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 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,577 |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
As part of the descriptive grading system, there are the base grades G, VG, F, VF, XF, AU, BU and anything that is better than the base grade, but not as good as the next level is choice. Now when you start using numbers, that becomes moot. A VF-35 is a choice VF, but it makes no sense to speak of choice VF-35. Dealers used to use the term "commercial" attached to the next higher grade to describe a coin that was very choice for the grade below it, like a very lustrous VF-35 might be called a commercial XF.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
With non U.S. coins I use the British grading system, but I occasionally stray, and use Sheldon for strictly uncirculated and better.
I stick strictly to Sheldon for U.S. coins.
There is only ONE "choice" and that applies to uncirculated coins only.
In my book for grading Australian coins, grades are:
Uncirculated (this would be MS60)
Choice uncirculated, and
Gem uncirculated.
To me, MS70 would equate to FDC (Fleur de Coin) - a French term. This would be a perfectly struck coin with new dies, and showing no blemishes whatsoever.
With ancient coins, 'AS STRUCK' applies to a coin as it left the Mint.
However, LOTS of other factors besides condition contribute to the grading of an ancient coin, such as quality of strike, centering of the strike, flan quality, patination, skill of the die cutter, amount and location of corrosion, and even how well it was cleaned after recovery from burial.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Choice is not used in technical numerical grading. That word has been replaced by + and * indicating that it approaches the next grade, or that it has superior eye appeal, which is the only part of that use that is subjective.
Numerical grading is objective. Market grading is subjective and places a greater emphasis on descriptive terms such as choice.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
I always considered choice coins to coins that are in the top of their specific grade range. For example, F-15 would be "Choice Fine".
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Numerical grading is objective. Market grading is subjective and places a greater emphasis on descriptive terms such as choice. All grading is subjective whether it is market or technical grading. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3479 Posts |
Doesn't sound like a clear consensus. Someone brought up the term BU. Makes me think back to when I returned to the hobby and encountered the scammy coin doctors on ebay who always marketed their polished coins as 'choice BU ++++' BU... there's another term for debate. Why not just call it MS if the terms mean the same thing. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
It's simple. Dealers use that word to make sales. It really means nothing. Just a word added on to another word to make people think this is better. Better than what? It's just a word.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
choice
An adjectival description applied to coin's grade, e.g., choice Uncirculated, choice Very Fine, etc. Used to describe an especially attractive example of a particular grade.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
The shotgun spread of opinions regarding these arbitrary descriptive wordings shows just how well basic marketing 101 works. As already presented, grading on any scale is subjective. To those learned in the overall values (intrinsic value) of an individual coin set their own scale. Terms such as "choice", "BU", or for that matter further descriptive notations become nothing more than marketing ploys, grabbing the attention of a person's desire or level of understanding. Personally, those terms which I have used as well, mean nothing as a descriptive tool, actually are a red flag to really check the items quality further. Some are used by newer sellers that think their products need a bit more help, these items should be able to sell themselves through pix and honest descriptions. Unfortunately, many are used by smucks as attention getters, knowing the "L@@K, MUST SEE" really doesn't work! One last note, on ebay, some descriptive titles with customer set MS grades are restricted unless proven within grading section, "Uncirculated BU" becomes an easy choice to overcome that filter. |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
On ebay, I cannot say VF-30 unless the coin is slabbed by PCGS, NGC, or ANACS. I can, however, say Choice VF, and I do. G-6, VG-10, F-15, VF-30, XF-45, AU-55, MS-65 are all choice within the grade. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1448 Posts |
For me, choice means close to the next grade. If someone says Choice XF, to me, it means about/close to AU.
Some use choice to describe that grade though. IE. Choice AU meaning that the piece is an attractive AU piece.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I would agree, but it is also frequently used to describe many aspects of a coin's appearance - for example, "choice color" or "choice surfaces."
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1023 Posts |
CAC should change the writing on the green been to "choice" instead of CAC. :D
Edited by Jon Brand
10/10/2017 4:47 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
As most of you know ; I'm old school . On some of my own coins I use the terms Choice and Very Choice , meaning close to gem and very close to gem . To me gem is a 66, and superb gem would be a 67 . I do however use numerical grades if I am confident using them. Like I said many times before 97% of my collection are all raw coins .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
Old school the term choice described a coin that would grade ms 63. Miller in his book "The Morgan and Peace dollar" he used the following: Basel -MS 60 Choice -MS 63 Gem -MS 65 Today the term choice is used to describe any grade and is thrown around loosely. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 5,577 |
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First Page
Posted 10/10/2017 09:18 am
