If you sacrifice strike for overall eye appeal

MikeKing · August 1, 2006 10:01AM

OK, here's what I'd like to hear, need to hear...you see a coin, say MS64, so not quite gem, but optimal for the type (whatever that means...well,,,it means 64 is about as good as you're going to get unless you're Bill Gates...and then,,,if you find a higher grade, likely it will not look as good as a great 64...ok?)

Now this MS64 is absolutely gorgeous.

alright...some people may call it ugly,,,,but you KNOW it's effin gorgeous!!!

the strike is kind of soft in some areas.

Normally, you can find a GREAT strike for this kind of coin.

This coin has an average to above average strike.

But it IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. A rare find.

Then again, there's a whole bunch of people who might think your crazy.

My question is, if you sacrifice strike for overall eye appeal when a better strike is not entirely uncommon, but the eye appeal you see(k) is very uncommon..., do you compromise yourself as a collector?

(If I get this coin in auction, I'll post it)

Leiana · August 1, 2006 10:06AM

While I do like a nicely struck coin, sometimes a weakly struck coin is gorgeous with few marks and a nice patina.

For example, my new half cent.

Weak strike, but a lovely original color with nice details and above average eye appeal for the grade of VG8. Also, the price was right.

This is just my opinion.

-Amanda

coinguy1 · August 1, 2006 10:06AM

<<But it IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. A rare find.>>

Mike, if you're telling the truth there

then yes, I'd have no problem sacrificing strike. Different collectors and dealers place more or less emphasis on different attributes (strike, luster, color, cleanliness of surfaces, etc.) of a coin. What really counts, however, is what matters most to YOU.

ram1946 · August 1, 2006 10:10AM

Optimally, both. But if I had to sacrifice one for the other, and relative to the economics of the situation, I would take eye appeal over strike. Eye candy makes our heads turn.

coinbuf · August 1, 2006 10:11AM

Take this coin for instance, dripping luster but a slightly soft strike for this date. While its graded MS67 by NGC IMHO its a touch overgraded, but the pop and eye-appeal is outstanding.

CarlWohlforth · August 1, 2006 10:12AM

Like Coinguy says what really counts is what matters to you.

We all make trade offs in life. I'll bet even Bill Gates makes trade offs. I'm sure he can buy what he wants but I doubt he has the time to participate on forums like this. -- Back to the subject.

I'm interested in strike. I saw a very attractive coin at auction recently. It didn't have the strike I want, but I bid a bit anyway. I am sure someone who values the toning over the strike will outbid me. That is fine.

robertpr · August 1, 2006 10:12AM

Lay down the meds and back away from the keyboard.

But seriously, many collectors place greater weight on eye appeal versus more technical factors like strike. With the possible exception of registry set collectors. But those guys are crazy anyway.

IGWT · August 1, 2006 10:14AM

What gives the coin eye appeal if not luster, strike, and absence of surface marks/hits?

Whizzard · August 1, 2006 10:15AM

I'd go with the eye-appeal on your not-so-hypothetical. Now win it and show us

FatMan · August 1, 2006 10:27AM

Mike, I find myself fighting the techinical vs eye appeal battle more and more. And I find there is no clear cut answer other than to go with my gut. Most recently I had a very nice MS66 Isabella sent to me on approval. The coin was a technical wonder. It had it all. Great stike, luster, and surface condition. Could very well end up in MS67 holder with a couple of tries. And it had some nice color too, but it was just a bit too dark for my taste. I struggled for a couple of days, but the bottom line was I just didn't love it. I now own a wonderfull MS66 Isabella and I love it. But I also know that technically it is not in the same league as the one I turned down. It has been several weeks since these transactions took place and I am still haunted by my decision to go with look over technical superiority. I don't want to become blinded by eye candy and not pay attention to the technical condition of my collection. Keeping a balance between the two is a tough chore at times.

majorbigtime · August 1, 2006 12:18PM

Strike is important to me as I don't like "softies".

MBT

TomB · August 1, 2006 1:17PM

I believe you have already described what your decision is.

dizzyfoxx · August 1, 2006 1:18PM

Yes, to some extent.

numonebuyer · August 1, 2006 1:27PM

I will bite...

For new collectors, I think eye appeal far outweighs the strike. However, once you have been at it for awhile and actually own a microscope and start studying the coins, you will tire quickly of a weak strike.

JMHO

Coinosaurus · August 1, 2006 2:00PM

I'll go for the eye appeal. However, except for outrageous toners, my gut says that the market values luster over other attributes. Ie. better to have a little bit more pop to the coin than the other factors, if you have a choice. I'm talking about classic coins here, to be clear.

DMWJR · August 1, 2006 2:09PM

<< <i>I'll go for the eye appeal. However, except for outrageous toners, my gut says that the market values luster over other attributes. Ie. better to have a little bit more pop to the coin than the other factors, if you have a choice. I'm talking about classic coins here, to be clear. >>

+1

cape · August 1, 2006 8:43PM

id wait for the coin that had the eye appeal and strike, i feel they go hand and hand . its hard for me to consider a buffalo nickel having eye appeal without a strike!

construct · August 1, 2006 8:53PM

I tend to get lost in the details on coins; but as you say the strike is average to above average, just not needle-sharp, I don't think I'd have compromised myself as a collector if I bought it.

Coxe · August 1, 2006 9:13PM

Strike is just one quality in judging the coin. There are no absolutes in eye appeal. If you can only afford say MS64, you are going to have to give on something that keeps it short of gem. It could be strike or could be something else. The trick is always to choose the piece that satisfies you in appeal and price and fits with your set of collecting direction.

Conder101 · August 2, 2006 1:08AM

<< <i>Normally, you can find a GREAT strike for this kind of coin.

This coin has an average to above average strike. >>

These two statements are contradictive to the original premise. If the coin normally comes with a great strike (In other words the average or typical strike is great), and this particular coin has an average to above average strike that would be a SUPER great strike. I think you mean it has a below average strike.

<< <i>What gives the coin eye appeal if not luster, strike, and absence of surface marks/hits? >>

But Eye appeal does not require top marks in all of these. A coin with blazing luster and no marks with nice color but a slightly weak strike can still have knock out eye appeal.

Personally I would ALWAYS go with eye appeal overa sharp strike that lacks eye appeal. If you are looking at a group of coins I would be much more excited over a lot of super eye appealing coins (that may be a little softly struck) than I would over a bunch of unappealing sharply struck high grade coins. I know we have all seen sharply struck, high number plastic coins, that are frankly, dogs. If I am spending my money, I want a coin I LIKE rather than high grade blah coin. (I recently downgraded one of the Conder tokens in my collection from MS-63 to XF-45 because I just didn't like the MS piece and the XF was choice with glossy hard surfaces and a nice chocolate color.)

seateddime · August 2, 2006 1:50AM

it depends on the coin,

Yes on some no on others like Mercs

mozin · August 2, 2006 2:12AM

I would go with the eye-appeal.

tradedollarnut · August 2, 2006 2:33AM

and actually own a microscope and start studying the coins

If you sacrifice strike for overall eye appeal

Comments

Leave a Comment