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 Replies: 21 / Views: 3,602 |
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Valued Member
United States
475 Posts |
Looking at two particular key coins. The price goes up considerably from EF40 to AU55 or so. I could get both coins in EF40 now or get one of the coins in AU and save up for the other one in AU. I'm thinking in the long run, I'm better off getting the better grades over time vs buying both dates now. The AU coins look way better than the EF ones. The jump to MS is huge.
Must resist the temptation to get both now, right?
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Save up and get the higher grade. John1  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
 , go for the AU's .  |
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
It all depends - are you collecting to actually be proud of collecting a set with rare coins in it that many sit back and make excuses not to fill the holes - or are you piecing a set together just to sell it? Big difference, I put together a Dansco Walking Liberty album where I had to get AG3 or G4 examples of the 21's and the other few rarities for that series. Me?, I got a full dansco set instead of waiting for better examples. You can fill holes and be proud of a full album THEN go back and upgrade. Plus you can easily sell the lower graded coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
Don't worry so much about the grade. Select the coins with the best eye appeal. I would rather have an xf with beautiful toning over a mediocre au coin.
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Valued Member
 United States
475 Posts |
Don't worry so much about the grade. Select the coins with the best eye appeal. I would rather have an xf with beautiful toning over a mediocre au coin.
In this case, the two coins are high quality examples for the grade. So, I went ahead and picked up both. Will share when they come in.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
Much as I'd want to hold out for AU on each, there's nothing wrong with a visually appealing XF for the right price. You can always sell and upgrade later.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1261 Posts |
This is a tough question to answer. It depends on the rest of your collection and whether the AUs or XF's fit better. It also depends on the originality and overall eye appeal of the coins in question.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I would always go for anything to complete a set. Then attempt to upgrade later, maybe.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
I buy for my own enjoyment and if I like a coin and it fills a hole, I buy it regardless of grade. However, I just got the 2019 RedBook (my previous version was 2010) and the better grades are the only one's that have gone up in value. I prefer the better grades but I can always upgrade. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
I would save for the higher grade. In my Morgan dollar Date Set album, which I am nearly completed with (only one coin left), I am purchasing only AU/BU coins to fill the holes. When I first started the album, I filled the holes with any coin I could find. I regret that now, as some of the coin in the album are cleaned, damaged, or heavily worn. Now, I am upgrading some of the damaged ones to AU/BU coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
Sounds like you're not going to be happy with XF grades, so just save your money and get the better goods.
AU will appreciate better in value than XF, too. Also, with AU, you have an asking price, with XF, just the market.
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Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
A lot of people put too much focus on numerical grade and not enough on eye appeal and quality within grade such as toning, original problem free surfaces, sharpness of strike (particularly on XF or higher grade items) etc. It's better to have a problem free VF than an AU with an edge nick or hairline scratch or that's been overly dipped.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
As a caveat to my original comment, I try to buy better grades but I've got quite a few G/VG coins. It's a better idea to get better grades but I often don't take my own advice when I've got a hole in a set.
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Valued Member
United States
475 Posts |
I'll need to go down in grade for certain dates as the prices for those are quite high. At the same time, I see a big boost in eye appeal when you get better strikes and coloring. For example, an 1877 IHC is pricey regardless of grade. So an F12 or V20 would likely be what I go for. Then in other years, I can see examples of AU coins that have a lot more detail than an XF. Also, I see where some slabbed XF clearly had market grading as they don't meat the ANA standard (e.g. lack of 4 diamonds). The journey is quite interesting! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Patience.
KNOW the series. Better than you think you do.
Be patient.
You tipped your hand to the series...IHC's.
KNOW THE SERIES!! ...and in this case, KNOW the strike characteristics of each year.
Buy the AU coin - raw or graded....but buy as an XF! They are out there.
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,602 |
Posted 04/05/2018 6:29 pm
