UNC or EF?

[colliewalker1 0]

I find it hard to make up my mind as to the 'collectability' of UNC coins.They are undoubtedly very attractive and a benchmark against which to judge lesser graded coins.

On the other hand I can't help feeling that in a way UNC coins have something unsatisfying about them.There is a lack of 'romance' about them I think[ what sort of people had owned them and what did they buy with them] and that is an important factor in coin collecting - as I see it as a beginner anyway.

I am inclined to think that a GF or EF is a good compromise and the way to go genarally, there being little loss of quality compared with UNC - and of course they are less expensive.

I only have one UNC coin in my embryonic collection - a 1937 Half Crown - a pretty unexciting item, but the date has a particular relevance for me: of course it looks brand new.

To take an unlikely and extreme example,it strikes me that a collection composed entirely of UNC coins, although pretty valuable if they are 'vintage/antique, would be boring!

I happen to be very interested in WW2 aircraft [although I don't actually collect them! ]- if two Spitfires, Lancasters or whatever, were on display - one had a history of action and showed signs of 'wear and tear'[ e.g. repaired battle damage] while the other had left the factory after the war had ended and looked immaculate , which would have the 'charisma'....?

I would be interested in the views of other members.

[Master Jmd 88]

I do agree with you, but only on the timescale that i said in your previous UNC post

[Sylvester 15]

I think GEF coins are usually nicer than UNC anyhow.

[Master Jmd 88]

I think GEF coins are usually nicer than UNC anyhow.

On UNC coins the toning never mixes with the little lustre that remains (on older than 1900 coins) i think

[Chris Perkins 228]

EF coins are nice, so are UNC coins. Collect what you can afford and whatever you like the look of.

The WWII plane thing is all very well, being a bigger far more complex object with so much more importance and relevence than a coin, it's only right that one with bullet holes and battle damage would have a more interesting history than a new one. (Although I do have a Double florin with bullet damage!)

I think that each UNC coin that has not been spent despite the massive temptation is a small miracle.