Which coin do you prefer?

One of these coins sold on eBay for $68. & the other sold for $38. Which do you prefer and why?

 

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The 1853, because I am collecting them.

 

I would go with the 1853. It's looks nice and I'm not seeing any problems.
The 1848 has been messed with and will never look right again.

 

I prefer the 53 too, but I guess eBayers prefer harshly cleaned, red coins. Because the red one sold for $68.

 

In the words of the great Ron White, "you can't fix stupid".

That is the unpredictable nature of auctions, though. I searched for years for a Byzantine coin of Christopher for what I wanted to pay. In a series of three auctions, one firm sold 4 of them. I got mine, (which I consider as high a grade as the others), for about $300 less than any of the others.

 

Really? Wow. The '53 has an almost identical mintage to the '48, and has way more eye appeal. Aside from what looks like a rim nick, it appears to be problem free.
The '48, on the other hand...

 

The 1853 for sure!

 

The top one, because the bottom one has clearly been cleaned.

 

The redder the better I'm guessing is a point that could be made. Perhaps there just is a small supply of really red coins that are that old?

 

Eye appeal means different things to different people. I'm sure this is the result of (what some may call) uneducated collectors wanting a "new" looking cent, similar in color to shiny new Lincolns. If I were evil, I'd buy some type of whizzing device and ruin hundreds of coins, & the hobby in general.

 

Did anybody bother to look up the varieties? To me the 48 looks to be an N-18, not an easy one to locate in any grade/condition. The top die crack of obverse is still visible between stars 2 and 3 running toward Liberty's mouth. In this instance I'd choose the scarcer coin, being the 48.

 

Isn't it true that a majority of educated collectors prefer "new" looking cents, everything else being equal (I mean no whizzing, cleaning, similar condition, etc.)?

For example in GDJSMP's post, would you prefer the first coin? Or would you expect most collectors to prefer the first coin?

 

Doug,

If you place tags around the image URLs that you posted the images will show on the screen rather than having to click them.

As for the price difference, you have a few factors to deal with concerning these coins. First, they are both graded RD but there are many collectors who won't consider the first coin red while everybody will consider the second coin red. In addition, you have die pairs to consider when collecting early copper. I don't much about them, but I know that if a collector is seeking a specific die pair, he will pay strong money to obtain it. If two collectors are seeking that same die pair, then a bidding war can easily ensue.

You stated that both to these coins are the same variety which I will assume includes the Newcomb number so the price difference is completely related to the quality of the RD designation as well as the overall quality of the eye appeal associated with the designation. It would seem that this is a case of buy the coin not the holder as I don't consider the first coin worthy of the RD designation.

 

Yes and no. Most educated collectors prefer originality and the coin in question's color was achieved artificially, it's not red from being left alone and properly stored all these years, but rather from cleaning. JMHO
That said, the 48 appears to be a scarcer variety, which may have been the factor that drove the price so high... Just depends on the bidder I guess lol

 

To further Doug's point, and my own, with a series like large cents, grade is usually not as important as variety. Most of us eac'ers crack them out anyways as a numerically assigned grade is virtually worthless.

 

speaking for me I just don't want coins that have been messed with that much. it might be the more scarce coin but I just can't feel any pride/satisfaction of owning a beat on coin. I'll go without 'till I can get a better one.

 

Depending on what you collect, then, you may be waiting forever. Even collectors with unlimited funding have to settle for what's available sometimes. Look at the Holmes collection auction catalogs as an example. He had some pieces that were barely identifiable as large cents, yet they were in many cases the best examples known. There isn't the luxury associated with waiting for better examples like with modern coins when collecting these.

 

Are you kidding?

I guess not, nothing surprises me on eBay.