Details Coins

I would really like to hear from anyone who makes coins that have been slabbed "Details" a part of your collection. Are you happy with your coins? Is it just a price thing? Do you have any buyer's remorse when a straight graded coin of the same date and grade becomes available?
I ask this because A few months back I thought it would be nice to add a few mint-marked coins to my Liberty Seated Quarter collection.
I soon discovered that all most all San Fran quarters are in Details holders. This got me looking at Details coins in general.
A little background. I have been a coin snob for most of my life.
I do not mean I buy coins worth thousands of dollars. I just mean anytime I found a coin with a problem I turned it down. Here is an example. About 40 years ago when buying coins sight unseen through the mail was a thing, I bought an 1872 Seated Half dollar. It was a beauty. AU-58 with full strike, light golden tone. However, it also had 16 tiny pinpricks that were arranged into 4 identical rectangles, located on both Obverse and Reverse at 6;oclock and 12 o'clock. I was crushed.
I spent a day or two convincing myself they were unimportant.
In the end I returned the coin. The dealer, who was a pretty big dealer at the time (His adds in Coin World were full page anyway)
Called me up and demanded to know why I returned the coin. I told him about the pinpricks and he threw a tantrum. He spent about 10 minutes telling me I was an idiot and didn't know the first thing about coins. He finally demanded I take the coin back or he would never deal with me again. I never bought from him again.
Looking back today I should have kept that coin. Just try and find one like it today. Also, today's market for Details coins seems to be very strong. I have always scrolled past any coin in an auction that had Details in the listing, but lately I notice many of those coins have great eye appeal. So I am rethinking my approach to collecting. I just wonder what others think.

 

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Every person has a different opinion of details coins. I'm perfectly content having some details coins if they still have the eye appeal that I desire. Certain issues can make a coin look so poor that it would bother me in my collection. Others I can overlook.

Another factor is what you are collecting. Some series most of us just can't afford to complete with all problem-free coins. So you have to decide: are you ok compromising in order to fill a spot or would you rather have an empty spot (there is no right answer, it is up to you to decide).

 

I personally try to avoid details coins whenever possible...but sometimes exceptions need to be made. Generally, my preference is a lower grade problem free coin is better if cost is an issue.

That said, there are some coins out there that are so scarce...you may never find another example. Die pair collectors sometimes find these situations and in those cases, you buy what you can get. I have a paper note in my collection that only a few (less than 10) are known to exist. Mine is repaired, taped, ect...but I have never seen another and I don't know that I ever will.

 

I sure wouldn't mind owning a details chain cent,depending on the situation.

 

Less than a dozen specimens known ..... you betcha but 0ne in detail slab is still better than none!

As you can see PCGS got it wrong not a minor variety.

 

I have to admit, some of mine have been purchased because I couldn't afford the coins otherwise. I think a lot of us do it.

 

All depends on the coin, date and mint mark and how that coin appeals to me.

 

I'm going to chime in although I collect mostly world coins. I have a lot of details graded coins that I am very happy with. Sometimes that may be the only way you can find a coin. Also, sometimes I will send in a coin to be graded knowing that it will get a details label but if he is a heavily counterfeited coin it is worth it....as long as it doesn't get body bagged.

 

Details coins are an important part of my collecting, I couldn't afford a lot of the special wonderful historically interesting rare pieces I have, if it wasn't for the discount for "Details". Some of my most expensive purchases have been Details coins, including some Standing Liberty Quarters: a 1923-S 25c ICG VF30 Details, Corroded, Cleaned and a 1921 25c ICG VF25 Details, Damaged.

 

I have several in my hoard, the 1932d I bought for half of the current market's straight grade and the 1864s I bought because the cleaning has since re-toned despite the poor image. Apologies for my photographic skills. The point is, like these are mine and what I like, so should it be for any collector. However, I do understand where you're coming from. I would not buy a details graded coin with a high availability rate.

 

I'm a retired blue collar worker who raised a family and put together a mostly AU or better IHC set. I was ecstatic to replace my G4 1877 with the coin in my avatar. I sold the G4 and actually put a few dollars back in my pocket. The kids are out of the house now and I probably could afford to replace it at this time, but I won't because I am quite fond of it. I collect by what makes me happy and not by the opinions of others.

 

I avoid “details” and problem coins. I would rather have a lower grade coin that a sharper piece with problems.

A few years ago a dealer was offering a Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar for six figures. The coin had Choice EF sharpness, and it was the plate coin from one of the editions of the Overton book. The trouble was it had a noticeable scratch on the obverse. He kept lowering the price until it disappeared.

I have a no problem, straight grade example of the type in Fine-15. I would rather have that piece than the one with the significant scratch. The scratch would bug me every time I looked at the coin.

 

I figure if I liked it and bought it, someone else will too.

Here's a VG Details Damaged. It has the "thick ribbon" reverse variety, scarce for 1903-S, hence the purchase, and at a steep discount. I don't mind the damage.

Here's my profile coin. Probably less than 200 of the "curved right" 7 variety exist, and it's a famous Canadian rarity. I wanted one since I was a kid. They rarely come up for auction. SP Details - Cleaned. Really? Is it? Don't care. In hand to me it's spectacular.


Everybody has their own reasons for or against on this topic, for sure.

 

Cleaned, Damaged.

Z

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I, as a rule, completely avoid details coins. Even when I was doing the full Morgan set, I avoided details coins. Why? Because they are problem coins, and should be worth less than half of a straight graded coin. Basically, I see them as place fillers. Their purpose is to complete a hole in a collection, and I would rather wait, or buy a coin of lower grade to fill the space. Honestly, most TPGs do not frivolously details grade a coin. The most frequent reason for a details grade is cleaning. I find 99% of the cleaned coins ugly, as cleaning can never be done skillfully enough to make the coin look good. In the last 10 years I owned 2 details coins—a Trade Dollar, and a Bust Half. I sold both of them, as I never liked the appearance of them. My advice is that if a coin is too expensive to buy straightgraded, WAIT! A hasty purchase of a filler details coin is often regretted.

 

I collect coins I like . . . and detailed coins that I can't afford, so have a few.

 

I hate details coins. LOL, Realisticly, some of the older "cleaned", or "detailed" coins are believed closer to what should be delivered, than what is often seen in auctions.

If you'd accept a refund for that posted coin, I know of a payment for you!

 

I have two DETAILS coins.

One is an 1831 Capped Bust Quarter, B-7, R-5+, Fine DETAILS.
I expected it to be a DETAILS coin but anyway I cherrypicked it Raw off eBay.
Reason: It's rarity.

The other is a 1796 Dime, JR-?, at least R-3, AU DETAILS.
Reason: It's a $15,000 that I got for half price.