Have you ever passed on a coin for trivial reasons?
braddick
Posts: 22,532 ✭✭✭✭✭
Not so much cost or grade, yet for tiny little reasons. For example, I recently passed on a purchase simply because the slab was a bit marked/scratched up and I didn't want to have to deal with either re-holdering it or attempting to remove the scratches. I passed once because I knew attempting to remove the dealer's decal/sticker would end up also removing some of the NGC reverse emblem.
I know these reasons are trite. Am I alone?
peacockcoins
5
Comments
I've passed on coins because I though a particular seller was a pompous ***. Does this count?
Many times, there are few, very few coins that I cannot find another example to buy.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Isn’t it all so trivial and meaningless? Collectors are numismatic hair-splitters!
A menagerie of U.S. Mint medals
Never because of a slab (grade on slab yes, slab itself, no), but I am not a slab collector. I know some who are, and so understand that.
I returned a Bust Quarter many years ago because it had a small fleck (like a droplet) of something amber in color, that was about .75 mm in diameter, adhered to Liberty's neck (IRC). She was in was an AU55 and it was in PCGS plastic, but I couldn't bring myself to risk breaking it out, conserving that one distraction (it probably would have been easy) and then going through the process or regrading, etc.
In retrospect, I started regretting it within 24 hours of sending it back. Little did I realize then what a rare bird I had in my hand, as that was a very unmolested and attractive example. I am convinced the speck would have come off without issue, but even if I hadn't tried ...
The following year I received a 1920-D Quarter that has a very small piece of paper (probably from an album or an envelope) in the reverse of the holder that floats around. Another rare bird, although not nearly so. I decided not to do that again. The coin was good. I still have it. One of these days I may re-holder it.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
I'd say that's a pretty good reason. Unless the coin is truly hard to find...
Collector, occasional seller
Passed mainly due to slab too scratched up or bad vibes (poor retail potential).
Yes and no. I don't think you're thinking about it quite right. If your reason for passing is trivial, it means the coin isn't really that important. Whatever reason you have to pass on a coin that isn't related to the coin itself (ie, complaining about a nick on the holder, not a nick on the coin), if the coin meant enough to you in terms of eye appeal, scarcity, time you've spent looking for the right example, etc., you'd get the coin and deal with the issue. If something so small can lead you to pass on the coin, it's a sign that the coin isn't that special or that you don't really want it.
But that's true of lots of things. When someone has an idea to go and do some activity, the easier it is to find some reason not to go, clearly the less I care about it in the first place. When something's really important, I'll be there no matter what it takes. When it's easier to stay home and do nothing instead of go somewhere nearby for an hour, I'm obviously not that interested in the activity.
Yes it was a stone mtn commem that was way to dark and looked like it sat in water. It was a double die as well. It didnt look good
See the 2 tiny nicks on her neck & bump on her chin?....Pass
Is that trivial enough?
My Saint Set
I have passed because of tiny rim bumps, small scratches or un-natural looking color.
I once sent back a NGC AU58 1883 Half Eagle because of a small, almost unnoticeable spot on the reverse. I've regretted it ever since.
Is sleeping through the end of an auction a trivial reason
For my own reasons I only buy PCGS so automatically I’ve ignored great coins in other slabs. It’s a trivial reason but I don’t regret it. I’ll also reject a coin if there is a distraction in a place I just can’t ignore, a strike that is too weak, or the luster/surfaces just not looking right to me.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
@ReadyFireAim I don't think your observation is trivial. That's what I'm always looking for. Peace Roy
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@ReadyFireAim what? That’s a cleft in her chin!
I think @airplanenut point is well made. It’s the coin, not the dressing although I admit that white prongs drive me crazy!
If the coin does not appeal to me, for whatever reason - large or small - I will not buy it. I have purchased many coins that are far from 'perfect'.... However, the coin was appealing to me - ergo, I own it. Cheers, RickO
Is not wanting to redeem your retirement accounts a trivial reason?
If the slab is in bad shape, I usually pass unless the coin is really remarkable and worthy of sending for reholder...
