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Is PQ in the eye of the seller/beholder? What constitutes PQ?

BulletBiterBulletBiter Posts: 326
in U.S. Coin Forum
Is seems like the term PQ gets thrown around pretty loosely, both here on some of the online auctions sites. You have someone selling an average graded average looking coin and calls it PQ, then you look at the next link which turns out to be a higher then the grade, toned, pristine example who calls their coin PQ. Just seems to be a ton of disparity between the two. I could see if it were a key date coin graded MS63 with a pop of like 3/2. But hardly a coin that is MS65, average white with a pop of 1591/2364. image

Slowly steps off soapbox and backs away…

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Comments

  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is selling.

    Not PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is buying.

    Russ, NCNE
    eBay consignment sales | | Collectibles from Resco CCC
  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    PQ is anything I'm selling and nothing I'm buying. (Russ beat me to it image )
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • BulletBiterBulletBiter Posts: 326
    PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is selling.

    Not PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is buying.

    Russ, NCNE


    PQ is anything I'm selling and nothing I'm buying.



    image Thank You
    - There are 10 kinds of people in this world...those who understand binary and those who don't!
  • F117ASRF117ASR Posts: 1,416 ✭✭✭


    << <i> (Russ beat me to it ) >>



    image
    Beware of the flying monkeys!
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  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,509 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is selling.

    Not PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is buying.

    Russ, NCNE >>

    image

    You can substitute undergraded and overgraded for PQ and Not PQ..

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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  • dorkkarldorkkarl Posts: 12,691 ✭✭✭
    another vote here in favor of russ' assessment.

    K S
  • RegulatedRegulated Posts: 2,994 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The term PQ - not unlike the numerical grade of a coin - is entirely subjective and lends itself to a variety of interpretations. It is also a term that gets abused by individual sellers. In my opinion, a coin is PQ if it is demonstrably better than an average quality example of the same coin in the same grade.

    What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Russ says it all.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162 ✭
    Here is PCGS's definition:

    PQ
    Short for premium quality.

    Premium Quality
    A term applied to coins that are the best examples within a particular grade.
    See Also -- high end

    High End
    A term applied to any coin at the upper end of a particular grade.


    Not much help.
  • MyqqyMyqqy Posts: 9,777 ✭
    I think most numismatic terms get abused by the countless scammers and unethical wankers that are rampant in this hobby/business...... image
    My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable !
  • Coinhusker1Coinhusker1 Posts: 3,560 ✭


    << <i>I think most numismatic terms get abused by the countless scammers and unethical wankers that are rampant in this hobby/business...... image >>



    Like "Monster Toned" on Ebay? Say it isn't so!! image
  • ERER Posts: 7,345 ✭


    << <i>PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is selling.

    Not PQ = Equals the coin a dealer is buying.

    Russ, NCNE >>



    So true.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,779 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A minority view.

    “PQ” means a coin that is very nice to exceptional for the grade that the slab company has assigned to it. It can mean superior eye appeal for the grade, or a “near miss for the next grade up. A “PQ” coin is usually one that will sell very quickly within the price range for its grade. It also might denote a crack out candidate.

    I take the “PQ” concept very seriously and make an effort to put such coins in my collection when I can find them. I also use the term judiciously in my business.
    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 ... ?
  • BulletBiterBulletBiter Posts: 326
    Here is PCGS's definition:

    PQ
    Short for premium quality.

    Premium Quality
    A term applied to coins that are the best examples within a particular grade.
    See Also -- high end

    High End
    A term applied to any coin at the upper end of a particular grade.


    Not much help.

    I guess we can be glad it doesn't say see also -- Premium Quality. image



    A minority view.

    “PQ” means a coin that is very nice to exceptional for the grade that the slab company has assigned to it. It can mean superior eye appeal for the grade, or a “near miss for the next grade up. A “PQ” coin is usually one that will sell very quickly within the price range for its grade. It also might denote a crack out candidate.

    I take the “PQ” concept very seriously and make an effort to put such coins in my collection when I can find them. I also use the term judiciously in my business.


    And I would agree that is the way it is intended, but as mentioned earlier, it ends up being…


    <<a term that gets abused by the countless scammers and unethical wankers that are rampant in this hobby/business......>>
    - There are 10 kinds of people in this world...those who understand binary and those who don't!
  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭
    A PQ coin is a little like pornography. Its difficult to describe but you know it when you see it.
    TomT-1794

    Check out some of my 1794 Large Cents on www.coingallery.org
  • billboatbillboat Posts: 2,260


    << <i>Russ says it all. >>



    As always! I am in awe of anyone who posts almost 32 times a day (almost 40,000 posts to date!--no offense meant Russ--but when do you sleep?
    Curmudgeon in waiting!
  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Whether a coin is "PQ for the grade" depends on how the coin is graded, doesn't it?

    Take this coin for example, a series that's fairly easy to grade and we're all familiar with:

    image

    image

    If it's sold as a MS64, it's clearly premium quality for an MS64, isn't it?

    If I offer it to you as an MS66, you're going to find the flaws and say, "MS66? That's not PQ, it's a Dog!"

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • cladkingcladking Posts: 29,937 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Russ says it all. >>



    As always! I am in awe of anyone who posts almost 32 times a day (almost 40,000 posts to date!--no offense meant Russ--but when do you sleep? >>




    Well sure but I think he blew this one.

    When a dealer is buying it's "maxxed out".
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Russ--but when do you sleep? >>



    I'm sleeping right now.

    Russ, NCNE
    eBay consignment sales | | Collectibles from Resco CCC

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