NGC Star (*) Designation

RedHerring · December 20, 2009 2:52PM

When did NGC begin designating: star (*) for exceptional eye appeal?

Do you feel it's worth a crap?

I'm not an NGC fan but would like to know.

mkman123 · December 20, 2009 2:54PM

many of the star coins are very nice!

coinkid855 · December 20, 2009 2:54PM

I'm not sure when they started but it had to have been a few years ago now. Yes it is worth a crap as people definitely will pay a premium for it.

-Paul

Justacommeman · December 20, 2009 2:57PM

I'm a big fan and in two of the series I collect it makes a difference most of the time (walkers and commems) Of course it depends on the degree of the eye appeal. MJ

HighRelief · December 20, 2009 2:57PM

Look at the Battle Creek Collection, they put a star on every coin when most were not even worthy of it.

airplanenut · December 20, 2009 2:59PM

I've seen a lot of their toned coins, many with and many without. I have come to the decision that it is not worth a premium sight-unseen, and sight-seen, I can judge for myself. Their original standards were very nice and laudable--no fingerprints, the coins had to have exceptional eye appeal, etc. More recently, I've seen lots of ho-hum toned coins that are nice, but to me not worth much, if any premium. In addition, I've seen coins with light prints that can be very distracting. A great example would be the non-monster Battle Creek coins that have just slivers of color, and in my opinion don't merit the star.

Many of the coins I own have the star, and that's fine, but many others don't, and some are far nicer than those that do have the star.

RedHerring · December 20, 2009 3:00PM

I wonder if PCGS will follow suit for PQ coins.

Seems like a gimmick to me but if it works???

Still wondering when this started though?

HighRelief · December 20, 2009 3:09PM

<< I wonder if PCGS will follow suit for PQ coins.

Seems like a gimmick to me but if it works???

Still wondering when this started though? >>

NGC Star Designation

Justacommeman · December 20, 2009 3:23PM

It was intiated in late 2000 but not in all series.

Early commems started being eligible for stars in April of 2002. MJ

Unknown · December 20, 2009 3:27PM

This content has been removed.

RedHerring · December 20, 2009 3:51PM

That half dime deserves a star regardless of it's numeric grade!

SkyMan · December 20, 2009 4:29PM

<< Look at the Battle Creek Collection, they put a star on every coin when most were not even worthy of it. >>

HR, with all due respect, know the facts before you state an opinion. There were 9,000 Morgans submitted to NGC from the BC bags. Of these nine thousand just over 1,400 got the star. Therefore the VAST majority did not get the star.

I will be the first to agree that many that did get the star did NOT deserve the star. IMO roughly 600 of these ~1,400 should have in NO way qualified for the star, ~300 were UNQUESTIONABLY star worthy, and another ~500 were possibly/possibly not star worthy.

PerryHall · December 20, 2009 4:35PM

<< When did NGC begin designating: star (*) for exceptional eye appeal?

Do you feel it's worth a crap?

I'm not an NGC fan but would like to know. >>

It sounds like you have already made up your mind.

19Lyds · December 20, 2009 4:52PM

NGC fans love their Star (*) designation.

Me?

I'm not an NGC fan.................

Unknown · December 20, 2009 4:59PM

This content has been removed.

mumu · December 20, 2009 5:41PM

<< With regards to that 1837 H10c that i posted, it is the nicest cbhd eyeappeal wise for the entire year imho, it also happens to be the highest graded 1837, at ms67. Whatever the grade I have never seen a nicer cbhd, and since it happens to ne in a ngc holder i think it definitely deserves a star. >>

Awesome coin and major clashing on it. I think I am going to start collecting these next year. But there appear to be some marks on it no? Do you think its deserving of a 67? Definetly deserving of the star either way.

leothelyon · December 20, 2009 6:19PM

It's absolutely meaningless! Look at all the MS67 grades they've handed out over the years for many series. I was complaining about this back in the mid 1990's when we use to get the Teletrade catalog in the mail. The pages would be filled with NGC MS67 graded coins. Go look at their pops report, they're laughable. Due to my posts here and complaints from many others, they finally did the right thing took them out of public view. I wouldn't buy an NGC graded coin sight-unseen if that Mark Salzberg signed his name to them.
Because their pops are so saturated with overgraded coins, that's why they came up with this crap, to create some kind of market. First the W to note white coins and that didn't last very long and now we have the star, big whoppy-doo! Just like all the coins they grade, you need to really see the coin before buying them.
I've been looking at their coins for almost 20 years and I have only one coin in their slab in my main set, 2-3 stragglers and 4-5 proofs And they all sit in one of those red 2x2 cardboard boxes longways.
Nothing to get excited about from this collector.
I remember a dealer getting excited about a colorful 1950-D that was certified by NGC as a MS67 5 step nickel. He had a big price on that coin and after viewing it, I couldn't say a word about it. It lacked the strike and luster to be graded MS67, I sure as heck wasn't interested in it and he knew it.

