Poll: Technical Grade or Eye Appeal

CalGold · April 24, 2006 12:33AM

When you are purchasing a coin for which substitutes are available in your grade and price range which would you choose? Assume that the “prettier” coin is “low end” for the grade technically or one point lower in technical grade than the other.

Edited to Add: As others have pointed out the real world prudent thing to do is to require a combination of eye appeal and technical grade. But for this poll you need to assume that you don't have that option, as would be the case if there were no examples available to you that would meet both criteria.

tradedollarnut · April 24, 2006 12:38AM

Neither - I would wait for the coin that possesses both.

mgoodm3 · April 24, 2006 12:40AM

I'll generally choose the one with the nicest look. For me that is nice mirrors and frost on proof indians, even if it is a lower grade. What I really want is both high grade and a nice look.

291fifth · April 24, 2006 12:42AM

When it comes time to sell you better have both or you are going to have trouble.

CalGold · April 24, 2006 12:44AM

TDN is correct of course, but for this poll, TDN and other collectors of ultra-rarities have to assume that they have to chose between the only two examples known.

CG

FatMan · April 24, 2006 12:47AM

Both is of course the answer. But in keeping with the hypothetical I would choose the more eye appealing piece. Looks like so far it is a landslide for appeal.

DennisH · April 24, 2006 12:52AM

I didn't vote, because my decision-making process varies with every individual coin and none of the three options given here come close enough for me to choose.

Price plays a role, of course, expecially when the "spread" from one grade to the next is huge. In this instance, if I already have a PQ, gorgeous coin at the lower grade, I may never acquire an example at the higher grade because the huge additional price may never get me a more eye-appealing coin.

The price I pay for that lower grade coin comes into play as well, because I'm not a dolt who throws away money on something that far exceeds the majority of the market's perception of its worth, just because I think it's pretty. I owe it to myself and my coin budget to be a realist about resale. Yes, I might get the cost back when it's time to sell, but it could take a long time to find someone as impetuous as I was.

When I was doing my Morgan set I shopped for six CC dates in MS66, but I only wound up having one, because it was the only one that convinced me it was sufficiently better than my 65s in terms of eye appeal and technical merit, to warrant the big upgrade cost.

Longacre · April 24, 2006 12:52AM

Eye appeal never goes out of style. Grading levels do.

KurtHorn · April 24, 2006 12:56AM

There aren't enough choices in your poll.

PerryHall · April 24, 2006 1:03AM

<< Neither - I would wait for the coin that possesses both. >>

RedneckHB · April 24, 2006 1:07AM

I agree with TDN and Longacre.

Whitby · April 24, 2006 1:10AM

The coin I like, IE the one that looks good. There is no Technical grading in the current market place that inspires any faith in me whatsoever

DJC · April 24, 2006 1:30AM

<< Eye appeal never goes out of style. Grading levels do. >>

Couldn't have said it better myself.

OKbustchaser · April 24, 2006 1:42AM

<< 

<< Eye appeal never goes out of style. Grading levels do. >>

Couldn't have said it better myself.

>>

Sure, it does. Not only does what constitutes eye appeal go into and out of style over time...it varies from person to person at any particular point in time.

Grade levels on the other hand do not change. (Of course, interpetations of those standards vary.) That said, I still will choose the coin I like best...regardless of the grade.

TheRaven · April 24, 2006 1:47AM

This is a hard question to answer really.....

A technically sound with good eye appeal 63 versus a very pretty with supurb eye appeal (toned perhaps) 62 or 61 and the price for the toned 62 is higher then the 63, I would have a hard time pulling the trigger on the 62.....

tradedollarnut · April 24, 2006 1:56AM

<< TDN is correct of course, but for this poll, TDN and other collectors of ultra-rarities have to assume that they have to chose between the only two examples known.

CG >>

Begging your pardon, but you said the coin has substitutes available. If so, why compromise?

With that said, I think that I would at this time lean toward the technically graded piece [assuming it is at least average eye appeal for the grade]. Pretty is nice, but I don't like to pay next grade up money for pretty these days....

slumlord98 · April 24, 2006 2:26AM

Being a collector of draped bust half dollar die states, often I have to take what is available, regardless of grade or eye appeal.

bhartman35 · April 24, 2006 2:35AM

I'll go for the technically better grade. The premium put on pretty colors these days is just irrational. And luster sometimes denote something bad happening to the coin, so you can't go by that, either, necessarily. But if you can put it under a 5X lens and find little or no fault with it, that's worth something to me.

Stuart · April 24, 2006 2:53AM

I always prefer coins with high eye appeal and am less concerned about technical grade. As an example, here's an 1878-CC PCGS MS-64 Morgan Dollar that I purchased at a coin show over the weekend that has more eye appeal than most Prooflikes for this date/mm and perhaps also some MS-65 PL's, because of the beautiful strong cameo contrast.

1878-CC PCGS MS-64 (Cameo Semi-PL) Morgan Dollar

drddm · April 24, 2006 2:59AM

I feel eye appeal will always get you further when it comes time to sell your coins. It will attract more people to your coin and often command a higher premium as there may be several other technically graded coins out there with similar grades but the one with eye appeal will usually stand out and make people say, "Now wait a minute, I haven't seen one that looks like THAT!!!"

So, go with the eye appeal, JMO.

lkenefic · April 24, 2006 3:06AM

<< Being a collector of draped bust half dollar die states, often I have to take what is available, regardless of grade or eye appeal. >>

Here...Here...

