Do you ever buy "details" coins?

About two weeks ago I tried to put together a year set for my mother. Time was critical so I shopped around for what I could get quickly. Some of them were detailed - an UNC Detail Walking Liberty half and a raw, but obviously ungradeable, Standing Liberty Quarter. I also grabbed a 1911-D Lincoln to replace my cleaned one.

A while back I had a thread on a 1924 SLQ that was "Genuine - UNC Details (92 - Cleaned)". We eventually agreed that there was no sign of harsh cleaning. The surfaces are delicately original without any signs of die wear, possibly MS65.

On the other hand I bought this one raw from poor pictures. This time I did not do so well, although it would have been good enough for the set I was preparing. I valued its color over condition since it was going to be seen by my mother's 102 year old eyes. The scratches and polished-looking reverse were not as important as the decent detail and warm coloring.



I have two more coins I am preparing to photograph for this thread. They'll be up shortly.

What are your experiences? Do you ever take a chance on Details coins? Do you leave them slabbed or break them out? Do you feel you got value for your money? Or are they actually dogs?

And, of course, do you have photos to show us?

 

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I use details coins for quite a few spaces in my type set. Typically for me, it allows the details of the coins to be more easily discerned with the naked eye and allows me to purchase a nicer coin at a discount. My eyesight gets worse as the years roll by, so heavily toned coins don't do much for me. Sometimes I can tell the coin has been cleaned, other times not. Not all cleanings are created equal.

For instance, if I can get a slabbed AU details coin at a similar price to that of a vf 35, I'll take the details coin because certain aspects of the design are visible and with less wear. I guess it is the choice of the individual collector.

Yes, I break them out.

That being said, I'm a collector. I'm an investor too, but that isn't my primary goal. For an investment coin, spend the extra money for the problem free coin.

This is a picture of the latest details coin I purchased:

 

I have one DETAILS coin.
It's a scarce (not rare) variety of an 1831 quarter.
I grabbed it as quickly as I could.
Maybe one day I'll be able to upgrade it.

 

Thanks for those links! That helps me with my Morgan quandary!!!!!

 

Yes I have a similar mindset as what @Murphy45p described.

Here is a link to my thread where a good deal of coins came from details holders (or were raw details coins):

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/dansco-7070-type-set-the-beginning-of-a-new-challenge.296537/

 

The two new Details coins are these:


I already have slots where 2x2’s will fit, so it was a foregone conclusion that I would crack these out. (I figure that if I get them regraded it’s impossible to do worse.) When I do I will post those and invite even more comments.

These both came from David Lawrence Rare Coins. I think the word Details spooks many bidders. Maybe we can see if that’s reasonable, or whether buyers should “buy the coin, not the holder“ even when it says Details.

 

Can we see the reverses?

 

Certainly! Good thing you asked quickly - I was just about to head for my hacksaw to free them!

 

Go for the 'details' coin if you like it. Remember, you're buying the coin, not the holder.

 

If it is for your mother, buff them up so they are shiny. This is not a joke! She'll like them more.

 

And remember the old adage, "If you buy a coin with a problem, you'll always have a coin with a problem."

 

I can't see the damage on the Walker. In the field on the obverse?
As for the Lincoln, his jacket is a different color than the rest of the coin.
Are they just guessing at ED, or do they know? And how do they know?

 

Probably why she had so many Silver Eagles! And why I don’t mind that the SLQ in the first post looks so polished and retoned.

 

This is one I really like despite someone's opinion it has been cleaned. I broke it out of the slab immediately.

 

Unless better grade examples are way out of budget, I try not to buy "Details" coins. Always lose money when it's time to resell those.

 

I can’t see anything at all on the half. But we’ll see soon enough. The cent looks funny at the bottom reverse, around the 5:00 position. Maybe something was removed and left a lighter spot. I’ll work on diagnostics when I finish hacksawing the holders.

 

Except that in many cases, it'll likely grade straight if you try a few more times. But I get your point.

 

I have never purchased a details coin nor do I plan to. They might be less expensive, they might act as a filler until a better one comes along but when it comes time to sell it you just can't break even.

 

OK, I will make this Details half into a raw half. Then we’ll all make our own grades from the beginning.



Edit: After I posted this, I noticed bits of white plastic all over the saw blade. I'm afraid I've destroyed a few holders along the way. They must cringe when they get dropped off in the mailbox!