Coin Conditions

Summary: dbar-chuck shared concerns about the way eBay categorizes coin conditions, expressing that the descriptions are unfair to both buyers and sellers. They highlighted discrepancies in coin values based on condition, using examples from the Coin Dealer Monthly Greysheet. dbar-chuck also mentioned the grading system commonly used by collectors and dealers, which differs significantly from eBay's. Despite efforts, they have found it difficult to contact eBay directly to address these issues. moderncoins999 chimed in to note that eBay operates differently from traditional coin stores.

I’ve been a coin collector for 74 years and a coin seller for 63 years, so I have more than a little experience in numismatics. However, when a person is selling a “raw” coin or a coin that is NOT CERTIFIED, eBay's system leaves much to be desired. The “Coin Conditions” currently are:

“Uncirculated: No wear: full details and original luster

Extremely Fine to About Uncirculated: Light wear: strong details and some luster

Fine to Very Fine: Moderate wear: major details clear

Below Fine: Heavy wear: some details faint or missing”

I strongly believe these description details are extremely unfair to both seller and buyer. My reasoning is as follows:

Most collectors and dealers use the following descriptive categories (with abbreviations in parentheses):

Fair (fr)

About Good (AG)

Good (G)

Very Good (VG)

Fine (F)

Very Fine (VF)

Extremely Fine (EF or XF, depending on preference)

Almost Uncirculated (AU)

Uncirculated (UNC)

Many collectors consider “fair” and “About Good” to be below collectible, so I won’t say anything more about them. However, “Below Fine” as well as the other eBay categories leaves much to be desired, and there is a huge value difference between grades or conditions. To use Lincoln Cents as an example, a 1909 cent in “Good” condition has a value of $1.25; in “Very Good” condition the same coin has a value of $1.50; in “Fine” the value is $2.00; in Very Fine the value is $2.50; in Extremely Fine the value is $5.00-$6.00; in Almost Uncirculated the value is $9.00 - $12.00; in Uncirculated the value is $13.00-110.00. These value are taken from the current issue of the Coin Dealer Monthly Greysheet, the wholesale pricing report on the rare coin market since 1963. Just be comparing the various values I’ve listed, one can easily realize the unfairness of your descriptions to both buyer and seller. Other coins have greater differences. For example a 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter in your “Below Fine” category has a value range of $3,800.00 to $5,400.00.

Most collectors and sellers use a grading book such as ANA Grading Standards. That’s the system that uses numbers from “0” to “70” for certified grades.

I have tried to send a direct message to eBay, but there is apparently no way to do so. I will attempt a contact and I'm hoping I can understand the type of "English" the speaker uses.