What is the worst looking coin for its grade?

DoubleEagle59 · June 12, 2011 6:53AM

By this I mean, you do a double take when you see the coin's grade and wonder 'what an awful looking coin for the grade".

I'll start this off with my example.

Morgan dollars in au50 to au58.

They always look more marked than other series in AU and they look a little worse technically, than your 'typical' AU.

coinman23885 · June 12, 2011 6:58AM

The NGC "star" MS68 FBL Franklin; I believe it was a 1948 Philadelphia mint.

keyman64 · June 12, 2011 6:59AM

I can't really say that I like Morgan Dollars until you approach the 66+ or 67 grade. When you look at Morgans in a lower grade blown up such as the large photos that Heritage puts out, the coins look like they have gone through a war.

A thread like this has been done before and I think MS 60-62 was discussed a lot.

foodude · June 12, 2011 7:09AM

AU50-55 proofs

AU55-MS61Morgans with DMPL

Bear · June 12, 2011 7:13AM

Most MS-65 and a number of MS-66 Morgans are not my cup of tea.

Poor color, too many distractions on the face or fields and flat like

feathers on the reverse. I do not believe that I have seen many

MS-60 to MS-62 coins that did not make me nauseous.

As for Bust

halves I have many to my liking in either premium AU-58 or MS-64

and MS-64+ grades. Seated Liberty material generally, looks pretty

good in MS-64+ and a few MS-63+ that I really liked. Peace dollars

just do not intrigue me in less then MS-66+ or better yet MS-67

or 67+. I just can not stand breaks in the luster for this series.

Now, in the case of Standing Liberty FH Quarters, in general

I like a very strong head and while these do appear in MS-65 FH, I

generally find them more available in MS-66. I believe that MS-66+

is an excellent value for dollar spent on this beautiful series.The

key s are full luster and strong FH. Also, one must beware of flat spots

on the belly of liberty and on exposed leg from stacking pressure rather

then wear from any circulation. So many of this series have a rather dull

white appearance. Thought they have the technicals for their grade, they

just seem devoid of all life. somewhat like a dead fish.

Now the Barber

series looks good even down to VF to XF. The broad devices, tend to

allow for even wear, and if the color is good and the coins have not

been dipped too much , the circulated VF-XF halves in this series, are quite

becoming quite difficult to find, with many years and mints becoming rather

expensive.

As a final thought we have the Classic Commems. Unless

these coins have full luster, in high grades such as MS-66, 67 and 68, with good

color to boot, they are and have been ,in a rut for some time. Really top of the line

looking coins are fairly strong, average looking coins are really weak and will probably

stay there, for the rest of our lifetimes.

Bear · June 12, 2011 7:26AM

By the way, I think that this is an excellent thread. Well done.

rainbowroosie · June 12, 2011 10:32AM

Franklins in 64 -- I've seen some real pigs in 64 holders.

CoinJunkie · June 12, 2011 10:34AM

Large gold pieces in 60 are usually not a pleasant sight.

AUandAG · June 12, 2011 10:40AM

Nothing as bad as a MS60 Morgan. They are damn site ugly. Hard to believe they never saw circulation!

bob

Moldnut · June 12, 2011 11:03AM

1916 Standing Liberty quarter in Fine. Very mushy coin to start, and in fine or lower, it does not look that good at all IMO.

anoldgoat · June 12, 2011 11:17AM

Ike $

SamByrd · June 12, 2011 11:52AM

many ms62's are not that attractive.

cupronik · June 12, 2011 11:56AM

"High grade" 1976-P T-1 Ike $1's. It's difficult to find one I truly like.

CyStater · June 12, 2011 11:59AM

<< <i>many ms62's are not that attractive. >>

I'll take a nice AU58 or even a 55 any day of the week over MS60-62's of most any series. In some cases even a 63.

