New at purchasing online coins... So here's my question... I see BU rolls advertised all over Ebay with photos etc... But trying to grade a photo is tough at best... so when you purchase a BU roll of say Franklin Half dollars as advertised on Ebay, what can one expect to fine? I notice the gray sheet posts their BU rolls pricing at the exact price of a MS-60 coin listed individually. Generally speaking then, is that what you should expect to find... all coins graded around the MS-60+ grade range. Or have you found, as a rule of thumb, better grades mixed in a BU roll? Seem there would be lots of upside in a roll containing a mix of MS-63 to MS-65's. Would you be upset if you purchased a BU roll and found all graded coins in the MS-60 to 62 grade? Is it expected that a BU roll contain more mid range graded coins? Obviously you spend your money you take your chances... but? Would love some comments from those with experience on this....what exactly is a BU roll? Thanks in advance. /d
My advice is to stay away from ebay or if you do purchase them, don't expect anything great. I am pretty sure those rolls are seeded with nice coins on the outside and crap on the inside. Just like the wheat rolls that are sold there.
What I expect if I ever buy a roll of anything online...? Usually I expect two common but decent coins on the ends and then junk in the middle. At least that's what I would expect if I bought rolls online. If I buy rolls or bags of any coin, I would prefer to do it in person.
Franklin's are common in MS-63 and below. Buying a BU roll from eBay is not good in my opinion. You may even find a number of sliders in there. BU is brilliant uncirculated, not a grade. A BU coin can look uncirculated but be a high AU or a low grade MS. BU is a catch all phrase, so to speak. Please don't confuse a BU coin with a graded coin. Personally I would never buy a BU roll. I would rather pay for a high MS grade slabbed coin. I only need a few more high grade slabbed Franklin's to complete a set. I have several AU and XF sets as well as a VG set. They are easy to build a set if that is what you want. Do some research and figure out what your goal is, then develop a plan to make it happen. It's your collection so you can do what you like. Others will chime in with their thoughts. Welcome to CT.
If i were buying BU rolls on ebay, i would expect them to be somebody's picked-through remnants. I'd be shocked to find anything above a 62.
B.U. can imply a lot of things. One persons B.U. could be an A.U.+, perhaps some with weak strikes, milk spots, toning you might not want, bag marks, etc. Rarely will you find high graders. Before I learned better, I suffered more.
