Hello, I'm interested in starting a half dollar type set for fun but also somthing that can retain its valuue should I in the future want to upgrade or need to sell. I was wondering if it would be a better retention of value to invest in high grade proof coins or in MS coins (slabbed by PCGS or NGC only)? I also have a question about grade. Ignoring price constraints of certain type coins, what is the highest grade that the human eye can percieve without magnification? For example why buy a PF 70 when to me a PF 69,68 etc look the same and are cheaper? I would like to know your opinion of nusmedia's FMV. Ive seen some coins valued at $400+ higher on nusmedia than the buy price of ebay for the same coin. Is nusmedia accurate for coins valued at over $1,000? Any information or opinions would be much appreciated. Thanks for answering any or all my question(s).
To me there is not much difference between a 67 to 70 with the naked eye on business strikes, and 69-70 on proof coins. This is all immaterial if you intend to go into anything earlier than Kennedy halves though, the highest grades are generally out of reach of most collectors. I would aim for the highest set that your budget will allow and not worry about having to upgrade down the line; you will almost always lose in that transaction.
I would agree. If a chance to significantly upgrade, it might be worth it. But as a general rule, I go as high as my budget allows.
What kind of budget per coin are you looking at? You asked about the Numismedia prices for $1000+ coins. Are you looking to spend this as an average? If so, I, personally, would forget the ultra-high grade Kennedys--to the naked eye there is very little difference between a MS 67 and a 68--and apply the several hundred dollar difference in price towards buying a better early type. For example, getting a heraldic eagle bust in solid XF rather than the weak VF that a $1000 would buy. Same thing with the Franklins and Walkers--the price difference between a 67 and a 68 (even moreso, between 66 and 68) would allow you to upgrade your Flowing Hair half from a VG all the way up to a VF. IMO, each of these early type upgrades would hold value much better than a single point upgrade in the moderns. I know that I am probably in the minority here, but I would also stay away from modern proofs types in my set. To my eye they just wouldn't seem to match up with the earlier business strike coins that would make up the bulk of the set.
Another thing you may consider are AU58 coins once you start getting into the older types. A lot of times AU58s look nicer than low MS coins since from what I've gathered an AU58 is basically an MS64 that circulated a little bit. Minute wear, but still really nice looking and usually cheaper than a bag marked MS61.
