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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,552 |
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Been lurking for awhile - decided to join up. Relatively new to coin collecting, about 3 years now. Have learned a lot just following along.
Need advice on my next purchase.
My local coin shop has 2 of the same coin/same year & mint mark. One is NGC certified AU-58 the other is not certified, but is UNC 61. He is asking the same price for both. Does the saying "Buy the Coin and not the Holder" apply to this situation? Should I go with the UNC? I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I moved your topic to reach a wider audience. That is a difficult question.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
If dealer is asking same price for both...then choose the one that looks better to you. That's what I would do.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
to CCF. If you are good at grading then look at them both and get the higher grade. If you are not good at grading get the NGC one. As a general rule,buy the coin not the holder unless you are into collecting holders. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1699 Posts |
Welcome. Good first topic! When buying classic US coins I generally purchase based on eye appeal. I've often found that an AU coin is better in this regard than lower grade MS coins - but not always. Also, do you think the AU coin is accurately graded - it could very well have the same merits as the raw MS piece. Just a few thoughts... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
If you are sure the MS61 is problem free, it's probably the better coin, but imo there is a reason they are priced the same. Like was suggested, if you are not confident in your grading, grab the NGC coin.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
To CCF , I would go with the NGC but in this case it's all about your eye appeal . the MS-61 might not have any wear but could be freckled with distracting marks. I personally don't buy any coins labeled MS-61 as they usually don't have any eye appeal . I have seen AU-58's that will knock you socks off . So it's your call. |
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
to the Community! Quote:
One is NGC certified AU-58 the other is not certified, but is UNC 61. He is asking the same price for both. Does the saying "Buy the Coin and not the Holder" apply to this situation? Should I go with the UNC? Who said the second one is UNC 61? Is that how the flip is labeled? If so, then that holder should be ignored as well. As said above, buy the coin which looks best to you, regardless of any assigned grade (whether written down or given to you verbally). |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4591 Posts |
AU and MS are two grades where there is a surprising overlap in quality and values.
The core difference is that Mint State - MS - should have NO wear. About Uncirculated - AU - will have tiny amounts of wear on the very highest points of the coin. Often from simply rubbing against other coins in the roll (or for older coins from sliding around in the cabinets that used to be used to display coins).
However, that MS coin can have distracting marks from banging around in the bags of coins that - while never circulated - never-the-less got a lot of handling.
So this is the confusing point - unlike within a single grade, or within the spectrum of circulated grades (from PO1 up to EF45), within AU and MIS it's not a strict numerical progression.
Take a nearly perfect coin (say MS65 or better) and give it a tiny bit of rub - that's your AU58.
Take a banged up (lots of bag marks) but never circulated coin and that may be your MS60 or MS61.
On pure eye appeal, the AU58 is likely to be a better looking, nicer coin. But it's not Uncirculated.
So which is more important to you - circulation or eye appear.
Long way of saying buy the one that looks better to your eye.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
 MS-61 is the politically correct way of saying beat to death. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
If you buy one, buy the one you like best. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19948 Posts |
Welcome to CC! What type of coin are you looking at?
In general, an AU-58 coin is more appealing than an MS-60/61/62. However, since the other coin is not slabbed, buy whatever one you like better. Personally, I like AU-58 coins so I'd probably buy that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Some dealers overgrade and then underprice to make a quick sale to ignorant folk. Don't fall into this trap if that is indeed what is going on.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,552 |
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Posted 03/24/2016 03:47 am
