Just wondering if I can get some insight on this . As I get deeper into world coins ,and starting to look at more expensive slabbed coins I keep getting reservations about "details" on these slabs. I'm looking at 2,3,4,even 500 dollar coins that I like....but seems there's more details than straight grade. All my history is US for the most part and this is really considered a problem. It seems the coin community is also relaxing on cleaned coins. I'm sorta old school and cleaned means run! This is changing? Or is this just something accepted in world coins? Especially older 18th 19th century? Any insight or advice? Opinions?
I look at it this way, if it's something I don't like now, it's something I'm not gonna like later. I say you shop for what you like and you will be happy with your collection.
Well, for older world coins I wonder it there is relatively less of a population of problem-free coins. In general you get a good discount for "details" but a bad investment prospect. Maybe post some specific examples? I'm more tolerant on coins for the early 1700s and before, but 1800s there should be good examples of many types. Unless you collect obscure German States minors or something.
I am more tolerant of cleaned coins because sometimes all they need is time to gain their patina back. This is why ancient collectors usually don't care at all about cleaned coins, as coins that old are almost guaranteed to be cleaned at some point. Whereas coins that have been scratched, corroded, or holed can never recover properly. Personally I would just collect what I want if I were you. If problems (or a specific type of problem) really bother you too much then step away and buy a problem free coin. Details coins are usually gateways for new/budget collectors to own rarer types without breaking the bank.
I know that some of the rare Sicilian silver coins I collect from the 1700's will pull in a details grade. And I don't care because they are so rare. Lightly cleaned/conserved is just fine for me over a black toned silver coin that you need a flashlight to see the date. I'll even take a small hole on coins that you might not see again for years. What I worry about is fakes and not a details grade on a 300+ year old coin
So I guess these would be 2 examples. Didn't take long to find them. Like I said there is tons of them. Being somewhat new to world collecting I'm starting to wonder if it's just accepted. But bet you 100 bux it's not when I have to unload these coins at a LCS...and there lies my delima....i always look at it from that standpoint. I'm beginning to think who is the moron that slabbed these coins and got them labeled problem pcs? Sucks because I really like them. So stay away from slabs? But the fakes...
Best example I can give is my 1857 large cent graded "Genuine, Surface Damage" and on the reverse "not gradeable" which makes it a "details" coin.. This coin raw.. at the time I was buying it, would have sold for around 150 if not much higher in ... that details grade let me buy it for $27 dollars... presently it lists for $60 in G4 and up to over 200 in f12... That's what a details grade does to the "value" of the coin and is why many will often crack them out before selling because that label destroies any resale value... On the other hand it allowed me to get a beautiful example of a coin I wanted but could never have otherwise afforded.. If I ever decided to sell it would come out of the plastic as raw I don't doubt I could easily get $200+ for it now.... so my advice is... buy the coin NOT THE PLASTIC/GRADE PS if you want a better look at the coin click on the link in my signature, it is the 1st coin in the album
I don't think "details" grades on a world coin affect the price as much as it does on a US coin, especially tougher stuff. If it's a hard-to-find piece but still attractive I will buy a details coin with no reservations. The difference is, if a coin is found frequently in uncirculated straight graded holders a details grade will kill any resale value. The 2 coins posted above by @Seascape are frequently found in details holders. They are also frequently counterfeited. Purchasing the coin in a TPG holder gives you some protection.
