Would you ever buy a "details" grade coin?

Have never bought a details coin already in a slab. Bought a few raw coins that got “details” on the label when graded. That’s how I learned what a lousy grader I am. Unless it’s newly minted, no more raw coins for me.

Few times I’ve been tempted to buy a details coin at auction, the price soon went out of my range.

Mike

 

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Keep up the good work.

As I said, peck marks are a lottery, and so it appears are the criteria. Dipping is cleaning IMO, no? Thoroughly acceptable for grading though - apparently. I guess it all boils down to whether you treat the collection as a hobby or an investment, whether you will accept the reason for rejection - however spurious.

I don't intend to tell American collectors what to do as it is their choice, and clearly a details free collection will be easier to sell and likely produce higher returns, but for those who collect for pleasure without requiring the best piece for each type they buy, or have set a collecting aim which will inevitably result in a compromise between grade, faults seen, availability or affordability, anything approaching completion is likely to result in...... (wait for it) - happiness in their success. That is something money has difficulty in buying with certainty and the main driving force behind my collecting philosophy.

 

If I would buy the coin raw, I don't care if it is in a details holder. This one has been cleaned according to NGC but I really like it.

 

From the picture I would say it probably has based on the toning, but there can be very few coins that have circulated which never saw a wipe here or there. Just putting them in your pocket does the job. That looks like possible chemical cleaning to me, but can't comment on the coin per se as I don't know anything about the series.

Another supporter of a 2 point system?

 

At least, they put “chop marked” or “chopped” on the label. Chop-marked trade dollars aren’t the only inconsistency of graffiti. There’s the Dexter 1804 dollar. Ole Dex stamped a “D” on the coin, but it straight-graded. Try stamping your initial on a coin and see how it grades.

Mike

 

When buying slabbed coins I avoid, and do not own, details graded. However, many of my raw coins probably fall into this category.

 

I have many coins previously in slabs - details, top pops, also rans and a considerable number of unlisted (choose your denomination -not) where the only resemblance to the description was the fact the enclosed is a coin.

I have yet to find a way to make the slab fit the cabinet tray recesses, however big they may be, so all are removed. I do have a few slabbed remaining, as these are examples of each TPG's products to tick off another few criteria on the list.

 

I have only purchased one details graded coin, a rare type from Knyphausen. Straight graded examples are very pricey. I subsequently sold the coin at an auction where it didn't bring half what I paid for it, I'm sure because of the details grade.

I have sent a few coins in for grading at NCG and PCGS that came back details and I sold those as well. But, none were so scarce that a nice straight graded piece wouldn't come up.

When I buy slabbed coins it's very hard for me to ignore a details grade. Any of the coins I might consider buying as details issues, would be prohibitively expensive, even with issues.

So, I have purchased details coins, but they didn't stay with me long.

 

I've bought 'details/ cleaned' on two occasions. #1 was a Stone mountain commem that was harshly cleaned but the price of the coin was so horribly low I couldn't pass it up. Plus, I'm a big 'Stone Wall' fan. #2 was a Lafayette dollar commem that was labeled cleaned. Once again the price was too to pass up......

 

I have a 1795 details half dime and an 1800 Libekty half dime. Both fill slots in my registry set and because of age it's hard to see at this point what originally caused the detail grade.

 

I answered "Only when I cannot afford a straight-graded coin."
But in reality, I tend to buy coins whenever I can get a good deal. For example, my last purchase was a 1928 UNC details (cleaned) Peace Dollar from PCGS. I paid $258 for it with shipping and thought I did pretty good. If I can buy a coin I like cheaply where I know I can easily resell it later if needed, I will generally bite, details or not. Because of my lower budget, many of my coins are details.

 

I'd wanted this famous Canadian variety rarity since I learned about it as a kid. Even in details grade it was the most I've spent on a coin. After looking at images of every example I could find, I figured they may have mistaken die polish for cleaning, especially since Cook was notorious for ruining many coins. But I would have bought it anyway. ANACS removed lacquer and it now resides in an SP62 holder. "Details" coins can be a crap shoot sometimes.



This is a relatively scarce Reverse 3 variety. I wasn't seeing any come up for sale and this one was affordable. I really don't mind the damage. It gives it character. A year later I bought an F12 for four times as much, but I still like this one.



Not sure which option to pick on your survey!

 

Nice coins!

Sounds like you would land somewhere between option 3 - willing to buy a details coin even if you can afford better, just because it's a lower cost - and 4 - doesn't matter one way or the other for you.

 

I have seen many slab coins detail grade and as far as my eyes go many of them, I don't see an issue.

 

Now, here are a couple more "details" coins from my collection. Neither of them are slabbed.

The first is this cleaned Burma peacock rupee or kyat. I really like this design. Unfortunately, this level of cleaning is verging on the unacceptable for me. I'm afraid I should have held off and waited for something a bit nicer.

BURMA
King Mindon Min, 1853-1878
AR Kyat (31.0mm, 11.62g, 10h)
Dated 1214 Buddhist era (1852/3). Mandalay mint, with dies from Birmingham, UK
Obverse: Peacock in full display facing slightly left, တံဆိပ်တော် (“Royal stamp”) around
Reverse: ရတနာပုံနေပြည်တော် (“Mandalay the Royal residence”) around wreath containing ၁ိသုံးဒင်္ဂါး (“Use coin as 1 kyat”) and date
References: Numista 6847
Mintage: unknown
A very popular type. From the Quentin Brisley Collection (1910-1997). Purchased May 1965 from Barkley? for $5.50.​

This next coin is holed, potentially a major detraction. But in this case, the coin is otherwise so appealing to me, and the hole unobtrusive enough, that it doesn't bother me in the least.

FIRST FRENCH EMPIRE, Napoleon I Bonaparte (1804-1815)
AR 1/2 Franc (18.15mm, 2.51g, 6h)
Dated AN 13 (September 23, 1804-1805). Paris mint
Obverse: NAPOLEON EMPEREUR., bare head of Napoleon right; 'Tiolier' in signature below
Reverse: RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. around wreath containing DEMI FRANC. in two lines; mintmarks and date below
References: Numista #31659
Toned and holed. Struck during the year of Napoleon's coronation as Emperor of the French.
​

 

I unfortunately own several details coins. It's a way to own a piece of history and more rarer coins that I wouldn't have owned otherwise.

 

I prefer straight graded coins. In the past I have bought some details coins, some were tough to get large cents. I also had a few in my bust half album. I prefer to go with a lower graded straight grade coin now a days. But that does not mean I might not buy one in the future if it has the right look like some of the coins in this thread.

 

Many of my Mint Errors have a Details grade. It doesn't bother me. Most are silly but the errors are cool.

Here is one of my favorites




And many others..

 

I've learned the "hard way" that the certifiers don't always get it correct, when I resubmit a properly initially graded coin, and it is returned "details".
I've been collecting 77 years, starting as an assistant in a B&M shop, traveling as a 170 IQ age of 9 assistant to buy coins at shows for my owner/partner, that many don't know how to "standards" grade!
I suggest that you buy what appears proper for your needs, rather than others
JMHO!