I see that in many descriptions and I was wondering, what would be considered average circulated condition for coins of certain decades? I realize the older the coin, the longer its been in circulation, the more wear is to he expected, but just how much? Thanks
Average circulated condition means an overprice, well worn, probably damaged coin. It's a way for sellers to not state the actual poor condition that can be tied to the actual lower value.
Yeah, sometimes that true. But it's also sometimes true that it is an honest dealer giving an accurate description for a common coin. Well, that can vary greatly depending not only on date/mint but by denomination as well. Pick any given coin, say it is in average circulated condition, and anybody who knows coins will know immediately know what that coin looks like. The key there is that you have to know coins, it's an experience thing in other words. Now I realize that doesn't help you but I really don't know any other way to explain it. It's just like it is with grading. If I tell you that I have a 1935-S Lincoln in MS66 do you know what that coin is going to look like ? Maybe you don't, but I do, without ever seeing the coin. And so does anybody else who knows coins. It's an experience thing. You pick any given coin, tell me the date, mint, and denomination, and say that it is in average circulated condition, and I will tell you the approximate grade of the coin and what it looks like - without ever seeing the coin. But to do that for every coin, any coin, so that you could understand what it means for every coin would require a book's worth of writing.
Here is my experience, in the short time I've been collecting cents. Being from NYC, in general, Philadelphia cents are in better shape than Denver and San Fran cents, which makes sense. I've probably found approx. 500 wheats since January, mostly 50s and 40s and about a roll of the rest of the years til 1910. 1910-1919 are usually in the G range, the 20s = VG, 30s = F. Since I find 10x more 40/50s, it ranges from F to VF, as they get closer to 1958. I've bought a few lots from collector's and generally that it the general condition of the lots, except for one. I purchased a lot from a gentlemen that told me that he started collecting wheats and silver from the 60s to the 80s. Then he traveled the world until his partner pass away around 2005, I think. And from what I've experienced finding coins in circulation, I beleive his story. His lot had the same percentages of years as the other lots, except the coins are in much, much better shape. The teens were a grade higher and everything else was more like 2 grades higher and alot of them had more even tone to them as well.
And since I'm in the city, I'm sure the coins circulate more because of the sheer amount of people in the area.