Bear · June 12, 2011 12:15PM

It has always amazed me, that different series of coins

seem to have a different minimum grade, where they

still look pleasing. I guess it all has to do with artistic design

as well as how often each coin in a series was handles in

commerce.

PutTogether · June 12, 2011 12:28PM

Peace dollars in XF are gross, for much the same reason a previous poster mentioned a 16 SLQ. The coins were poorly struck in the first place, and circulation does them NO favors.

Half eagles through double eagles in VF-XF just look STRANGE, but not ugly. (but they start to look really cool in from Fine to VG, they take on an 'ancient artifact' type look)

secondrepublic · June 12, 2011 12:52PM

A lot of Liberty $20 gold coins in high AU and low MS which have been dipped and hacked up and God knows what else.

lkenefic · June 12, 2011 1:29PM

I know they've seen a lot of history, but Braided Hair Large Cents (1839-1857) in less than about VF/XF tend to look pretty bad

curly · June 12, 2011 1:37PM

I always thought Jefferson war nickles were down right ugly after some circulation. I don't remember if I ever saw a good lookin' circulated war nickle.

Bear · June 12, 2011 1:38PM

Zinc coated steel pennies during WW 2.

COALPORTER · June 12, 2011 2:06PM

Trade dollars and 20 cent below ms63. I seldom see any au or lower i like.

Lots and lots of gold. You need to sort TONS of coins to find a solid MS with any eye appeal coin, imho.

TexasNationals · June 12, 2011 2:11PM

Many VF20-AU50 SLQ's. I have seen some 23-S's that I would have graded VG that were in VF and XF holders.

PerryHall · June 12, 2011 9:43PM

<< <i>A lot of Liberty $20 gold coins in high AU and low MS which have been dipped and hacked up and God knows what else. >>

Agree. Also, Liberty $10 gold coins can be quite baggy in AU and low MS grades.

TPRC · June 13, 2011 2:57AM

<< <i>AU50-55 proofs

AU55-MS61Morgans with DMPL >>

I agree that impaired proofs always bother me. I look at them and think about what once was and what could have been.

crypto79 · June 13, 2011 3:00AM

<< <i>Trade dollars and 20 cent below ms63. I seldom see any au or lower i like. >>

Ouch, paper cut

tahoe98 · June 13, 2011 3:57AM

...buff nickels. in mint state. them is tuffies.

TheShampineCollection · June 13, 2011 11:23AM

Anything "mint state" that is toned. Yes, I get it, many people think the coins are "pretty" with all of those rainbow colors, but this isn't the sixth grade. I think they are pretty to look at too, but rainbows and pretty colors belong in cartoons, not on MS coins. What is "mint state" about a coin that has seen such neglect that the metal has actually changed colors? I know, its the tired old argument for/against toning. That just my humble opinion on what looks bad for the grade.

Go ahead and bash right back on me, I collect lowball stuff and IKEs...

Greg

Bear · June 13, 2011 11:27AM

I am not saying that every coin has to have a rainbow, but it seems more interesting,

to collect coins with pleasing and different toning. It is as if the coin has gained personality

and character to differentiate them from all other coins. There are some coins that I collect

that I prefer to be white. These are the Standing Liberty Quarters FH. This is so I can enjoy

all the detail on this beautiful and complex design.

questor54 · June 13, 2011 11:31AM

Any Presidential dollar in any condition.

morgandollar1878 · June 13, 2011 11:37AM

I can think of a few. MS60-62 morgans, circulated War nickels, circulated Steel Lincolns, and MS60-62 gold.

Staircoins · June 13, 2011 1:11PM

'22 no-D cent, strong reverse, in just about any grade.

The mushy obverse details almost always make me question the grade of the coin ... until I turn it over.

frnklnlvr · June 16, 2011 12:11AM

I don't like Franklins in circulated grades. The few that I have are varieties and errors. I only bought them to have an example of that particular variety/error until I'm able to find an upgrade.

What is the worst looking coin for its grade?

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