Do you prefer Circulated coins or BU

I appreciate professional graders because they make it safer to add to my collection without being fleeced. But they also overlook a lot because of the regimentation a numerical grading system requires.

To me a handsome, unblemished coin, with dignified toning and contrast, that grades AU-58, is much more prize worthy than a nominally uncirculated bearer of multiple bagmarks and bland but "original" mint luster that has no character or artistic worth.

 

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There is a 3rd aspect besides circ vs bu which is "genuine" but not graded for a variety of reasons. Some beautiful coins are available in PCGS holders at a fraction of the cost if they were assigned a grade. A rim ding on an otherwise nice coin might get it a genuine grade but sell at a fraction of the book price without the bump. Now if that coin was raw the ding might be be disregarded if minor and go for way more money. I stay away from harshly cleaned or whizzed examples but have bought a few with corrosion or a small scratch. They could be broken out (I wouldn't) and resold raw if ethicly describing the flaw, I recently purchased a 1/2 cent that was chbu except for a small, and unfortunately fresh, scratch on the obverse. In 20 or 30 years it will be brown and hardly noticible so I feel it's a good addition to my collection. Any others buying no grade coins?

 

Doesn't matter. My relationship with each coin is unique. Coins of all grades occupy a space in my collection and are admired equally for their unique qualities. 'Quality' has so many dimensions beyond the aesthetic and 'quality' continues to get more standardized with each new series. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. IMO, in some manner, the more perfect a coin is by grade the further removed from it's function it has become, but darned if they still aren't skilled works of art to behold. :smile

 

I'd be more concerned about which spittoon it may have been in.

Chris

 

I wish I could be more like that.
If I prefer one coin over the other, and the proofs find out about it...they breakout in milk spots!
Gotta learn to love all of em' equally! :hail:

 

LOL! That's very funny! :smile

You also have very good tastes in coins and a growing knowledge that informs your collection.

 

I said "don't matter, I just like coins" because I truly do. I buy and collect both circulated and GEMs. Now, when it comes to my personal collection, I guess I'm a little weird because although I sell certified and raw, I've always preferred "raw" for my collections.

I love to display my raw toned coins in my danscos and my binders in GEM conditions only. I have circulated coins (U.S mostly) which I keep in a separate binder and maybe about 10% of my personal collection is certified with exceptional pieces like toned barber quarters, walkers, 3 cent pieces and of course (the best to me) Roosevelt dimes.

Most certified coins I just sell. I like to see my entire coins, rim and all. Love to hold them.

 

Circulated. I think they have more character.

Of course, most of my Morgans are uncirculated just because there's so many of them in so many dates.