Which Would You Prefer? And Why?

This just happened to me Saturday at a show.
I was looking for mid-grade MS Braided Hair large cent.
There were two of interest.
All other things being equal, which would you prefer AND why?
A MS-63 RB or a MS-64 BN?

1. For your collection? Why?

2. For value? Why?

When I post the images of my purchases later you'll see my choice.

 

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I would pick the '64 BN because when I would crack it out of its slab, I wouldn't want the other one to tone from RB to BN and lose value. I don't buy red or red-brown coins for my own collection because I break all of my coins out of their slabs.

 

This is impossible to answer Kanga. I have to see the coins. It it a choice RB or is it a super lusterous 64 BN. Some of the RB large cents are butt ugly in my opinion, but not all of them. But I can say the same for some of the brown coins. In large cents I tend to lean towards the brown, but then again I like lower grades than your collection represents. So for my collection - I would skip both. For value - would not matter I would buy the more eye appealing of the two. Again keep in mind my lower grade set compared to yours.

 

Interesting and certainly legitimate response.
This had never crossed my mind.
I like it.

 

I understand your reasoning.
That's why I incorporated the statement "All other things being equal..."
That was my attempt to limit opinions strictly to a grade/toning preference.
Apparently I didn't phrase it as well as I should have.

 

No - I think your phrased it correctly - my imagination is not working real well right now. To me the appearance of the coin trumps the designation on the holder or the raw coin. For example in IHC's I would buy a pretty RB coin over a flat brown coin OR I would buy a lusterous BN coin over a lifeless RB coin.

My answer is now - "eye-appeal" trumps the toning designation. Now for large cents my eye-appeal is more brown. Assuming both a well struck RB and a lusterous 64 brown. Why - I like brown better on large cents. Again assuming it is the color I like.

Is that better? I think it was a good question. I like getting two nice coins side by side - I can usually compare and pick the best coin for myself. What worries me about telling you brown - is knowing and seeing your collection a 63RB might match it better. I would not want to influence you into a decision that would not line up with that wonderful type set of yours. Enjoy!

 

No chance you could influence me.
Why?
Because the deed is already done.

See my new thread over in the US Coins Forum.