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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,891 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1547 Posts |
On any given day I'll take an AU-58 over a MS-60, MS-61, even a MS-62. And, do you know what? Unless the seller knows what he or she is doing, I'll get it cheaper. Just an observation.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
I concur, an AU-58 can be much more pleasing to look at over an MS60.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
For some coins I love the look of XF-AU
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
I am seriously starting and completing an AU/MS60 Lincoln Wheat cent. Leaning more towards the MS62/63/64 BN. Believe this is a much more realistic possibility than completing a RB or RD set....and a LOT less money. I am not counting the S VDB or 14 D in the equation... |
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Moderator
 United States
187569 Posts |
I have to agree as well because collecting from circulation is my heritage. I like knowing that my coin has been places.  Most AU coins have the character from being lightly circulated, yet retain all of the detail that makes for a beautiful coin. The wear is often even and natural, whereas a low MS coin typically has a hit or some other distracting mark to earn its grade. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1547 Posts |
Quote:
For some coins I love the look of XF-AU That's very respectable company to be in. I like it.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
I'll disagree just for conversational purposes... I would rather have an MS coin any day of the week. I love that brilliant luster and strike quality. Now if a coin has amazing strike, but has been circulated... well that's a different story. For me MS > AU but Strike > Luster and those can contradict each other.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
Agree I invested in some more common date MS-66 Morgan dollars back in 2005 and they have really done nothing but depreciate in value. For many key dates, the "most collectible" grades are circulated generally you want to find the grade at which the price has fallen off the most steeply and buy at that level. Hence, if an EF-40 goes for $1250 and a VF-35 is $300 that's a screaming buy! |
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Valued Member
United States
380 Posts |
I like the AU over MS just because of the price, I suppose if I had a little bit more $$ I would invest in a nice MS coin.
Maybe I'll trade in a few AU's to get that MS beauty...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Wholeheartedly agree. Like to find coins graded correctly and priced correctly. Hate to see an AU58 coin priced at MS63 or MS62 priced at MS64/65 price.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1315 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
880 Posts |
I misread this the first time. I was just assuming you meant AU vs MS in general - not the lower MS grades. That's a tough one and I'll say that I'm going to go with strike still, but over all eye appeal for these grades is what's going to do it for me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1547 Posts |
Once you cross that threshold to MS you're incorporating a different set of grading criteria. From a technical standpoint you're grading on the basis of the appearance of the surface. From a market standpoint you're adding strike to that grading component. When you're in the low MS grades those surfaces necessarily have taken so much abuse from other coins many of them are just a distracting mess to look at. However, they still grade MS, as, that's what they are. An AU, on the other hand, even a high EF, hasn't necessarily taken that kind of stress to the surface. At any rate, to get to those high circulated grades, the only criteria that's consequential is degree of circulation wear. That's why, in a lot of cases, I like those circulated grades better. PS: Plus, they're cheaper.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Here's an example, it's now in an NGC AU-58 holder:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1547 Posts |
Thad, good one. I'm going to borrow your coin for a minute to illustrate a point. Is there anybody, here, who doesn't agree that, had that coin, which is right on the cusp, made the cut to MS, it would bypass all those lower MS grades and go straight to MS-64, at the minimum? If not, I rest my case. Thad, you may have your coin back, now. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,891 |
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Posted 03/30/2011 4:49 pm