Leo

edited; didn't like the word straddlers

thisnamztaken · December 20, 2009 6:21PM

IMHO, whether or not you agree with a specific coin's star designation is akin to giving your personal opinion of a holdered coin's stated grade - you need to evaluate the coin's grade and/or eye appeal according to what your personal experience, expertise, and preferences dictate.

golfer72 · December 20, 2009 9:19PM

Reading all of these posts I think anyone would conclude that the Star designation is meaningless. Eye appeal by definition is subjective ( grading is also to a certain extent but has aspects of objectivity) so the star means nothing. If you look at a lot of NGC coins and see what is starred and what isnt they may as well throw darts to determine which coins get it and which dont.

jhdfla · December 20, 2009 9:25PM

<< Reading all of these posts I think anyone would conclude that the Star designation is meaningless. Eye appeal by definition is subjective ( grading is also to a certain extent but has aspects of objectivity) so the star means nothing. If you look at a lot of NGC coins and see what is starred and what isnt they may as well throw darts to determine which coins get it and which dont. >>

It's not quite that bad, but I agree they tend to be all over the place sometimes, like their grading in general. A shame really, because there are some really great coins accurately graded in NGC holders that sometimes get passed over simply because they reside in an NGC slab.

kryptonitecomics · December 20, 2009 9:27PM

As a coin seller....I think it adds value so it can't be meaningless

As a coin buyer....I know what I like star or no star.....I have owned coins that were no brainer stars that didn't get the designation and I have had coins graded that stared and I was like WTF? So yes by nature the star and the whole grading process is subjective but I personally like the star designation.

IrishMike · December 20, 2009 9:37PM

<< Reading all of these posts I think anyone would conclude that the Star designation is meaningless. Eye appeal by definition is subjective ( grading is also to a certain extent but has aspects of objectivity) so the star means nothing. If you look at a lot of NGC coins and see what is starred and what isnt they may as well throw darts to determine which coins get it and which dont. >>

I guess I am not anyone then. I only own one coin with the designation. To me it means the graders at NGC think the coin has attributes better (in my case a 68) then a regular 68. Of course many many people here who don't grade coins for a living and have never taken any grading courses can grade much better than NGC or PCGS for that matter so to them it would be meaningless.

If I buy your argument that eye appeal is just subjective ( which I believe is rather naive) then at least it will have some added value at resale time to all of us who don't measure as well as professional graders at a reputable service. As far as throwing darts my own experience is that the vast majority of times I have seen a * coin I can see why.

But then again I admit to being a so so grader so after 50+ years of collecting I still need a crutch once in awhile and am not so sure of myself that I won't admit that.

golfer72 · December 20, 2009 9:45PM

Dont get me wrong here. I am not an NGC basher by any means. I like the fact that NGC coins sell for less. It has allowed me to get many nice coins for less money. No Koolaid here. If the star causes coins to sell for more money i guess yeah its not meaningless to the marketplace. I hope PCGS does not adopt a similar concept though. I would like to think they understand that its really not a valid concept. The way people collect certain types of slabs ie Doily's etc I guess it should not be surprising that people like the star concept. I stand by my original opinion.

BUFFNIXX · December 20, 2009 9:53PM

IMO the star designation is like a grade between the grades. Lets say you were looking for a top end mint state 1938-d buffalo nickel and three were available, an ms67, and ms67 star, and an ms68, all slabbed by ngc. You would find that the ms67 star is priced higher than the ms67 but less than the ms68. Instead of the ms67 star they might as well say ms67 plus or ms67+. I think it is just another method of extracting more moolah from the collectors of ngc graded coins. And apparently it is working. (buffnixx)

llafoe · December 20, 2009 10:26PM

<< I wonder if PCGS will follow suit for PQ coins.

<< 

PR70DCAM * CAC (Red) - Now that'sa gonna costya!

lcoopie · December 20, 2009 10:30PM

search for ngc star

gsa1fan · December 20, 2009 10:52PM

Stars are cool way of putting a seal of approval on exceptional eye appeal.

Some I agree with some I don't.

Those that are stars with the pop/bang demand multiple prices often.

I have one that graded a star. Great satisfaction when you know the grader's REALLY liked your coin.

golfer72 · December 20, 2009 10:54PM

"Some I agree with some I don't" Thats my point. Some like blondes, some brunettes, some...

coinguy1 · December 20, 2009 11:14PM

It is true that the NGC star designation is subjective in nature. However, based on the many examples I have seen, far more times than not, they tend to be above average in terms of eye-appeal. Thus, given the choice of a star coin or a non-star coin on a sight-unseen basis, I would certainly much prefer the former.

lope208 · December 20, 2009 11:39PM

I'm glad they "threw the dart" at this one...

lope208 · December 20, 2009 11:42PM

I should add...this is my first and only star and I would've purchased the coin whether the TPG starred it or not.

I'm even considering crossing it because I'm a PCGS Set Registry guy...

