Investment grade

Newcomp103 · November 29, 2007 11:14AM

The redbook glossary defines this as coins MS65 and higher....agree or no? I think that LOTS of collectors who do not care about the investment side would say it probably starts at 66 or maybe 67, depending on the series. MS65 is still a collectors grade IMHO!

What do you think?

gecko109 · November 29, 2007 11:21AM

Really depends on the coin. Are you talking draped bust halves, or statehood quarters?

ricko · November 29, 2007 11:28AM

In general.. probably. Specifically, it varies from coin type to coin type. Rarity/scarcity (whatever term suits you) will enter into it. Cheers, RickO

GoldenEyeNumismatics · November 29, 2007 11:29AM

It all depends on series, although MS65 serves as a threshhold for many series.

dorkkarl · November 29, 2007 10:18PM

"investor grade" simply refers to whatever is being hyped up by major coin dealers at a given time.

K S

DCW · November 29, 2007 11:38PM

I always thought it meant MS-63 and up, but I guess it would depend on the coin.

DaveG · November 29, 2007 11:51PM

I think it certainly used to mean that, especially, I understand, back in the late 80s when coin marketers were first hyping "investing" in coins.

I also think it used to apply mostly to Morgans, as they were the "investment" coins of choice back then.

Frankcoins · November 29, 2007 11:55PM

Investment grade isn't a "grade" grade. An AG chain cent is "investment grade"

Arizonadesertrat · November 30, 2007 12:22AM

'Investment grade' is marketing jargon. Most investors don't take the time to learn much about numismatics (especially grading), so they think that coins with good investment potential must be in high MS/PF grades. There are lots of coins that fit the grading bill, but are lousy investments (generic Morgan dollars in MS65, for example). Conversely, there are XF-AU coins that have done quite well (e.g., AU58 Seated dollars) and, as already pointed out, even some coins in very low grades have appreciated nicely during the current market run-up.

ziggy29 · November 30, 2007 12:25AM

oops double post deleted... +1

ziggy29 · November 30, 2007 12:26AM

I don't care for terms like that, but if we are strictly talking about "widgets" that are pretty common in high grades, it may be true.

I'd set the bar higher for most moderns than 65, as well as for Morgans. Common-date MS-65 Morgans are way too widgety to be "investment" caliber. I'd go with 66 or even 67 there, at least for the common dates. (Actually, a lot of moderns are orders of magnitude tougher in 65 than, say, 1881-S Morgans!)

If you're talking about key dates and early coins, almost anything can be "investment quality" if it's a nice coin with enduring collector appeal. To the extent coins are "investments," anyway.

PerryHall · November 30, 2007 4:24AM

"Investment grade" is used to describe the grade of coins "that matter".

relicsncoins · November 30, 2007 4:31AM

Morgan Jargon.

jfoot13 · November 30, 2007 4:54AM

investment grade is the best grade you can afford... and enjoy ( at least till something better comes along ) assuming your investing in your pleasure... now ego is another story go right for the finest known pieces

Coxe · November 30, 2007 8:05AM

Investment grade refers to what is considered nominally appreciating among type coin widgets (common dates). MS65 cutoff refers more to the ANA MS65 and not the product of decades of gradeflation. Among rare coins, this is irrelevant. But if you want to invest in arrows and rays seated coins, you would be directed to MS65 and better and told to hold for a decade or so.

MrEureka · November 30, 2007 8:12AM

I think you'll find that in the last 10 years most "collector grade" coins have performed better than most "investor grade" coins. But the "registry grade" coins have outperformed them all.

bidask · November 30, 2007 3:57PM

<< <i>I think you'll find that in the last 10 years most "collector grade" coins have performed better than most "investor grade" coins. But the "registry grade" coins have outperformed them all. >>

Ahh Andy, as always you make us think.

roadrunner · December 1, 2007 1:17AM

Collector-grade coins finally had their day following investment-grade coin crazes in 1977-1980 and 1989-1990. After decades of being neglected, collector coins finally came into their own. It just might be that collector's are the bulk of the remaining "investors" in this market. In reality, if you own coins in this market, you are technically an investor of sorts regardless of your time table or your opinions. The one exception of course would be the person who refuses to accept a profit on any coins they sell (in essence selling at their cost based on initial purchase...after all, they didn't do it for profit and a profit would be an abomination to the pure collector mind). This guy would be THE purist of collectors. Everyone else is just speculating.

So when those little old ladies and men come into your local B&M shop and will take pennies on the dollar for their coins, understand that they are not fools, but merely the purist of collectors....and worthy of your admiration.

roadrunner

Investment grade

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