I am just curious on peoples opinions on buying a damaged coin. I know they cannot be slabbed/graded, but it sure is nice to see the detail on some of these. There is still value in some coins even with damage when they have such good detail.. right? I feel in some cases, I would rather have a scracthed AU/BU then a g/vg example. Am I nuts? Just curious if I am the only one who thinks this way. Here are a few example I purchased because the price was right and I loved the detail. Scratches on the obverse bottom left Damage near 'America' Someone scratched a name on the obverse on the right and some scratches on the back:
I have a damaged 1868 shield nickel that is scratched like your 1868. On mine, someone scratched the 1868 date on the reverse. I think I paid "fine" money for it. In general, I would rather have a lightly damaged AU/BU than a g/vg example.
So I am not alone! Thats good to hear. Well at least your scratches are useful. Not having to turn the coin over to see the date. lol
Depends on the coin and variety - etc. So for example some of the coins going into my bust half album will have some problems. Doing my best to minimize them(and how they are cleaned) - so I have 1 or 2 that are just too polished and I will replace them. Also doing a large cent variety problem coins might not be able to be avoided. 1868 shield nickels are kind of common and you could(not saying should) avoid a problem coin. But again with the varieties sometimes it is best to get them while you can. I don't mind a cool DDO cleaned shield nickel. Just really depends.
If you buy a coin with a problem you'll always have a coin with a problem. If you are paying an appropriate amount, fine. If you can live with that, fine. Right now I'm getting coins that are cleaned. Why? Because I'm doing die marriages and the ones with high "R-" numbers I'll take anyway I can get them.
I don't think you're crazy. To wit, I don't mind old scratches, but I draw the line at bright, shiny and fresh ones. We all have to decide for ourselves what we consider "OK" and "NOT OK" -- and what's right for me isn't necessarily right for you. By way of example: One person may look at this coin and say, "What an ugly scratch in the obverse field -- I'll never own a coin like this." Another may look at this coin and say, "Wow, a circulated and original looking 1874 trade dollar -- what a rare and cool coin & the small old scratch doesn't bother me at all." And you know what? They're BOTH right.
Damaged coins don't bother me. It's how I've gotten some coins due to my limited budget that I would not have gotten otherwise.
theres almost no way you could collect large cents and refuse to deal with damaged coins. i see nothing wrong with collecting damaged coins that would otherwise be unaffordable to the average person like a 1795 silver dollar or 1804 large cent. just make sure you know the dealers youre buying these coins from so you arent getting some counterfiet that sat in a rock tumbler for a week. these are 3 of my early large cents. a damaged S-30, damaged S-22 and problem free S-65. the S-30 is by far the worst looking but it was also the first one i got that had some real details. would i of still bought it if i had the other 2 first? probably not but that doesnt mean i regret buying it. the S-22 is VF-XF with light corrosion but that problem doesnt distract me at all. the F S-65 was sort of an impulse buy but im extremely happy to be able to say "i have a problem free liberty cap cent". none of those 3 are cheap but it didnt take my whole savings or collection to buy them so im fine having some damaged coins.
Lol leadfoot. I wouldn't consider this damage, but is it actually? I mean compared to someone carving their name into a coin...
I look at coins like I look at people. No ones perfect, all are scarred, but there is a little good in everyone. Its a good thing coin collectors dont collect people. We'd all be culled. lol.
