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.