dated coins in the Merc series
  
  Basically in my opinion there are two different standards Mercs are graded by within the series. Number one being coins before 1934 which are graded more to the technical stand point and number two coins after 1934 that are graded more to the Flash stand point.
  
  Just My So Very Humble Opinion.
  
  BTW, I like the coin shown also. The grade on the plastic should make no difference. The only thing the plastic grade did for that coin was make it easy for you to buy it cheaply. Not such a bad thing I would say.
  
  Ken

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• Outhaul Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:32PM

  Frank,
  
  I appreciate what you're saying, but:
  
  
  
  << <i>However, one grading company's view of eye appeal may not be consistent with another's >>
  
  
  A first-class reason to remove eye appeal from the equation. We have seen pretty decent consistency in grading from NGC to PCGS. Everyone is pretty much in agreement as to what "TECHNICALLY" makes a 63 a 63, 66 a 66, etc. But there is way too much inconsistency among graders as to what is and is not appealing to the eye. I happen to like the way Brian's Merc is toned, you may not. Because you don't, does that technically make it a 64?
  
  
  
  << <i>I got everything from rave to hideous - that's ok - I like it - and probably PCGS didn't like it and knocked the coin down a grade >>
  
  
  What a perfect example of opinion and personal preference affecting a technical grade.
  
  
  
  << <i>If you don't concern yourself so much with the grade on the plastic and just go for the grade you think the coin should be... >>
  
  
  Another problem...Unfortunately, coins in plastic trade at the grade stated and sellers add for what THEY percieve as eye appeal. I don't think I've ever seen ANYONE downgrade their own material for a LACK of eye appeal.
  
  I know that most on the forum will disagree with me, but I still think that coins should be graded technically and then let the market determine what effect eye appeal will have on the coin/price. If I send a coin to be graded I am looking for them to tell me what grade it is, not whether the coin's look is appealing to them.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Bob

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• Fairlaneman Posts: 10,426 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:37PM

  Bob
  
  We, old time Graders, that grade coins Technically are never going to win the battle now days. Market grading is here to stay.
  
  Ken

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• nwcs Posts: 13,386 ✭✭✭

  October 22, 2003 9:46PM

  The luster may not be 66 or 67 worthy, though, and that can't be easily seen in the pic. Nice original piece, though.

  Blog and Pics

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• Baley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭

  October 23, 2003 5:03AM

  I find the eye appeal of that coin slightly negative. It's a nice piece and might be 66 or better Technically, but I personally look for Positive and Very Positive eye appeal in a MS66 or 7 coin.

  Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

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