"UNC Details" Saint-Gaudens; scratched. How does this affect value?

Hello US collectors,

What is your opinion on the effect of a scratch on the value of a 1907 Saint-Gaudens high relief wire rim $20? The coin is in an NGC holder and was deemed a UNC details due to a small patch of scratches on the reverse between the sun and eagle.

It's easy enough to estimate the value of a straight-graded coin but sifting through sales archives for Details-grade coins is challenging. From what I see, not all Details-grade coins are equal. From what I glean after searching archives, some problems are worse than others. Improper cleaning seems to detract less from the value than do scratches, or at least that's what I found based on limited research.

I realize there is not going to be a one-size-fits-all answer, but what are your opinions about scratches on an otherwise desirable high grade Saint-Gaudens? All opinions are appreciated .

 

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Have any pics?

 

I think it really depends on the prominence of the scratches. If they're really only noticeable under magnification or at a certain angle of the light, then perhaps not too much; by contrast, if they were right across the middle of the coin and highly visible with the naked eye, then a significant reduction in value could be expected.

 

The "UNC Details" is going to hurt. Sorry about that.

 

They are certainly prominent. Perhaps the only saving grace is that they don't mar an important device. There's no pretending they aren't detractive though.

Bad pics:


Does this knock it all the way down to melt? It's still a beautiful and notable coin but just how big of a value hit should I expect?

 

Even with the scratches a nice looking coin.

 

Earlier this year an unc details coin sold at Great Collections for $8775.

 

No high reliefs gets knocked down to melt. It will hurt, since these coins sell based upon their beauty for a large part, but I do not know how much ma'am.

 

Since this is a special case you still may be able to get about
70% of the UNC value.
For other coins I agree with 50% but not this highly demanded coin.

 

I've made money betting with people who argue that those scratches reduce the coin to bullion. The sales value depends on who, when, and how the coin is advertised.

If that coin were sold by Heritage with "creative verbage", I would expect the coin to sell at a value of ~$5000-$8000.

I'd purchase that coin anytime at 120% spot, and be certain of a profit. I have, and can show many prominently straight graded coins that are visually more offensive than that coin.

JMHO

 

As mentioned by some already, details coins tend to trade for a discount but that discount really depends on the severity of the problem. Some details coins still have decent eye appeal and do have a market (I’m in the process of filling a type set with mainly details coins since I can put them in an album and not have to pay as much as for problem-free examples).

This gold coin still looks nice based on the photo and will sell for quite a bit above melt. I’d compare it to other details examples and expect the price to be at least in the middle of those if not closer to the top. A local coin store might not offer much, but that is not the best venue to sell a coin like this (specialized dealer, another collector, or an auction is best).

 

I looked at that (and others) but most of those UNC DETAILS were from cleaning. I suspect in-your-face scratches will have a more profound effect.

 

It can be a toss-up. Some say cleaning is worse while others say scratches are worse. Cleaning can be just as obvious and can make the surfaces look unattractive.

Based on your picture, I would say this coin is on par with some of the cleaned ones (to me at least) and using those to help price is ok.

And as mentioned by @imrich we have seen some examples where prominent scratches (or damage) were deemed acceptable and the coin received a straight grade.

 

There are many details coins in Heritage's archives. If you don't have an account created with Heritage (it sounds like you do), create one, even if you only ever use it to research past auction prices. Anyway, most problems on these are cleanings or rim damage, and have sold for $7000-$10000. The big swing in price will depend on how egregious the problem is in hand. I would expect scratches to have a bigger impact than a light cleaning, but their location isn't the worst. I'd estimate it at $8000, but that's just my guess. The obverse being attractive and problem free is going to redeem it a bit.

 

I wonder which would have more value: an attractive coin like this with unattractive, bold, obtrusive scratches -- or the same coin, repaired, and advertised as repaired?

 

This coin hands down. Take away the scratches and this would be a high grade coin.

 

Definitely not. On a lesser coin (say, a common date Saint that otherwise would have graded MS65), maybe we'd be down close to melt value, but not on a wire rim high relief 1907. I'd probably net it out to XF45 in my mind and be willing to pay about that much for it as a collector, maybe a little less as a dealer.

 

I like the original surfaces of this one. The scratches are bothersome but personally I’d take this over a cleaned one. You have a beautiful unmarred obverse too I’d rather have a coin with a small problem area than one who’s skin has been removed. For the price conscious who couldn’t afford a straight graded example this is a good choice.