If you’re just a beginner in the coin trading game, then chances are you’re curious about what coinage is worth stretching for and which ones should you pass on. Since you’re new to this, bear in mind that certain pieces might have been cleaned at some point and therefore, could present strikes or weaknesses in the most inconspicuous places.

Because very few coins are absolutely perfect from the appearance standpoint, you should know that every purchase implies making some sort of compromise. How much and when you should make comprises, we hope to answer in the following article.

Situations when you shouldn’t consider compromising

In general, experienced numismatists collect coins by a type or on the classic ‘best available coin’ strategy. In short, they realize the need to wander off from the previous collecting series by date when they want an item classified as ‘one of something’.

For instance, let’s assume you’re collecting Charlotte quarter eagles from which you need two examples and you’re budget is around $3,500. At the same time, as a collector you don’t appreciate or want pieces made from inferior planchets in your collection. In this case, it’s better to avoiding purchasing just any Classic Head or Liberty Head that comes along, because there are good chances that the right Charlotte quarter within your price range will show up in a few months.

When it’s OK to lower your standards

Working on a different hypothesis, let’s consider that you’ve decided to specialize in collecting very rare Liberty Head eagles. Without denying that you have some choice and can actually find big, bright and shiny coins for your collection, bear in mind that it’s impossible to locate an 1860-S eagle in perfect condition. This is a clear example for circumstances when rigid buying standards must be discarded.

By adopting this attitude and maintaining high standards unnecessarily, you also jeopardize the relationship with your coin dealer. Keep in mind that what might qualify as ‘superb’ in the realm of rare date eagles such as the one mentioned above might not be applicable in all cases. Therefore, if you keep insisting on pristine conditions for coinage both conditionally rare and with very low survival rates, chances are that you will never be able to buy anything.

A word on strikes

As with most coin collectors, we’re convinced that strikes constitute one of the factors that ultimately influence your decision of purchasing a certain coin. Depending on what type of collection you’re working on at the moment, you might be out of luck.

For example, if you’re considering building a collection around an 1844-D quarter eagle, then you should be aware of the fact that 50% of the pieces show central weakness. Even if the piece is priced accordingly and it has your ‘look’, you would be better off passing an example with strikes, as you are likely to find a well-struck piece in the following months.

The bottom line is that, to be a good collector, you will have to dedicate some time and learn the intricacies of the coins of the issue. Without being familiar with the issues related to the coinage’s appearance, you’re unlikely to make an educated decision regarding when to compromise and when to pass on.