Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;rick, post: 68945, member: 1235&quot;]</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Now that I have had time to gather myself in the hobby, and test the waters of many various outlets, I have found that (for my money) the best grades range between VF and AU - Specifically, XF (or EF). I have a few reasons for this:</font></font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><ul> <li><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Lower grades usually carry enough wear that you can no longer fully appreciate the craftsmanship or artistic nature originally intended to be seen in the details.</font></font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">To me, uncirculated grades (or the various states of mint) seem to me like a classic car that has never had a mile on the odometer. Sure, it looks nice, but it’s never been used for the purpose it was created for. I know that UNC. is a technical grade, and not a true definition of circulation – but I like to know the coins in my collection have been held, and hopefully for the purpose the were intended for.</font></font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Price. Pretty simple. Prices tend to rise at an exponential rate once a coin reaches MS 63 and beyond. Often times, you can afford three, four, or ten coins in XF for the same price as one coin that has been determined, for example, MS 67.</font></font></li> </ul><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">When I purchase a coin in a decent grade of XF, I know I will never suffer from the drawback of ‘upgrading’. I will always be happy with its condition, and proud to display it with my other pieces. This might be different if I collected modern dates, but I don’t. I think that better grades of circulation strike a perfect bargain between the problems I see in #1 and 2.</font></font></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, on a case by case basis. Collectors of modern commemoratives, for example, don&#039;t have to worry about #2, because there&#039;s a good chance the coin was never intended for circulation to begin with. On the other hand, for collectors of key date issues would find an enormous price gap between lower grades of circulation and those higher, and a VG example may be enough to satisfy the need to own the piece itself. But, in my opinion, for what I collect. Nothing beats XF.</font></font></p><p><br /></p><p><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Personal opinion, of course!</font> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> </font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in