What would you buy?

Hypothetical question.

You need one more coin to complete your coin set. The only coin you need is a key date, and hard to find. It's an expensive coin. You find two at a price you are willing to pay. One coin is in bad shape, with a grade of good. The other coin would have been graded MS64, but it has obviously been cleaned. Which one would you buy?

 

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Neither. I'd save my money and buy a problem free example. No matter how long it took. Problem coins are always a problem.

 

I second this. No need to rush into it. If you jump at the first key date you see that you need without taking the time to really consider it, you might end up with a coin you would rather not have...

 

I don't mind cleaned key dates at all. I have quite a few, if they were all in uncleaned condition, it would cost well over $100k, there would be no way I can afford it if it wasn't cleaned. Some are lightly cleaned that I have trouble telling it was cleaned, some are obviously cleaned. I am one of few person that prefer cleaned high details coins over uncleaned low grade....

 

Are they the same price? If so, I go with the cleaned coin because it can't cost too much ($500-$1,000 compared to $10,000 for an uncleaned coin).

 

See, I have the opposite view. I would rather have the lower grade problem free example if I had to buy one.

 

I figure this is just a hole filler until a better coin comes along and for the same price, If I can have a nice looking coin filling the hole, then gotta go with the cleaned MS64 looking coin over the thrashed G4 coin.

 

Is the first coin a nice honest Good-4 with no problems ?

If so why is it in "bad Shape" ?

Now a cleaned otherwise MS-64....same price on both ?

I guess it depends on the coin somewhat. With a 1916 SLQ the high grade cleaned coin might be worth a shot....with a 1921 Peace dollar, I'd prefer the honest original Good grade one.... since it worth $100 + off of the top of my head and a low/ mid mint state one is $500 ( maybe Ms-63), The 16 SLQ would be damn rare with no wear.

In general I 'd prefer to honest good key coin....but there are exceptions !

 

What does the rest of the set grade at ?

What's the coin you have in mind ?

 

No coin in mind. Just a hypothetical question. Both coins would be the same price.

 

Depends on the type of cleaning. Most old silver has been cleaned at some time or another, so that might not be a problem. Old copper, however, would be more noticeable. For what I collect, if it's a cleaned bust half, I'd take that over a low grade. Large cent, I'd take the lower grade.
Guy

 

I agree. For me, no matter which of the two I bought, I wouldn't be happy.

 

All depends on what the cleaning was to me.
Harsh cleaning that can be seen easily would make me pass.
Light cleaning that can not be noticed by most people would be my choice then.

 

Given the details, I would wait.

 

For me the gap is WAY too wide to not buy the MS64 cleaned coin. I think this hobby is way, way too hard on cleaned coins. Geez, worst case put it in yoru pocket for a while and have a VF coin that you cannot tell its been cleaned. Many a dealer has done exactly that.

Now, make your situation more real and have a choice between a nice G and a nice F that has been cleaned and it gets tougher. I honestly do not know which I would chose in that situation, but would lean towards the G.

Maybe me being an ancient collector has lessened my disdain of cleaned coins.

 

Hypothetically, I'd buy the cleaned coin. 'Neither' is not an answer to a hypothetical question.

 

Thinking about this question more, honestly I would question not buying the cleaned MS64. I know "different strokes for different folks" and the like, and I never judge anyone's hobby, but seriously? A mint state coin that may have some hairlines and an incorrect color is WORST than a coin with 90% of its details just gone forever? That just does not make sense on the face of it.

Hey, I am all for buying coins that "did their duty", and I own plenty of lower grade coins. I am not a coin snob in the least, but to say a G is anywhere near as desirable as a mint state coin, (unless the MS coin literally has corrosion, badly dented, or other catastrophic damage), I believe is horribly misplaced.

I would trade EVERY SINGLE ONE of my G or VG coins for a cleaned MS coin. Period. I love all of my coins, but more detail is always more desirable.

Just my opinion though.

 

I don't know about you, but if I bought one of those coins. I would feel the need to upgrade anyways.

 

Sorry, I like my coins original as possible regardless of detail. And in all fairness, I answered the original question and not the edited version everyone sees now.

 

That is fair. I agree I overstepped saying I question the sanity, so I have edited my post sir.

I still disagree pretty strongly with you, but I was wrong to post that.

Honestly, I love how people are stepping up to the plate and showing some love of a nice original G coin. I have always thought nice original coins that happen to be low grade are underappreciated in this hobby, with so many chasing "conditional rarities" and the like, but I simply do not love these well circulated coins enough to choose them over a cleaned MS coin.