How much of a premium is eye appeal worth?

Here's an example - an MS62 coin I've recently purchased but haven't had in hand yet. I was willing to pay a premium over the auction and price guide listings for several reasons. The most important is the eye appeal, strike quality, lack of distracting marks, nice toning, etc. If it looks as good in hand I will be happy with it and the price I paid for it. Although another interesting twist regarding pricing is that NCG has it at $625 and PCGS at $550 - 14% difference - and both have the next grade level at way above that (I suspect that if it CAC's it might sell for close to or at the next grade level price someday). Another factor I used to rationalize my purchase is the relative lack of coins that look anywhere near as good in MS62 or MS63, and it doesn't come up all the often in any case. So - question is: I know from what people post here that there are many folks who only seem to collect coins that are exceptionally pretty. So, in general, how much does much better than average eye appeal and all that is implied by that influence the price you are willing to pay for something you collect?

 

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I usually stop at 300% of what the price guides say. But hey, show me a silver coin with the “right” colors and I may go way beyond that...

 

I’m not a toner collector, per se. But overall eye appeal is a major factor in any coin I buy — and a killer can pull a small premium out of me. Nothing, of course, like I see many toners going for.

 

I don't have a percentage. I'll just say, a lot more. I don't find many coins I want. Average appeal is not my normal.

 

Your wants always exceed your needs.....eye appeal is very important but to over pay for an item well....that's a call only your pockets can deciede.
Yes I have in the past ,but won't do it in the future....!
One at my age has to think about what is going to become of all these coins,books, etc.. etc... when I'm gone?
No children here to pass them down to, not to say if I did they be interested in my collection.
So there's no longer a need for me to buy coins that are a premium over retail value.
In fact I haven't paid no more than 10 % over grey sheet in years.
Buy will admit there been some specimens that makes it very hard to go against rule #1 needs over wants.....

 

The seated quarter doesn't do anything for me. It's nice, but not worth a premium for my tastes. Album toning rainbows will catch my interests. Combine that with conservatively graded and I can go high.

 

This is not something anybody can possibly quantify into a dollar amount. It depends on availability of said coin, rarity/scarcity, age, and grade.

If we are talking about an early U.S. coin that just doesn’t come up for sale often but that I need for my collection, is rarely seen without some sort of problems, and in the VG+ range with mark and scratch free original surfaces, I would pay STRONG, maybe $200 and up over retail.

But, like I said this is very subjective.

Standing by for Physics-Fan’s wisdom.

 

There is no limit to what eye appeal can bring. I've seen some MS 65 Morgan (guide around $125) sell for over $10,000.

I've paid 20x-30x over guide for toners, but those coins had guide values of $3-$5.

 

I listened to an introductory lecture by PCGS on grading and the presenter said that, like most aesthetic judgements, eye appeal remains mostly a subjective matter. Though many people probably agree that gouges, deep scratches and high contrast spots go against eye appeal, I agree and find eye appeal difficult to quantify.

Concerning toning, some will pay a heavy premium for it. I personally don't like toning on coins, so I try to avoid it. The quarter posted above fits my tastes fairly well. I will pay premiums for what I consider heavy eye appeal, but nothing too drastic unless I really really like the coin. I think I would have been willing to pay a little more for the quarter above. But many factors come into play in such a decision as to almost be hopelessly situational or, as lawyers always like to say, "it depends."

 

Eye appeal, and low (reasonable) price is like a plan coming together.........

 

I paid full-blown retail MS-63 BN money for this from Chris McCawley. Not a single regret.

 

Thank you - perspectives much appreciated. For the posted coin - after deducting shipping and credit card fees (which I consider a buyers expense) I only paid a little more than 5% over the NGC price list (but 20% over the PCGS value). Not a lot of premium on this moderately priced piece - but then most of the time I find myself paying well below retail price list estimates.

 

Yeah, I can see that! That's beautiful.

 

Ah, but that 1829 bust coin you use as an icon is super lovely! What denomination is it?

 

When you consider what to pay for eye appeal, you have to also consider how the coin is graded. Great eye appeal for a 62 may be typical eye appeal for a 64 or sub-standard for a 66.

For the 1862 quarter, based only on the OP's picture, I like it. I'm not enough of a specialist in seated quarters to know if it's typical or exceptional, though, so I would not be ponying up extra bucks without first forming a basis for comparison, which it sounds like you did.

As for how much extra to pay, I'd have to look at price guides and pop reports for higher grades. MS62 is $550, MS63 is $850, and MS64 is $1250. Those higher grades tell me what a typical, correctly graded coin should go for. In order for me to pay 63 money for a 62, it has to look better than the typical 63. Likewise when comparing to 64 money. I'd also have to consider that the grade on the holder is going to be a sticking point come time to sell for a premium.

 

That's a half dime...Purchased from a member here... and yes probably over paid by my standards as the dealers I know here always give me a break......but it does have some nice eye appeal.

 

I was once so star struck by a Proof 66 star seated dime with a perfect rainbow halo around the outer edge that I very nearly convinced myself to throw down my credit card. That is my number one no-no. Coins are purchased with cash or cash equivalent for me..... Dealer had it marked 30% more than the PCGS guide. That was two years ago and I still dream about it. One of the few good choices I have made though. The price point on that dime has been softening up.

 

Keep in mind 62s that look like they have minimal contact marks normally have very subpar luster or something else that's net grading them down to a 62. 62s with great looking surfaces are actually coins I typically avoid when buying from pictures because there is always a reason it got the 62 grade and when contact marks isn't the reason it's something else.

Yours is a nice looking quarter but I wouldn't be surprised to find it a little lacking in luster or with some light wear. It's still pretty coin nice pickup!

 

Randy, I really hope someone doesn’t buy that thing before you pull the trigger.