US Coin Collecting Dilemma

For the past few years I have been putting together a Type Set of mint state PCGS and NGC slabbed US coins over at the NGC registry website. Up until recently I have just filled the holes local finds and coin show items. Now I am looking to fill some of the holes I can't find locally, so I'm looking online.

Here is my dilemma. Each coin has a level where the price jumps significantly. For example, the coin price increases in a smooth linear manner from MS61 through MS64, then the price doubles at MS65. So far I have been inclined to go for the best looking MS64, rather than paying double for a number on a piece of plastic.

What would you do? Is getting the coin in the mint state number after that big price jump important? Thanks.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I personally would go after eye appeal. You may miss out on some great 63's or 64's if you are set on a plastic number.

 

In most cases, I prefer to get a 64 or below and save the money. The higher grades for many coins are already well appreciated, and I think lower grades have more room to move. It also lets me have a larger collection for the same price, which is awesome when I want to 'feel' like I'm spending my money well.

 

I would get the best coin for the money. In most cases, a nice 64 is as nice as a bottom tier 65, so spending double the money is useless.

 

MS64 coins are a great value at the fraction of the MS65 price!
MS65, AU58 and VF35 are all great values in my opinion.

 

For the most part, but AU58 coins have been receiving a lot of attention with the Everyman Registries. A nice AU58 might go for 64 money.

 

go for the MS 64!

 

Buy the coin, not the slab.

But yes, you should buy the best example you can afford. Good luck

 

Examples of recent purchases this side of the price jump: PCGS 1) 1866 MS64 3CN; 2) 1914 MS64 Barber dime; and 2) 1863 MS64 Indian head cent.

Also bought an NGC slabbed 1864 large motto 2 cent piece in MS65 that seemed to be mispriced with at the price I was seeing for MS64 examples, so I picked it up.

About to pick up an 1852 silver trime that PCGS slabbed MS64 that really looks nicer than the MS65s I'm seeing, but without the price jump.

 

If au58 is too much then go for AU55.

 

Some will say buy the best grade you can afford. I say go for MS63/64 with best eye appeal and use extra cash for more coins. If that is outside of budget then go for an AU58. TC

 

I said best example, and I think eye appeal effect the niceness of the example, and also think that a specific grade is not nessasary. I think you sould buy what you like.



Good like with the trime. I love those things!

 

As others have said, buy the best one you can afford. I have also read somewhere that if you want to get slabbed coins. Buy the grade right before the price jump.

Also I don't know what type set you're collecting. But copper coins tend to carry a premium in RD state. You can get BN and RB coins cheaper and sometimes with better eye appeal.

 

Sorry, i don't understand this.

 

MS 63 and 64 coins, unless they are rare, difficult key dates are generally the biggest bang for the buck. One can get a pretty coin, going for eye appeal, and a mid grade, instead of blowing a roll of bills on a 65 or 66 that doesn't look that much different. That is, unless one wants the best and cleanest coins, but those aren't generally reasonably priced compared to the 63-64 price range.

 

I tend to go after XF45 or AU58. You can find some relay nice coins in those grades for a fraction of the cost of "higher" grades...

 

If you are trying to decide between the MS64 and the MS65 grades, the answer is simple.

You want to buy an MS65 coin that is inside an MS64 holder.

Spend some time studying coins of both grades in top tier holders. Look at the characteristics of each coin. Strike... marks... eye appeal... compare coins side by side in dealer inventories, if you have the chance.

There are MS65 coins in MS64 holders.

In numismatics, the person with the most knowledge wins. Doesn't matter whether he is buyer or seller. And grading is acquired knowledge.

 

That's how I see it. Eye appeal is what I go for, with my type set.

 

I can say I have been shocked by how one point can cause such a huge monetary jump. One example: 1859 IHC jump from MS 64 to MS 65.