Grading low grade buffaloes.

For the past few years I've saved "Making the Grade" in Coin World. I have found them to be very conservative in their grading. I just wish the top TPGers would use it as a guide, especially on MS coins. If they did, IMHO, many MS coins wouldn't grade as high as they do. But I know the top TPGers won't change their own grading standards.

 

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Thanks everyone. I’ll following the approach of if I can make out the date easily.

Pcgs photo grade can be helpful sometime but without saying why theyre grading them at each point I've never found it helpful.
My ana grading book is usually all I need I just never really worked with low grade buffalos before and found the book confusing on this one.

As for why. I’m getting back into selling at yard sales/ flee markets. I have a few of these that I bought before and never sorted though so I’m doing so now. I just want to grade them correctly before putting them out for sale.
Common junk coins tend to sell better for me in this environment. Also being more affordable younger and poorer collectors can afford them and get into the hobby.

 

use photograde online by pcgs, pictures do not lie@@!!!

 

In a coin shop near Rice University in Houston, the proprietor showed me a full, 40-coin mint state roll of 1926-D Buffs. They all had full, brilliant luster and maybe half of a horn. See coinquest 1921.

 

I agree with this.

 

A half date is yesterday's AG and today's full Good 04.

 

Because you can collect the whole series (minus the errors) in Good to VG for about $950. Where as Fine-VF-EF would be about $2600. So to defend us circulated collectors who collect for FUN and not for our retirement program, I can get a whole set for about 1/3 the price of the "better" grades. I sold my high end collect a few years ago, nobody makes money when they sell their collection. Dealers will only pay about half to a third of the "book" value that we bought the coins at.

 

Sorry to hear that. I do know that when a collector forms a collection of very desirable coins AND THEN holds them for a period of time while assembling it there is often a different outcome.

For example here is just one guaranteed moneymaking set in high grade and held:

1861-O CSA 50c (the one w/die crack) or all the known CSA strikes.
1861-O 50c
Scott Token

 

No kidding. For real

 

So instead of enjoying collecting LOTS of coins, I should invest in just one? What fun is that?

 

russell1256, asked: "So instead of enjoying collecting LOTS of coins, I should invest in just one? What fun is that?"

Actually, I think you may need to decide some collecting goals. Do you want fun and enjoyment or return on investment. There are some instances where you can get lucky and have both. For example, Red or Red-Brown CWT have done very well since I was buying them for less than $10 each.