I collect early coppers and I'm basically in the same boat. But to answer the question directly [and I've stated this before] I'd rather have an nice problem-free VF20 struck on a nice planchet rather than a corroded XF that might net out at 25.

Leo

MrBreeze · April 24, 2006 3:23AM

I picked looks over technical aspects.

From my experience, the poll results seem to mirror what I have experienced in the market. I have seen several Seated Quarters that I did not bid on, simply because they had no eye appeal. While they were rarities, they did not appeal to me enough to put in my collection. The hammer price of these coins proved that most others thought the same thing. While, on the other hand, I have seen really nice looking coins sell for far more than their "technical" value. I think the people who approach this from a money angle will always choose eye appeal, unless we are talking about the scarcest of coins.

CalGold · April 24, 2006 4:03AM

Well, I think I don't like my own poll because my answer would be very very price dependent. I voted for technical grade because although I will pay a premium for eye appeal witihin a grade, when there is a significant price jump between grades I just don't think I would pay the next grade up price for the prettier coin. I know that many people will pay the next grade level for a great toner, and in the case of monster toner Morgans they pay multiples of the next grade level-- or more correctly, they pay a price that has no correlation to the price of a white coin at the grade level. Similarlly, I will pay a price for DMPL Morgans which is a multiple of the price of a frosty coin at the grade level, but given the price range between grades in DMPLs paying 65 DMPL money for a 64 DMPL coin? I just don't see myself doing that.

CG

eyoung429 · April 24, 2006 4:07AM

You don't have enough choices. If my entire '21 D VAM set is MS60 and 2 of the coins I needed to finish it were either net graded or dinged-up pos's It wouldn't matter in this case due to either rarity or availability.

Elcontador · April 24, 2006 7:00AM

If I had to choose between one and the other, I'd pass on both. Now, the coin with the eye appeal is easier to sell. Coins with nice eye appeal have been upgraded in the last few years, though they IMO didn't merit the upgrade when looking at them technically (and yes, I own one of these upgraded coins).

Still, the coins I look for are expensive for me, so either I get everything I am looking for, or I pass. I have seen a frightening number of five figure Trade and Seated $s that were technically graded, dipped and stripped coins. Ditto re incredibly ugly MS 65 Barber Halves (and a few 6s as well).

I've also seen some expensive type coins with great eye appeal, but technically, IMO, were overgraded by as much as 2 or 3 points.

cape · April 24, 2006 8:14AM

id have to say i prefer both but your only going to build a great set if the coin has eye appeal.

Coxe · April 24, 2006 8:23AM

It doesn't work that simply. You are not going to find eye appeal (except for this crazy toning fad) generally meriting much more than a grade step and then it is usually a confident pricing on upgrades. I'll still stick with my vote on quality coins for the grade over a technically superior grade most of the time. Why pay more for less appeal unless you are a registry points idiot? Look at the most imoportant collections. They have had high graded coins but the rule more often than not was superior eye appeal ..... and it has paid off for them too.

morgannut2 · April 24, 2006 8:26AM

<< 

<< TDN is correct of course, but for this poll, TDN and other collectors of ultra-rarities have to assume that they have to chose between the only two examples known.

CG >>

Begging your pardon, but you said the coin has substitutes available. If so, why compromise?

With that said, I think that I would at this time lean toward the technically graded piece [assuming it is at least average eye appeal for the grade]. Pretty is nice, but I don't like to pay next grade up money for pretty these days.... >>

I'm going with TDN's earlier strategy of buying the undergrade that has knockout eye-appeal, rather than the highest technical grade assuming it's just average for the grade. So far I've found a big problem is to assure yourself that the "pretty" coin hasn't already been "market graded", leaving you with an MS63 in an MS65 holder at MS66 money!!

bhartman35 · April 24, 2006 8:38AM

I voted for technical grade, but I'm having a hard time picturing a coin that has either technical grade or eye appeal. Don't the things that comprise a good technical grade (no marks, good luster, no wear) also go toward eye appeal? Absent one of those factors, don't they both suffer? I can easily see a coin with good eye appeal and low grade (as a matter of fact, I think that's what often leads people to dip), but I'm having a real problem picturing high grade and low eye appeal. Are we talking about a coin that's toned an ugly color? If that's the case, then I think I'd be able to ignore an ugly color, if the coin had all the other components (including luster) of a high technical grade.

cape · April 24, 2006 8:41AM

well coxe, the grade is great but im not a registry nut as far as the number is concerned . my set of buffalo nickels may not of had the overall points to get up there in the forsythe grades as being number one ,but let me tell you many people on these boards have told me personally that my #5 set had as much eye appeal as any set put together. my set was the cape cod collection in the recent march anr sale . check it out and let me know what you think. ps , although some of my coins brought a premium id have to say my timing in selling this set wasnt good as the overall market at this time on high grade buffs is soft.

tradedollarnut · April 24, 2006 8:47AM

So far I've found a big problem is to assure yourself that the "pretty" coin hasn't already been "market graded", leaving you with an MS63 in an MS65 holder at MS66 money!!

Agreed - which is ruining the market.

bestclser1 · April 24, 2006 8:56AM

<< I agree with TDN and Longacre. >>

Me too.

dizzyfoxx · April 24, 2006 9:26AM

Another poll where IMHO, there is only one logical answer, which is #2. My reasoning, generally speaking, is this... Do I want to "gaze" and "awe" at the coin because of its' incredible eye appeal, or at the higher number printed on the label?

Poll: Technical Grade or Eye Appeal

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