Just out of curiosity, those of y’all that collect certified coins, what grade do you normally prefer to collect? This is your ordinary purchase level, not a stretch for that one special coin to fill in an empty spot. Also, I am putting up a range in the poll, for those who collect raw coins. This is for normal, everyday preference, not that coin that you absolutely must have. It also probably does not apply to key dates, or falling in “coin love” as we all tend to compromise accordingly in those situations. Obviously, this applies to US and World coins. Comments welcome, please.
Since I very seldom buy coins I cannot participate. If and when I do the only criteria have is eye appeal. And, surveys like this should always allow for that grade.
Typically I buy on eye appeal. For me that translates to blast white. And I seldom purchase above the low uncirculated grades. To me anyway the appeal doesn't translate to the giant spikes in cost in the higher uncirculated grades.
For raw coins or extremely expensive ones, I like Ef-40 as a low. Still have most details and sometimes nice toning or luster remains. For Morgans and pre 64 US silver, I like gem examples and often with unique eye appeal, as mentioned above. I won't pay the premium for a key date unless it's actually a coin I like to look at.
Generally, I will buy the highest grade I can afford. That can vary widely, of course, on the issue and whether or not I’m looking at gold or something else.
I'm not a slab collector in general, but: For modern issues (i.e. the Kennedy or Apollo commemoratives), I looked for either perfection or a discount. If I ever got a shot at a damaged or fair-AG chain cent at a good price, I wouldn't hesitate. In between, my standards are in between.
For me, it depends on the series. My Mercuries I like in VF-XF. My Peace dollar set is AU to low MS and my Franklin set at least MS 63. I honestly look at a series, see what looks attractive and affordable to me and try my best to build a collection set from that.
I think as an early collector when I had about $100 in my account, I think my range was around XF or BU on common coins. Now that I have a bit more in my account, I think I usually buy graded coins at MS or XF if it is less common at a price range of around $70 each.
I believe myself fortunate to be able to collect: Gold MS63-MS65 Silver MS63-MS67 It also depends on rarity & how much 'spare change' I can afford to spend at the time. J.T.
Like others, eye appeal is what gets me to dpend. But I do like higher grades in some if the modern coins. Type coins, I just want something with no damage and decent details.
It really has to depend. If someone only collects late US coins, modern US coins, or similar I guess a preferred grade is appropriate. I am all over the board depending on the type of coin I collect. A weird one is my avatar type. Scarce type, in high demand, but I find it so pretty I cannot bear buying one lower than gVF since one with more wear makes me sad. This means I might only see one a year for sale, but that is the nature of ancient collecting. For other areas of ancients, I am fine down to a nice VG if attractive. I can do a hole or a small bankers mark for a rare issue. When I collected US coins, most of my collecting was XF45-Au58 SL and Bust halves. This was when an AU58 was AU58. I bet most of mine today would get put into MS slabs if I slabbed them, (yes I still own them, I am too big a hoarder to sell simply because I do not collect or follow those coins anymore). But, I had a VG chain cent, a couple of G early quarters. Any coin is collectible.
I like to buy the best coin I can with the least amount of money. Sometimes that's a MS-65 or higher. Other times, it's a G-4 or an AG.
I tend to stay in the 63 -64 range with most slabbed coins. 65 is where most coins jump in price so it's nice to stay under that wire. The Walker short set I'm currently working on is mostly 65 - 66's though.
There were no more choices to put in, after posting the grading rubrics, and Sheldon scale, or I definitely would have added two other things. I would have added “toning, or special surfaces,” and obviously “eye appeal.” I do think that most collectors buying eye appeal first—nobody in the hobby will buy a coin that they don’t like to look at. My preferred grades are MS 65 for most coins, as it is a great balance between eye appeal, and affordability. For moderns, I look for MS 69-70 and PF 69-70. Generally, I like coins in the 65-70 range, and also Prooflike and DMPL surfaces in all grades. I’m also into toning, but having sold off toners for 5 years, they better be nice toners.
The thing I would say is, "that is because they are available". Know what I mean? I am sure all those who wish to own a Chain Cent would chose a MS65 example if they were affordable and available. Most collectors of Morgans would of course want MS65 coins versus VF if they could afford it. However, many want to complete an entire collection and have it match, therefore they chose something VF/XF since I don't know about you but a 93 S in 65 is a little out of my depth for a hobby. I always wondered how popular Morgans would be if 300 million, (or whatever the number was that wasn't melted), WERE all melted. I bet a lot less people would like them if it meant mainly buying VG-VF coins at much higher prices. Take my avatar. If they didn't exist in gVf-XF, I still would own one in F since I find it interesting. However, in high grade I consider them a work of art, so own 10 or so now. That would not be true if they were only available in lower grades, (they are MORE available in lower grades today, but still possible in higher). Not saying anything about what you like, just pointing out its what you like because its POSSIBLE to be what you like. I would own 10 MS65 Chain Cent if it were possible because I find them fascinating.
My sweet spot is VF-XF-AU. In fact, I have the URL"VFXFAUcoins.com" registered. I'm not sure I'll really do things with that, but it does cross my mind.
