I know that there is difference between coin graded as F vs details grades as F. I have seen guides on the internet for grading the coin but I have not seen any guides as to how the details only are graded on a coin. I was also wondering about how the value of the coin is affected by being graded just on details, and if there are sites that help you figure out value of the coin only based on details?
A coin is "details" graded if it has a problem that keeps it from grading cleanly. To arrive at the details grade, just ignore the problem and look at how much of the design remains. As far as valuation, I have no idea.
F details is pretty easy to grade. The coin grades a F except that there is a major flaw with it, such as a harsh cleaning. As for value, a details grade HARSHLY affects the value. It always depends on the coin itself, so more research is needed. As a rule, (however flawed), it will never be worth more than half a non-details graded coin. Some might be worth 70%, but many more are only worth 20% and even then very hard to sell.
As far as value of details coins it really varys from coin to coin . It seems that better or key date coins don't take as much of a hit on value . From what I see on eBay common date coins that are scratched or improperly cleaned usually sell for about 50% less than an unmolested coin of the same date and grade..
You can't really say that it will be worth x% of a problem-free coin. As with any coin, the value is based on supply and demand and the eye appeal of the coin. To make matters more complicated, there are many different types of problems and they don't impact value equally. In general, the value of a coin that still has an original skin isn't going to take as much of a hit as one that does not. The best way I've found to price a problem coin is to get a feel for the coin, and then decide what grade problem-free coin you'd rather have than the problem coin. For example if you have a VF details coin and you decide that you'd rather have a typical problem-free F15, then you should value the problem coin at around what a problem-free F12 is worth.
I agree. There is no hard and fast rule for these coins. I was just trying to give an example or a rough idea of the hit the problem designation gives the value. Too many new collectors think that a details F should be worth nearly as much as a problem free example, when that is far from the truth. I think we were much better off when TPG's refuse to give a grade to a problem coin, only calling it genuine.
Novice collectors not understanding how much of a difference in price there should be between problem/problem-free coins is indeed a problem, but I think with a coin just labelled Genuine they'd be completely clueless. At least with something like F Details they'd have a starting point. Personally, I prefer how ANACS assigns a numeric details grade. Details coins can be quite valuable if there are not a lot of problem-free examples and/or if problem-free examples are prohibitively expensive. The amount of meat on a coin is a fundamental property used to determine value, even for details coins, so more information is better. For example, the primary US series I collect has a significant price jump between AU50/3 to AU55/8, effectively treating AU and ChAU as different grade ranges. In looking at completed auction values for details coins in this series, I noticed a premium being paid for ANACS AU55/8 Details coins over equivalent NGC/PCGS AU Details coins, simply because the NGC/PCGS coins were being treated as AU50/3 Details. When you're looking at a coin in hand it's one thing, but when you're looking at one online, having that extra information does make a difference.
