What does BU mean

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atarian
atarian Posts: 3,116 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
I know it depends on the coin and i know BU means Brilliant Uncirculated. but does this normally mean AU 50 , 55, 58 MS 60,61,62? what is the norm when you see coins listed or forsale as BU. what should i be thinking ( besides buy slabbed you dummy.). just wondering
Founder of the NDCCA. *WAM Count : 025. *NDCCA Database Count : 2,610. *You suck 6/24/10. <3 In memory of Tiggar 5/21/1994 - 5/28/2010 <3
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  • BAJJERFAN
    BAJJERFAN Posts: 31,659 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    normally taken as ms60-62; gem BU is ms65
    theknowitalltroll;
  • mozeppa
    mozeppa Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭
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    beat up
  • DennisH
    DennisH Posts: 14,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's supposed to mean at least MS60, up to perhaps MS62.

    Lowlife ripoff types will try to claim it means "borderline uncirculated", as in AU55/58.
    When in doubt, don't.
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Been Used
    Buffed Up

    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

  • slumlord98
    slumlord98 Posts: 1,180 ✭
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    Butt Ugly
  • MikeInFL
    MikeInFL Posts: 10,192 ✭✭✭✭
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    overpriced
    Collector of Large Cents, US Type, and modern pocket change.
  • atarian
    atarian Posts: 3,116 ✭
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    so if i see a BU coin i like should i be hoping to pay AU price or what?
    Founder of the NDCCA. *WAM Count : 025. *NDCCA Database Count : 2,610. *You suck 6/24/10. <3 In memory of Tiggar 5/21/1994 - 5/28/2010 <3
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  • questor54
    questor54 Posts: 1,351 ✭
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    << <i>normally taken as ms63; gem BU is ms65 >>



    I thought MS63 was Choice BU, MS65 Gem BU
  • BAJJERFAN
    BAJJERFAN Posts: 31,659 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    yup yer right, my error
    theknowitalltroll;
  • 291fifth
    291fifth Posts: 25,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    The coin is uncirculated and is not toned. It has no direct translation to the current MS system that is actually of any use.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • cladking
    cladking Posts: 30,312 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's really an obsolete term which was supposed to mean a coin was at least a little bit
    choice and had very flashy luster. Such a coin would grade MS-62 or 63 but might apply
    to some lower grade uncs.

    Now days it may mean almost anything but it's best to figure a low grade unc. Sometimes
    you'll see sliders or choice coins referred to as BU.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • relayer
    relayer Posts: 10,570 ✭
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    `When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, `it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'



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  • Conder101
    Conder101 Posts: 10,536 ✭
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    << <i>The coin is uncirculated and is not toned. It has no direct translation to the current MS system that is actually of any use. >>


    Bingo. Also it does not say anything about whether the coin may have been toned at some time. Just that it is unc and that it is white. S without any other description treat it like you would a dipped MS-60.
  • roadrunner
    roadrunner Posts: 28,374 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Barely Uncirculated (lol)

    Unfortunately today, if often means a slider.

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • Louis
    Louis Posts: 3,687
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    In eBay terminology it means Beat Up. image
    image

    image
  • BlindedByEgo
    BlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I was raised to believe that BU was "Brilliant Uncirculated".

    MS60 to MS62 was just Unc - could be fugly to OK, but not high grade. Met the technical parameters for uncirculated (NO wear).

    MS63 was BU

    MS64 was Choice BU

    MS65 was Gem BU

    MS66-69 were whatever superlatives could modify "Gem"

    MS70 was perfection - and virtually unheard of.

    ***Now we have SEGS, so MS70 is common image

    Hope that helps (BTW I got started in the late 1960's)

    Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1

  • boston
    boston Posts: 230
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    Buffed 'to the' Ultimate
  • littlebear329
    littlebear329 Posts: 59
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    'BOUT UGLY
    i like collecting a wide range of coins but my preference is full step jefferson nickels
  • 100proof1957
    100proof1957 Posts: 6,231 ✭
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    Coin Vault means Butt Ugly !
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  • BuffaloIronTail
    BuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,765 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From the days that I satarted coin collecting in 1967, a BU coin could be anything.

    Most often, the term was generic. I took it to mean (back then) that a coin was uncirculated and shiney.

    I bought BU coins back then as a kid. I tried mail order.

    One of them was a 1960 Small Date Cent, and another was a 1970-D half.

    Oh yeah, I got what I paid for. The coins were uncirculated and shiney, but WOW!

    They were really low end UNCs by todays standards.

    DINGED......DANGED......DONGED.

    I didn't care back then......surface details were not important at all.

    And for a kid, they were affordable.

    Pete
    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • michael
    michael Posts: 9,524 ✭✭✭
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    What does BU mean

    beat to hell/nicked up and a super slider unc. with little to sometimes no rub
  • silverandvinyl
    silverandvinyl Posts: 395 ✭
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    Most everyone calls their junk coins BU when they are selling them on E-Bay.Brilliant means sparkling,lustrous,glittering and distinguished.I have yet to see any of these Adjectives in coins I have purchased on E-Bay.Coins labeled BU on E-Bay I keep away from.I've only found one seller on E-Bay who knew what the TERM BU.means.
    silverandvinyl
    leon
  • carl
    carl Posts: 2,054 ✭
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    I agree that not an actual translation into the MS system or at least none that I've seen that are ligitamate. Way, way back there was Good, Fine, Uncirculated and Proof. G,F,U and P. Then things became refined with such things as each with a number that apparently someone started and not much of a record from where. I think the U went to the AU, Gem Au, Gem U, etc stuff when dealers wanted to charge more for the same thing. Nowadays there appears to be millions of grades to every coin depending on who is selling or buying. I've noticed the disputes with even the professional grading services lately. AAAAHHHHHHH for the good old days. Cars were cheaper, less crime, coins were what they were.
    Carl
  • WaterSport
    WaterSport Posts: 7,064 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I guess I am of old school and when I was a kid, a BU (i.e. "Brilliantly” uncirculated) meant just that, basically, a coin just out of the roll. Coins we call MS 63 R&B now were AU then. So as an old dog trying to learn new tricks, it does irritate me that an R&B or brown coin is called BU, I can accept UNC. But not, BU. That’s just the way I am

    WS
    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • Boom
    Boom Posts: 10,165 ✭
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    Unc but BEAT UP image

    A coin that is Uncirculated but with too many distractions/ flaws to merit a grade higher than MS 63. JMHO
    Boom's Retired Registry Set & Boom's Retired Variety Set
    image
  • Shamika
    Shamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
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    Boston University?

    Seriously, when I see a coin described as BU, my first thought is that the coin should grade 63. But then I remember that it probably is a dipped slider that someone is trying to pass off as a gem.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!

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