What is a "slider"?

I keep seeing this term. What does it mean?

TIA.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

A "slider is a coin that doesn't quite qualify as uncirculated.

It may be just as nice, or even better looking than an unc., but due to some slight signs of rub, it will only grade as an AU.

These can sometimes be purchased at a fraction of uncirculated examples.

 

Hey GD,

I didn't know that about how they got their name. I always assumed it was because they had slid across some surface.

Cool info.

 

So when a company lists a roll of "sliders", I should ass-u-me that such a coin is "circulated" but very close to being uncirculated.

AND, how does being a "slider" affect the pricing? Are they trying to get more for it than they would an AU-58?

What are the benefits\drawbacks of that term, from the buyers perspective?

Thank you.

 

typically a "slider" is presumed to be au58 with just a touch of friction/wear on the highest parts of the design.

I have heard in the past that Dansco and Whitman type albums that have a piece of plastic that SLIDES over the coins when they're in place can cause such friction.

Sometimes sliders can be more attractive than UNC coins. I've seen coins before that could have graded AU65

 

Mitchell,

I don't know the particulars of the ad you're talking about, but describing the coins as "sliders", rather thn BU's, would indicate that the dealer is being honest.

As far as how this would affect the pricing, in many cases the difference can be thousands of dollars.

 

http://www.brokencc.com/bulkdollars.htm

Notice the category "1904 & Older Slider"

Before I knew what the term means, this was confusing to me. But I have a little better understanding now.

What is the point to advertising coins as "sliders"? I am guessing it makes them above AU, and thus maybe worth more.

I don't mean to imply that the dealer is being dishonest. I would just like a handle on the term and it's use, from a buyers perspective. I see the term on ebay from time to time also.

thank you.

 

Yes, I see the ad now.
It is generally understood (as nick and GD have pointed out) that a "slider" is a coin that would grade in the AU-58 range. Not quite uncirculated, but still a very nice coin.

AU coins are usually catagorized as being:
AU-50 Typical
AU-55 Choice
AU-58 Very Choice.

All three grades are varying degrees of trace wear on only the highest points of any given coin.

 

When referred to by a honest dealer, the term "slider" is reserved for a high quality AU example that could easily be mistaken for an MS60 coin by the naked eye. Unfortunately, the term is too often used in conversations between less scrupulous dealers.

Often dishonest dealers will purchase rolls of sliders from other dealers only to immediately market the coins as UNC or MS60 coins. This practice is all too common today.

 

cdcda is correct. Unfortunately you have to be very careful in reading the descriptions offered. A newer trend has many of the large mail order guys offering BU coins with the description Borderline Uncirculated.

 

Agreed. And the funny thing is, at least to me, a high quality AU specimen is much more desirable than an MS-60 in most cases. Whether or not I'd pay MS-60 money for a "slider" depends on the market for that particular coin and how attractive the "slider" was.

For me as a Morgan collector, a nice slider is often much more attractive than a legitimate mint state piece. I'll almost always take a nice AU-58 "slider" in my collection over a banged up, bagmarked or unevenly toned 60, 61 or even 62 -- and occasionally even over a typical 63. Personally, if I can't afford at least an MS-63 in that collection, I'll start looking for the best AU-58s I can find. Yes, sometimes I could afford a 61 or 62, but a really nice, lustrous, problem-free slider usually looks much more attractive to me and looks more in place with MS-63 to MS-65 coins.

If you collect for eye appeal and not just highest possible grade, a few of these "sliders" can represent great bargains compared to mint state coins. Particularly in the Morgan series and some coppers, IMO, don't be surprised if you sometimes see the nicest looking AU-58s selling for as much as -- if not *more* than -- legitimate MS-60 pieces. That's not as likely for "condition rarities" (for Morgans, think '84-S, '92-S, '96-O, '01 for example), but where MS-60s are common, the "gems with a trace of wear" aren't too common and are sometimes highly desired.

A high quality slider is a very nice coin and usually very desirable -- as long as you didn't buy it expecting a "BU." If you've paid AU money for a BU coin, the chances are nearly 100% that you'll receive an AU coin.

 

Sliders are small greasy burgers sold at White Castle.

 

Sliders are cheap, greasy burgers sold at White Castle.

 

What's a rattler...I'm guess a coin that moves around it's graded case..?

 

It's the nickname for an old type of PCGS holder, known for coins rattling in the holder. If I am not mistaken it's the first generation of PCGS holders, and dealers/collectors expect those coins to "upgrade" today what makes them more desirable.

 

you beat me to it.

 

A very nice AU58 that is very close to passing for full uncirculated.

 

This too.

 

If you buy a roll of sliders you can bet that many will be only AU or even less. Sliders are often sold as Uncs and most coins don't have such high populations in high end AU to put together a roll.

A coin like an 1883 NC nickel often appears as a slider so a roll of these as sliders is believable. 1983-P quarters are often sliders so a roll of these is believable. But a coin like a '24-D cent is rarely seen in such condition. A 1969 quarter is rare in AU.