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 Replies: 23 / Views: 12,597 |
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Valued Member
Bulgaria
53 Posts |
Hello
Could you explain to me the difference between " Choice BU" and "BU" ? Is there a difference of quality condition?
Is CHOICE an official term of grading? Ex. Choice MS64
Do you have 2 coins of the same value - one with BU or UNC and the second one with Choice BU or Choice UNC? Could you upload them in this post?
Because on banknotes, sometimes, on the holders of PMG, it is written " Choice Uncirculated" and not only Uncirculated.
Thank you
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Valued Member
United States
282 Posts |
 to CCF! "Choice" with coins usually means it is the sellers choice to describe the coin as choice. It is then your choice as the buyer to fall on the floor laughing at the grossly exaggerated description of the coin. What I'm trying to say is that it is just a word sellers use to try to say how nice the coin is. With PMG it seems that they use the word choice as the descriptive for the upper levels in each grading category. So a 55 will be AU and a 58 will be Choice AU. A 40 will be XF and a 45 will be Choice XF, etc. https://www.pmgnotes.com/paper-mone...ading-scale/Edited by syeb
08/18/2016 10:07 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
There isn't a hard rule as to the meaning of "Choice". It's used by the sellers to market the coin, make it sound fancier than simply BU. "Gem" is another word that gets thrown out a lot. But BU to one dealer could be Choice BU to another dealer. And Gem could be Choice to one, and probably just BU to a third. Kinda like a car salesman that calls the majority of his inventory as awesome. Lesson: It's not a word to trust making decisions that affect your wallet.
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
Edited by dave700x
08/18/2016 10:26 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
I am pretty much in agreement with Dave ...above. BU - MS 60 through MS 62 Choice BU - MS 63 and MS 64 Gem BU - MS 65 and up These terms were used more, before TPG's. Pre 1980's .. MS 65 was king .. many collectors would not say their coin was MS 66 or MS 67 ... it was GEM BU. If it was getting close to MS 65, but not enough to make it, it was Choice BU. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
 With advances in technology since the 80s, nearly all coins come out of the mint in what would technically be considered in the 63-67 range; only the 68-70 are truly hard to find. I don't really use the terms, but if it were up to me, "choice" would be a high technical grade with significantly above standard mint luster, and "gem" would be nearly flawless on technical grade, and superior, almost proof like luster. |
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Choice and Gem were popular terms in the coin magazines when I first stated reading them in the early 1980s. I think the correlation to the MS scale given above is accurate.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4469 Posts |
The term has also been applied loosely for other grades as shown in the summery below of the ANA grading. The bottom line today is that choice can be used in many different ways to describe a coin or grade. Perfect Uncirculated (MS-70). Perfect new condition, showing no trace of wear. The finest quality possible, with no evidence of scratches, handling or contact with other coins. Very few regular issue coins are ever found in this condition. Choice Uncirculated (MS-65). An above average Uncirculated coin which may be brilliant or lightly toned and has very few contact marks on the surface or rim. MS-67 through MS-62 indicate slightly higher or lower grades of preservation. Uncirculated (MS-60). Has no trace of wear but may show a number of contact marks, and surface may be spotted or lack some luster. Choice About Uncirculated (AU-55). Barest evidence of light wear on only the highest points of the design. Most of the mint luster remains. About Uncirculated (AU-50). Has traces of light wear on many of the high points. At least half of the Mint luster is still present. Choice Extremely Fine (EF-45). Light overall wear shows on highest points. All design details are very sharp. Some of the Mint luster is evident. Extremely Fine (EF-40). Design is lightly worn throughout, but all features are sharp and well defined. Traces of luster may show. Choice Very Fine (VF-30). Light even wear on the surface and highest parts of the design. All lettering and major features are sharp. Very Fine (VF-20). A moderate amount of wear is noticeable on the high points of the coin's design. All major details are clear. Fine (F-12). The coin shows moderate to considerable even wear throughout. Entire design is bold with an overall pleasing appearance. Very Good (VG-8). Well worn with main features clear and bold although rather flat. Good (G-4). Heavily worn with the design visible but faint in areas. Many details are flat. Common coins in "Good" condition are not particularly desirable pieces for collectors. Rare or valuable coins in this condition, however, are often saved when no others are available. About Good (AG-3). Very heavily worn with portions of lettering date and legends worn smooth. The date may be barely readable. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
In addition to what everyone else says, on ebay it is not unusual for sellers to use BU for coins in the AU range. Unless you see a grade on a slabbed coin by a top TPG just ignore what the seller tells you about grade. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
The term "uncirculated" has always bothered me, hence why I try to use "mint state" unless I am talking about set coins.
By definition, the moment a coin is used to purchase anything, it is "circulated" even if the technical grade is not impacted whatsoever. Conversely, I could take a sealed mint bag, toss it down a hill, and the coins would all be "uncirculated" despite being heavily scratched etc.
Semantics, man.
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Moderator
United States
188213 Posts |
I agree with what you are saying, although I have been guilty of saying uncirculated when I mean mint state.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
With coins people try almost anything to make their product sound better than what it really is. Terminology and/or words like Uncirculated, Choice, Almost Uncirc., Brillant and on and on and on are sort of like UNSEARCHED COINS. All are just meaningless except the actual graded terms like MS. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
The word "choice" actually meant something 30 or 40 years ago in collector/dealer parlance. It means little now except to describe MS 63/64 TPG slabs. |
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Moderator
United States
54280 Posts |
When viewing an ebay listing, you should consider "choice" to mean NOTHING. In fact, when viewing an ebay listing, particularly for ungraded coins, you should view the coin and buy it based on your own thought about the grade and ignore what the seller says. Other terms to ignore: RARE +++ Very choice Beautiful Gem Monster (toning, etc.) Higher grade etc. These terms are generally used by a seller to justify a price higher than the going rate for that particular coin's grade. Show your financial support of the Coin Community Family (click here)See my topic on Mexican Numismatic Medals (click here) |
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Valued Member
Canada
206 Posts |
I've got a scarce choice BU gem Roman coin with monster toning. Salvaged from a shipwreck zillion years ago. Straight from my grandfather's shoebox that I just found in the attic. Anyone interested? Friendly low price. (Disclaimer : It may have been produced in China recently)Also, I've got lots of unsearched rolls!  |
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Valued Member
 Bulgaria
53 Posts |
To continue on the use of "unofficial" terms, I would like to have your opinion on " GEM UNCIRCULATED"? This, in special case when it is used by NGC ! Why is NGC giving such a grading ( which is not precise ate all!) and not giving a precise MS grading ( MS68,69,70)? See the coin below:  |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 12,597 |
Posted 08/18/2016 10:17 am
