What percent of pre 1920 coins have been messed with?

pennyannie · May 21, 2008 5:52AM

What percentage of coins are out there unmolested in your opinion. Of all the old coins out there what percent are certified buy the top 4 grading companies? Lately it seems 1/2 of the raw coins i have looked at would not certify due to some issue. My guess is 10 percent are certified (probably higher if the smaller coins are not counted) and 25 percent remain un molested.

yellowjacket · May 21, 2008 6:28AM

That's as good a guess as any.

Garrow

AUandAG · May 21, 2008 9:23AM

As most coins from that era were not saved but spent, I'd say that 99.999% of those minted are not messed with
but are circulated specimens.
Good question, though!
bob

seemyauction · May 21, 2008 9:27AM

What is the definition of molested, in this situation?

coinkat · May 21, 2008 9:35AM

While I am not answering the question mainly because I have no information other than my own experience to support my position, I will say that your question is very fair and worth asking because original coins are significantly tougher to obtain than most folks think...

JRocco · May 21, 2008 9:41AM

<< <i>What is the definition of molested, in this situation? >>

Great question.

Take an old early 19th century coin in VF condition.
Not put a decent ding or scratch across the portrait that happened during the coins circulation,
and you have an unslabbable piece.
Is this a molested coin? There was a time when a coin like this was still highly collectible, but
it commanded a lower price due to the coins condition. Today, because of the plastic weeneyitis
that has swept across these boards....errr...I mean across the collecting community, this is suddenly
a piece to be avoided---because it won't slab.

Take another coin that was stored in an old coin cabinet on a red felt pad. This coin now has questionable toning, unslabbable again and shunned. This one used to just be sold for a discount to a collector....but not anymore...nobody wants a coin that won't slab.
You get my point I'm sure.

OKbustchaser · May 21, 2008 9:46AM

<< <i>What percentage of coins are out there unmolested in your opinion. Of all the old coins out there what percent are certified buy the top 4 grading companies? Lately it seems 1/2 of the raw coins i have looked at would not certify due to some issue. My guess is 10 percent are certified (probably higher if the smaller coins are not counted) and 25 percent remain un molested. >>

With the exception of Morgan dollars probably 75 to 80 percent of the SLABBED pre-1920 coins have been messed with--lightly cleaned, dipped, or recolored. For bust material the percentage is even higher.

MidLifeCrisis · May 21, 2008 11:52AM

plastic weeneyitis - that's funny.

The point made by JRocco is a good one and illustrates why I think the major TPGs should slab any coin submitted to them for the fee they are paid...even problem coins. Just indicate the problem on the label.

When a TPG refuses to slab a coin, they effectively deem that coin to be not worthy of collecting...at least for many people. I don't think they should be in the business of telling me what I should collect and if I pay a fee to have my coin authenticated and protected in a slab, I should get what I pay for.

What percent of pre 1920 coins have been messed with?

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