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How should AU58 coins be priced?

291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,687 ✭✭✭✭✭
Your thoughts?
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Comments

  • at some arbitrary point in between AU50 and MS63 prices...or whatever the buyer is willing to pay.

    edit to add. whatever amount the dealer and the sheets he/she uses tell me to pay.
  • guitarwesguitarwes Posts: 9,290 ✭✭✭

    AU58's are the MS70's of circs

    There are many many factors of pricing AU58 coins, as with higher end MS coins. I think they should be very close to 60 money for many date/mm's, since they are essentially a wisp away from MS63/64.

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  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,550 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>There are many many factors of pricing AU58 coins, as with higher end MS coins. I think they should be very close to 60 money for many date/mm's, since they are essentially a wisp away from MS63/64. >>


    I agree with this statement in general...however, AU58 grades can really illustrate how much grading is a subjective art rather than a science.

    I personally really like the AU58 grade and I compare it to the MS64 grade. In both cases you can find some exceptional coins that represent real value for the money.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>AU58 grades can really illustrate how much grading is a subjective art rather than a science. >>

    Especially when they become AU62 and then MS62 image
  • ttownttown Posts: 4,472 ✭✭✭
    It depends if the AU58 would have been an MS60 but had slight rub I wouldn't give over AU50ish money for it. If it is MS63+ then around MS60 money. JMO
  • Dealers usually sell for closer to MS60 money...which is ok to me...especially if the 58 eye appeal is good...I buy more 58s than 60 or 61 for that reason alone.
  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,515 ✭✭✭✭✭
    recently, capped bust half dimes certified by PCGS at this grade have gone for (my purchases or observation of purchases) $225 to $400...excluding rare die marriages.
  • For Barbers a lot of retail dealers try to get 2.5X Greysheet AU bid. This is usually way over MS 60 prices. Some dealers will only charge 1.6X GS AU bid for an AU58 which generally falls within the AU58 prices in Numismedia's FMV charts. I know that Greysheet isn't always accurate but paying near FMV AU58 prices makes more sense than paying FMV MS63 prices - which is what some dealers charge.
    In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
  • UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Would rather have a beat to death MS60 rare coin, or the same coin graded AU58 that was a MS 68 with just the slightest hint of rub?
    I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector.
    Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,599 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image are we buying or selling ?

    Coins are worth what someone is willing to pay... unless there are two or more who disagree, then they can go to the moon for their price guide image
  • ARCOARCO Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not all AU58's are created equally. Many are as ugly as their 60-62 counterparts. Some have terrible luster, and have as many bag marks as a low end MS coin. I don't know how they should be priced, but I prefer a quality AU58 over the MS version anyday for the price differential. I don't care if a coin has almost indiscernable rub or wear, as long as it has luster and relatively mark free surfaces.

    My favorite AU58 buys? $10 Gold indians, the rub is almost impossible to detect, the luster is often there in spades, and sometimes they look as good or better than their MS cousins. Another favorite are Bust halves. I have only found one truly spectacular AU58, but I am still looking for more.

    Tyler
  • I currently have two 1831 capped bust halves for sale. One is priced at $750 and the other at $1150.
    As would be expected one is very average au58, and the other looks to be ms 63 or 64 with full lustre and barely discernable rub on the highest points.
    I paid way more for one than the other but both are worthy of the price paid and the price asked. Dave W



    David J Weygant Rare Coins website: www.djwcoin.com
    dalias13@hotmail.com
  • fcfc Posts: 12,793 ✭✭✭
    when it comes to half eagles, i think what is selling currently, the AU58s..
    are basically AU50-53s. they look like crap currently. only strong luster
    remaining by the stars and other protected areas. beat to heck and back
    and ussually have noticeable marks.

    the days of AU58s being a sweet spot for lib half eagles are gone.

    my two cents. terrible buys in most cases.

    I expect a half eagle to look like this and still only be AU55. A 58 should be noticeably better in the luster category.
    imageimage

    Here is a 53, showing how the luster wears away a bit more. mark feld approved ;-)
    imageimage

    I sold all my 58s because they were not up to par.
  • Tough question. If it's a 64 with a rub I say 61-62 money, however most dealers only pay AU money, some will sell at a slight premium. Auctions are better. I have a 1908-D motto $10 Indian that is PCGS AU-58, but is really a 64 with a rub that I can't see, with no bagmarks and full luster, better than any ms63 I've ever seen for this date. Considering this is a $12,000 coin in ms64 and $650 in AU, I personally think $650 is way too low for a coin of this quality, $1500 seems reasonable which is 61-62 money. However I doubt I would ever get it so I'll never sell it. High quality AU58's are great bargins when you can find them.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,599 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
    image

    Right now I'd say about ten bucks image
    image

    Some like to accuse me of spamming, but hardly. I am as clear as a bell on finding out the TRUTH, and that includes using these boards to do it image
    I price them low because I don't have a B&M. I paid about $20 to have it slabbed. My guess is this particular AU58 will sell for about $40 if it is anything like the last 4 or 5 I sold on ebay. I don't even know what the DEALER pricing says.
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,246 ✭✭✭✭✭
    When I'm felling they fhould go for MS63 money and when I'm buying they fhould go for AU55 money.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,599 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>When I'm felling they fhould go for MS63 money and when I'm buying they fhould go for AU55 money. >>



    LOL@ your accent image
  • I have been contemplating this question myself and I think the answer lies in what makes an AU58. According to the ANA grading standards, the AU designation goes to any coin showing only the slightest amount of wear on the highest points of the design. So with that definition you could be looking at anything from an MS60 to an MS70 but for that small amount of wear. Throw in the factors of eye appeal and strong strike and that AU58 may well be quite the desirable piece! So the question in my minds is, " Is this how the grading services view the 58 grade or do other factors determine the AU50 to AU58 scale?" In other words, does amount of wear determine the AU grade or are factors like eye appeal and marks also taken into consideration?
    Frank

    E PLVRIBVS VNVM
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,731 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It depends on the series and the specific issue. Some coins are very dependent
    on grade because most examples are heavily worn and other coins can be more
    dependent on other factors such as strike or surfaces.

