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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,092 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1283 Posts |
A higher grade "details" coin that has an issue (like cleaning)...or a lower grade "problem free" coin that is in the same price range?
I'm just curious because I'm the latter type of buyer. But I see tons of corroded, cleaned, scratched, etc. coins out there selling just fine. There are many very nice examples of 'problem' coins. But for me I think it's psychological. In my mind I feel like the coin is tainted, even though that's probably silly.
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I'd prefer a problem free coin. It is a mental thing kinda like a warm fuzzy knowing that you in the end have a better coin that hasn't been.....violated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
Problem free. A problem coin, would be bothersome and so pointless to own.
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Moderator
United States
6563 Posts |
But hey if you don't want any problem free coins I'm a firm believer in charity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
I'm of the opinion that in older silver coins, especially, most seem to have been touched at some point. True problem free coins are hard to find and expensive. I really have no problem with older coins with mild cleaning that time has started to heal. Sure, I would prefer problem free coins, who wouldn't.
Jim
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Valued Member
United States
56 Posts |
I like problem free coins, but for older stuff where the cleaning is apparent, but in the "distant past," I'll make an exception. Especially with capped bust halves.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
That's too much a "case by case" thing for me to answer unequivocally. For coins less than 75 years old, I'll usually take the original over the cleaned example. Beyond that, it's all about what my eyes and heart tell me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
Problem coins are great pocket material - you don't care about whether they get any shinier, or whether they get whanged around or dropped on the cement. They're a historic link and they have their place in my collection. But I laugh when I see Heritage selling shiny scratched and corroded coins mounted in slabs. I wouldn't buy this junk unless it was priced as cull or bullion. To my taste it's pointless to entomb it in plastic. I have one narrow area of focus where I will accept some polished and scratched coins and not mistreat them: low population Seated quarters. Some of these have no existing uncirculated specimens, and show up in the auctions once a year, half of the time damaged in grades as low as AG. Even so, I have disposed of the worst of these over time. Unless I'm carrying them as pocket coins, it bothers me to keep bent/plugged/polished/scratched specimens around. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3233 Posts |
Problem free....EVERY time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
In the types I love (capped bust) a problem-free G-4 just doesn't have the eye appeal of a lightly cleaned F-12, and when I can get fine/very fine coins for reasonable prices because of an old cleaning, I will not hesitate, especially if it's a variety I don't have.
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Valued Member
United States
439 Posts |
I'm not as picky myself. I've got a very low budget so it would be a case by case thing for me. Of course I'd prefer a problem free coin but depending on what kind of a deal I could cut I would be able to live with something with a bit of baggage.
When your on the bottom of the food chain a key date coin with a problem could be the only way you can afford such a critter.
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Valued Member
United States
287 Posts |
I always buy according to how much I like the coin. If it is priced right and still pretty after it has been cleaned I will buy it. It just needs eye appeal. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
That really depends on how you define "problem free". If it's a nice coin that was wiped years ago, but has now retoned nicely, then that's fine by me. But if you're talking whizzed or harshly cleaned, then I'll pass.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1283 Posts |
I got set on problem free coins when I first started collecting. I purchased a very nice, slightly corroded large cent for $60. Considering how much detail was left on it, I felt I was getting a lot of nice detail for my money. But my eyes would always turn right to the corrosion on the reverse. It wasn't even very bad.
Luckily, after paying $60 my new favorite dealer was willing to trade it in for $50. So I only lost ten bucks, but from that point forward knew my mind would only accept problem free.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,092 |
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Posted 05/17/2007 02:49 am