So, I guess the star doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Plus, those damn prongs!

golfer72 · December 21, 2009 12:05AM

Nice coin Lope. I actually like the prong holders on the larger coins though. They have grown on me.

dizzyfoxx · December 21, 2009 12:06AM

<< Do you feel it's worth a crap? >>

Sure, why not

leothelyon · December 21, 2009 12:10AM

<< search for ngc star >>

Gave me an error

.....and no, you don't have to fix it.

Leo

Marauderrt10 · December 21, 2009 12:15AM

I like the star myself

RedHerring · December 21, 2009 12:54AM

<< So, I guess the star doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Plus, those damn prongs! >>

----------------------------------------------

Agree 100%. The slabs suck and the Stars? They seem to sell just not to me.

PawPaul · December 21, 2009 8:40AM

I had two STAR* Franklins and liked them both

blu62vette · December 21, 2009 8:41AM

It means less to me as time goes on and means very little to me right now.

greghansen · December 21, 2009 8:55AM

Last time I checked the numbers (which was severl months ago), it was clear that a the star designation was awarded far less often (meaning harder to get) than the CAC sticker. Standing alone, that doesn't mean much but I find the designation helpful and on occasion I have paid a premium for coins which have it. Of course, I may have paid the premium even if the holder didn't have the designation, but there is some comfort in knowing my opinion is shared by others who know more about grading than I do.

mrearlygold · December 21, 2009 9:04AM

I bought this proof gold quarter eagle and really thought it would ucam. Instead it received the star from NGC.

I'm not unhappy and have my own theory as to why it didn't ucam. It's nicer than the image.

Oops, that's the auction image. JUST got the coin back from NGC today and haven't had a chance to image the coin yet.

I do believe this specimen will have no trouble getting a CAC sticker

I also think this coin is a really good deal in comparison to the 67 Ucam that sold for near 50 G's.

greghansen · December 21, 2009 9:07AM

Dammmnnnn, that's a nice looking Q-Eagle!

rainbowcoins · December 21, 2009 9:09AM

<< I've seen a lot of their toned coins, many with and many without. I have come to the decision that it is not worth a premium sight-unseen, and sight-seen, I can judge for myself. Their original standards were very nice and laudable--no fingerprints, the coins had to have exceptional eye appeal, etc. More recently, I've seen lots of ho-hum toned coins that are nice, but to me not worth much, if any premium. In addition, I've seen coins with light prints that can be very distracting. A great example would be the non-monster Battle Creek coins that have just slivers of color, and in my opinion don't merit the star.

Many of the coins I own have the star, and that's fine, but many others don't, and some are far nicer than those that do have the star. >>

I agree 100% with you. I just don't see a need for this designation. Seen some which should have gotten a star but didn't and seen some with stars that simply shouldn't have had it on the slab.

CB2597 · December 21, 2009 9:18AM

mozin · December 21, 2009 9:30AM

The star on the NGC label brings a lot of extra money in some series. I have yet to own one, maybe because I collect the Bust Series.

erwindoc · December 21, 2009 9:33AM

I like the idea of star coins, but I will agree that all star coins are not created equally. Some will only bring a small premium at sale, while others I have seen go for nearly 10x what the typical grade goes for. I am still trying to learn the eye appeal factor that gives them "the look" when I send one in. I have tried many times and failed every time on what I think deserves a star.

coinguy1 · December 21, 2009 9:38AM

<< I bought this proof gold quarter eagle and really thought it would ucam. Instead it received the star from NGC.

I'm not unhappy and have my own theory as to why it didn't ucam. It's nicer than the image.

Oops, that's the auction image. JUST got the coin back from NGC today and haven't had a chance to image the coin yet.

I do believe this specimen will have no trouble getting a CAC sticker

I also think this coin is a really good deal in comparison to the 67 Ucam that sold for near 50 G's. >>

Tom, that's a great looking coin. Based on the images, it looks to me as if it missed the ultra cameo designation because the obverse portrait isn't heavily enough frosted.

Unknown · December 21, 2009 9:38AM

This content has been removed.

yellowkid · December 21, 2009 10:03AM

<< Look at the Battle Creek Collection, they put a star on every coin when most were not even worthy of it. >>

A half dozen of my commems are so designated, obviously I think they are nice or they wouldn't be in my collection. However I agree about the Battle Creek, many that don't seem to have that much fizzazz yet they sport the * label.

Marauderrt10 · December 21, 2009 10:33AM

<< The star on the NGC label brings a lot of extra money in some series. I have yet to own one, maybe because I collect the Bust Series. >>

this would star no doubt in my mind if i crossed it to NGC

PawPaul · December 21, 2009 10:56AM

.......jeezzes ..........awesome Bust Half .........

Marauderrt10 · December 21, 2009 10:59AM

<< .......jeezzes ..........awesome Bust Half ......... >>

NGC Star (*) Designation

Comments

The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

My Jefferson Nickel Collection

The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

My Jefferson Nickel Collection

Leave a Comment