    I suspect we'll see some pricing of clad AU-58's going for multiples of MS-65 price
    due to strike characteristics. With many of the clads it's far harder to find well-made
    than well-preserved.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • holeinone1972holeinone1972 Posts: 5,368 ✭✭✭
    As with most questions, there are way too many factors to choose.

    If it is a more common coin w/o any spectacular toning I feel you should take the au greysheet and ms60 bids add them, and divide by 2.

    However if it is a more classic coin with desirable toning, you can throw the sheets away, and be prepared to pay strong money.

    Example here are 2 au 58's 1st coin paid right bewteen au50 and ms 60 price.

    NGC au 58
    image

    2nd example anacs au58 don't even ask, but a whole lot more than greysheet.
    image

    There are few easy answers in numistmatics.

    Rob
    image
  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It does depend on the series. For example, in bust halves and early coppers, most of the AU-58s come in holders marked MS-63 or 64. Or is that a different discussion?
    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
  • Why would AU58 coins be priced any differently than any other grade? Use the sheets, that's what they're there for.
    Something I am not getting in this question?

    Jonathan
    I have been a collector for over mumbly-five years. I learn something new every day.
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,246 ✭✭✭✭✭
    AU55 is where the bargains are at.
  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,515 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>AU55 is where the bargains are at. >>



    except for that $399 ebay coin!!! image

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,832 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Typical 58's are usually worth half-way between the AU50 and the MS60 price.

    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



  • << <i>Why would AU58 coins be priced any differently than any other grade? Use the sheets, that's what they're there for.
    Something I am not getting in this question?

    Jonathan >>




    You can use the sheets and you will sometimes be successful acquiring average looking au 58 coins.
    What you're not getting is that you will rarely if ever buy a fully lustrous au 58 coin which has so little rub that it takes magnification to locate it. And practically no bag marks.
    If you believe the sheet truly addresses the market value of high end and low end au 58s as being the same then you will be wasting your time bidding in auctions where only frustration awaits.
    As the man said"not all au 58s are not the same." Dave W


    David J Weygant Rare Coins website: www.djwcoin.com
    dalias13@hotmail.com
  • mirabelamirabela Posts: 5,101 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Face value. It's used.
    mirabela
  • MrHalfDimeMrHalfDime Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭
    Part of the problem in determining an accurate and fair price for an 'AU-58' coin stems from the problem in aggreeing on exactly what is an AU-58 coin. AU-58 has always been my grade of choice for both Capped Bust and Liberty Seated half dimes, and the majority of my collection is comprised of coins in this grade. However, my own standards for determining an AU-58 coin invariably differ with NGC's standards, sometimes differ with PCGS's standards, and often differ with the standards of sellers of raw coins.

    The ANA grading standard describes varying degrees of circulation wear below the MS-60 grade, but by definition, since an uncirculated coin cannot have circulation wear, the ANA standard describes 'quality of strike' above the MS-60 grade. This dichotomy in the grading standard often leads to problems. How do we account for 'quality of strike' in the circulated grades? I think that the AU-58 grade does this for us.

    In my opinion, a true AU-58 coin should be valued above an MS-60 coin. An AU-58 coin is one that left the mint in an MS-64 or even MS-65 grade, but received a slight rub in brief circulation. It was not an MS-60, MS-61, or even an MS-62 coin when it left the Mint; it would have had a much better quality strike than that, and should be valued higher than, say, an MS-60 or MS-61 coin which saw slight circulation. That coin would now be an AU-50 or AU-53.

    I have consistently paid much greater than MS-60 prices for true AU-58 coins. Usually I would pay something in the order of published MS-62 prices for what I would consider a true AU-58. And if the coin has significant pizzaz, color and eye appeal, I would pay even more.

    "Why would AU58 coins be priced any differently than any other grade? Use the sheets, that's what they're there for.
    Something I am not getting in this question?"

    Most price sheets and services do not list an AU-58 grade. And it is misleading to interpolate an AU-58 price as being between AU and MS-60; it is worth much more than that.
    They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,731 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Why would AU58 coins be priced any differently than any other grade? Use the sheets, that's what they're there for.
    Something I am not getting in this question?

    Jonathan >>




    It's the very nicest coins with a little too much wear that often get tossed
    into the AU-58 grade. These coins can be spectacular gems with the hint
    of a rub. In some coins spectacular gems are virtually unknown (try finding
    a spectacular 1982-P quarter). This can apply to some of the early bust
    coins as well; they may almost always come with poor surfaces and less
    than perfect strikes. Usually this will be because of poor survival rates in
    the case of bust issues. If the choice is between a gem that is less than
    stellar or blazing beauty with a little too much rub then many collectors will
    seek the coin with the rub.

    But, there can be other sorts of AU-58's as well. A coin that's scarce in
    unc and has a little rub will get the AU-58 grade even though it's a very
    unattractive coin.

    This is just the way we grade coins and the problem is most pronounced
    on coins that aren't quite uncirculated.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • coinpicturescoinpictures Posts: 5,345 ✭✭✭
    AU58s... We hate 'em when we make 'em, but we love 'em when we find 'em.

    Most MS60-61 coins are marked up battered pieces, whereas in many cases (not all) AU58s are MS64s with a rub. Most of the time an AU58 has infinitely better eye appeal than an MS60-61.

    I've paid above MS money for an occasional AU58... I've also been able to buy them for AU50 money.

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