Is a 69 Grade acceptable to some..??

Gemineye · January 8, 2012 11:11PM

There was a time not long ago about discussions regarding the returning of coins because the were not ..Perfect 70..I wonder how many 25th Aniversary sets were returned due to the fact they were not a ..Perfect..70 grade..I guess ..NONE..!!..I believe that the 69 grade is somewhate acceptable now to those who would return these coins
for ..NOT ..being ..Perfect..70..
Just a thought..!!

foodude · January 8, 2012 11:37PM

One of my favorite coins in my collection is a 1918/7-D Buffalo nickel in a PCGS G-4 holder. I bought it in the early '90s, and it is absolutely perfect for the grade with a very vivid overdate. I find it much more attractive (and cheaper) than many of the VFs that have a little nick here or there or some dark coloration ... So to your question, while 70s are nice, if the minor issue that keeps it from a 70 is not very noticeable, I'd keep it ...

crypto79 · January 8, 2012 11:42PM

69 is perfect, 70 is mostly marketing and anything 66 on up is a pretty lofty grade. The real problem is is collectors of common stuff no matter what it is look for little ways to differentiate their collection form the rest of the pack even if the difference is trivial or microscopic. The super grade collectors will point to the returns of the handful of collectors who did the same-ish 100 years ago but the comparison doesn't hold any water. Coins today are made in far greater numbers and stored much more carefully by all levels of collectors. Must coins are entombed be it mint packaging or TPG's and survival rate will be through the roof.

People forget that encapsulation (TPG) isn't that old and we are really only ending the very first generation of the phenomenon. Today gimmicks may or may not be relevant in the future and my bet is they wont care about 69-70 as they will pick out of the thousands they have to chose from and pick what ever aged the best and is the cheapest.

ricko · January 9, 2012 12:09AM

69 is very acceptable... 70 grades are important to registry set builders, flippers and elitists. I would venture a guess that 98% of collectors could not tell the difference between a raw 69 and 70. It may even be 99%. To many, status means a lot. Cheers, RickO

ModernCoin · January 9, 2012 12:22AM

Most, but not all, 69s are very difficult to distinguish from a 70 so I have no qualms about buying 69s. Having said that though I have learned to spot why most coins are a 69 so IMO if the premium is reasonable it's worth it for the 70. It goes back to the 'buy the coin, no the holder' mantra that is so often repeated, but yet ignored by many. If the coin looks perfect to the naked eye, it's a buy IMO regardless of what the slab says...

BAJJERFAN · January 9, 2012 12:38AM

As my great Auntie Griselda used to say "If you can't tell the difference, why pay the difference?" With a little care and today's technology there is no excuse for making collector coins less than 69. Getting proof coins with nicks, gouges, dings, scratches and the like is unacceptable. OTOH there is no logical reason to go to the trouble to make ms69 quality coins to use in vending machines.

shorecoll · January 9, 2012 12:48AM

People talk about slabbing your collection so your heirs don't have to deal with it, or don't get ripped etc. I think there is a real risk in standards changing for 70's. I have been collecting for 40 years and have seen standards change many times, or as defenders of the practice state "interpretations of standards". I wouldn't bet my life that it won't happen again, and again, and... So the answer to the OP is yes, 69 is acceptable.

topstuf · January 9, 2012 12:50AM

<< <i>People talk about slabbing your collection so your heirs don't have to deal with it, or don't get ripped etc. I think there is a real risk in standards changing for 70's. I have been collecting for 40 years and have seen standards change many times, or as defenders of the practice state "interpretations of standards". I wouldn't bet my life that it won't happen again, and again, and... So the answer to the OP is yes, 69 is acceptable. >>

Especially if the 100 scale is adopted.

Absolution · January 9, 2012 1:27AM

After the expensive investment I made to get perfect 70s, I can tell you first hand this is dumb lol. I'm beginning to believe there are different tiers within grades (low end 70, middle range 70, high range 70 etc)...although I've seen some 69s that could have been 70s save 1 flaw and 70s that have multiple flaws that should be 69s.

I think 69s are pretty good and feels better because if you find flaws it's like who cares it's a 69 not a 70. When you get a 70 you just get disappointment if it's not flawless. Still, it's hard to break the habit of getting a perfect pristine 70

MilkmanDan · January 9, 2012 2:20AM

69 is certainly acceptable to me. My ASE set came back with 3 69s and 2 68s. Now this isn't a great result by some standards, but to my naked eye the 69s are perfect. I left my loupe in its pouch and this has resulted in more enjoyment for me.

The 68s on the other hand do have very minor defects, detectable to the naked eye, but honestly they're not that bad either. I suspect they rattled loose in the box or something. I paid $300 for the set from the mint and sure I'd love them to be 70s, but I'm not hugely disappointed with what I got.

TheBigB · January 9, 2012 2:21AM

I prefer a select 69 graded piece as a best value.

MidLifeCrisis · January 9, 2012 2:38AM

I'd rather have a nice for the grade MS64 or AU58...but then, I don't collect 25th Aniversary sets.

jessecarlk · January 9, 2012 2:43AM

i don't believe that ms/pf 70 really exists and will never own such a grade.

smirkingchamp · January 9, 2012 3:43AM

If raw ASE 25th sets are equal in price to a 69 set, I'd rather have the 69. That would mean no 70 but also no 68's.

Gemineye · January 9, 2012 4:10AM

Firs of all let me state ..I'm not about NOT getting these coins graded by your favorite TPG..The results from the grading services overall show that the Mint has produced a high quality set this year with a relatively low inferior rate. So wether you got your coins graded or not ..You got some nice sets this year......I graded mine..and its a 72 +++...

bsshog40 · January 9, 2012 4:14AM

If it comes down to 69 or 70, I'm fine with 69. I think, as someone already stated, 70's are for point collectors.

BUFFNIXX · January 9, 2012 4:29AM

Speaking of the 69 grade it is only a matter of time before an MS69 1938-d buffalo nickel is born!

pf70collector · January 9, 2012 5:40AM

Yes. An example is a UHR ,2008 W Buffalo or 1995 W ASE Proof. Most of my plats are 69 since they did not make the 70 in self grading but thought they should.

amiller · January 9, 2012 7:37AM

Yep, 69's are good enough for me... I even sold my 70's and replaced with 69's once to get the money out that was tied up... so I could buy more coins!

Elcontador · January 9, 2012 8:10AM

I collect 19th and early 20th century type. If it's graded higher than MS 67, chances are it's "market graded."

Justlooking · January 9, 2012 8:21AM

69 is perfect to the naked eye. I certainly wouldn't be grabbing a loupe in search of minor flaws.

magikbilly · January 9, 2012 9:47AM

Well, easy for me. Theoretical in 1970-something, theoretical now. It was said 99% of collectors would not know the difference. 69 out of 70? Maybe, acceptable to some?

70 may be the grade that appeals to everyone sign unseen - least character - just my .02 if there are basically no variables.....

Eric

57loaded · January 9, 2012 10:22AM

<< <i>69 is perfect to the naked eye. I certainly wouldn't be grabbing a loupe in search of minor flaws. >>

i know you are a lot younger than me!

i need a loupe to read dates, now

Is a 69 Grade acceptable to some..??

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