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 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,049 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2205 Posts |
Although the term is common, it seems to be extremely subjective to the point of absurdity.
To me, it means that the coin has a generous amount of luster that makes the coin light up like a bulb--hence, "brilliant."
But I've seen quite a few coins for sale that were termed "BU" and while they were indeed uncirculated, they were hardly "brilliant." "Dull Uncirculated" would be more like it.
Your thoughts?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
How you described BU is what I think BU should be also.
It should, in essence, be a proof like-esque coin about to be released in the wild and intercepted.
If it is a coin that looks like what the mint plans on a circulating coin to look like then I would call it MS.
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Valued Member
United States
214 Posts |
It needs to be a coin with minimal scratches and no loss of luster. People say that anything above MS-65 is BU, but its got to have that brilliant look for me to even consider buying it.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
"Brilliant Uncirculated" is one of those terms which was knocked off its' official pedestal by the advent of the Sheldon numbering system. At one point in time, Brilliant Uncirculated was a specific numismatic grading term indicating a coin of MS-63ish. Nowadays, it's whatever you want to use it on, apparently, including roadkill.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
548 Posts |
To me it means a coin that has never been in circulation and was probably never meant for circulation either.
Your typical gold or silver bullion coin could be rightly described as brilliant uncirculated.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
It seems that too many sellers are just too loose with the term 'brilliant'.
Good pictures will always help the seller in this instance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
BU is an amorphous term that if correctly used means the coin is uncirculated but will grade no higher than MS-62 (maybe MS-63).
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
To me it is a literal description. The coin has no wear (uncirculated), and it is untoned or "white" (Brilliant). It has nothing to do with how nice an uncirculated piece it is. (That was the definition used back when I first became interested in coin in the middle 60's.)
After all how could a very nice, well struck but toned Uncirculated coin be "Brilliant"?
Edited by Conder101
10/21/2014 10:53 am
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Moderator
United States
188479 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I too remember this coming up not long ago. And basically no one really knows what it means. Many dealers put BU on a 2x2 as a selling point. BU could mean Bright, Brilliant, Beautiful, Boring, etc. When most dealers put on a flip it is just a selling point and you could think or guess what it means.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I grew up with the idea that
BU = MS-60,MS-61,MS-62
Choice (CH) BU = MS-63, MS-64
Gem BU = MS-65 or higher.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
 That's what I thought. BU is a broad brush for any uncirculated, and the CHOICE, and GEM are higher grades. But I also agree that 'brilliant' certainly implies brilliance. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2368 Posts |
I've alwayed considered any uncirculated coin that is 100% blast white, no toning, with full luster to be Brilliant Uncirculated. It is kind of a loose term, and we can all understand the Sheldon Scale, so I usually stick to that.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2205 Posts |
A coin can be uncirculated without being BU.
"Uncirculated" is still good. It just doesn't have the eye appeal something "Brilliant Uncirculated."
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
Quote:
To me it is a literal description. The coin has no wear (uncirculated), and it is untoned or "white" (Brilliant). It has nothing to do with how nice an uncirculated piece it is. (That was the definition used back when I first became interested in coin in the middle 60's.)
After all how could a very nice, well struck but toned Uncirculated coin be "Brilliant"? Agreed! I've complained about the improper use of BU for years. If you're going to label a coin BU, it better be untoned and full of original, Mint bloom. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 3,049 |
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Posted 10/20/2014 11:06 pm
