cull (v) - to remove rejected members from a group (e.g., a herd) Growing up on a dairy we used to cull cows from the herd when they no longer produced a profit. We usually sent these cows to the auction barn or the slaughter house. In the case of coins, a dealer or collector may cull damaged or excessively worn coins from his inventory/collection and, instead of sending the coins to be melted (the equivalent of a slaughter house), they may offer them for a cheap price to collectors who may not be able to afford a nicer example of the coin. In reality, a lot of cull coins get melted.
Hmmmmmmm, it looks like my thinking and understanding may be wrong. I always considered a cull to be a dateless coin, like the worn ones often seen from the buffalo nickel series. To me a well worn, inexpensive coin that still has an identifiable date/mintmark is a "space filler", eventually to be replaced with a better one. Or is that just a philatelic term?
Ok. this is actually in MY area of expertise!!!! Generally speaking, a cull is either damaged, impaired or is heavily worn. I bottom feed and regularly deal with these coins. Examples: a. A coin that has a gouge, severe scratches, a drilled hole, irregular shape, severely dinged rims, etc. This is the "worst" kind of cull because it probably won't look good in your collection - even if you're a cheapskate. However, it still has its bullion value. b. An otherwise ok coin that does not have a date. Without a date, there isn't much to do with it except maybe fill a hole in a cheap Type Set or again, it still has any bullion value. c. Excessively cleaned coins. And I mean EXCESSIVELY cleaned. Same remarks as for b. d. Just a well worn coin. Usually either Fair or AG. If you get lucky, the seller may be a bit of an aristocrat and anything below F is a cull for him and you get lucky and might even land some AG/G coins. But if the seller says cull, you must be willing to accept a., b., and c. And of course, most of those "lots" do not have a return policy.
Yes, I use the term 'filler' , but a filler must have the correct date and mint mark, whereas a cull may be dateless.
There are some who define a "cull" more specifically, as a coin that is so worn or damaged that it can't even be graded PR-1. Usually though it's meant in the sense Pocket Change posted.
From a dealer's standpoint, culls of a particular coin are usually identifiable specimens that are badly damaged, by being severly scratched, corroded, bent, scrubbed, etc. When buying culls at a certain price, dealers will usually not accept holed coins.
I think Pocket Change hit it pretty well with examples included. I pretty much always looked at a cull as really damaged or horribly worn but with a date and mintmark if applicable. They are of value to many that do need to fill a hole as it were and do it cheap. Doesn't apply to just silver either in my opinion. I have three 1912-S Liberty Nickels. One is very worn and borderline cull. Date and mintmark are visible but FR-2 grade. Didn't need it but it was cheap and a key date.