My YouTube Channel
Mostly trivial things like lack of money.
many times I have passed on a coin cause something was off in my opinion
always hit your enemy where they least expect it
I just didn't like it, or a weak strike, or hairlines.
Purchase = (# mustard stains on shirt/pants) ≤ (grade on holder)
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I have made my share of bonehead decisions by passing on coins or medals that I should have bought
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Common coins yes. Scarce or rare coins that are tough to find, never.
Yes pass for beat up slabs
I have passed up nice coins because they didn’t have stickers. How’s that?
Did you try someone else's opinion?
Winnie the Pooh or Tigger?
Yes, dummy me. I was with a friend at a coin show. There was a dealer that I didn't really care for, but I got my friend to purchase a coin from him. This dealer never came down a penny on what ever the price was that he put on the holder. He had a coin that would have completed my collection. marked $600. He would not lower the price even $5 or $1. Well this dealer had irritated me before, so I just passed. I thought he would give me a better deal, after all, I just made a sale for him. This was like 20 years ago. I still need the same coin to complete my collection, well, maybe someday I will find one. I will keep looking
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Does my own stupidity (lack of knowledge) count as trivial? If the answer is yes then......yes I have.
I also passed on showing dealers coins I have for sale ( dealers that have Asked if I had anything for sale) because they are eating lunch and I can see their hands are all greasy. I’ll say something like I’ll come back after your done with your lunch and you wash your hands. Probably makes me an a-hole but I didn’t care.
Sort of the opposite, I have bought a 5k coin before just to leave a neg.. I did want the coin and PMed the dealer asking what his best price was and they quoted 4500 BIN which was way closer to auction history for the date. I said sure and sent the offer though eBay and they never responded so it timed out. I sent a PM w/no response and went to resend the offer and it got auto rejected as too low. I PMed if they had a different price in mind as I was just trying to buy the coin. No response and next thing I know the (make an offer) disappeared for the coin. So I bought it.
I’ll gladly pay a couple extra hundred dollars to let the world know of a seller who plays pointless/amateur games if I still get the deal done.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
"Sort of the opposite, I have bought a 5k coin before just to leave a neg. I’ll gladly pay a couple extra hundred dollars to let the world know of a seller who plays pointless/amateur games if I still get the deal done."
Very professional. Well done!
Trivial reasons?.......Perhaps..........You tell me.
I was at a coin show once (many years ago) and I wanted to buy a beautifully toned Canadian large cent.
It was in a PCGS holder.
When we finally agreed on the price and as the dealer handed me the coin, he said "I really hate to part with such a beautiful coin".
At this very moment he proceeded to kiss the PCGS holder 'goodbye'.
The sight of his slobbery lips on MY coin was enough to turn my stomach.
I quickly said, "no thanks, the deal is off'.
On to the next showcase.
"Gold is the canary in the financial coal mine." (Alan Greenspan)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
It’s probably cheaper today if you can find one.
passed on a few coins where the hologram was damaged or the slab had several "small nicks" in it that were not disclosed. Also pass on coins where the reverse of the slab is not shown. I contact the seller to provide a reverse pic and if they did not respond or replied with an excuse as in "my photographer only comes in every two weeks" so the auction would end by the time he comes in and takes a pic. I say your loss and move on.
Kennedys are my quest...
Yes - I missed the auction while I was playing Trivial Pursuit.
I do what I can. What can I say I just prefer my business men to honor their words and not communicate like my young kids do on social media.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I also think it depends on your definition of "trivial." I would define it in this context to mean anything unrelated to the coin itself. In this sense brand of plastic and sticker would apply. (No I'm not questioning the superiority of some grading services or utility of CAC - I'm only saying that as long as you pay a price commensurate with true value and can identify issues it doesn't matter what the label grade is, what generation holder it is, or what service it is.)
Buying something in order to leave a negative is a violation of eBay policy. I'm not seeing the honor in that.
I’m debating currently whether to buy a coin of which I absolutely love the images. It’s a Graded MS coin that looks like old worn tan/brown leather, when all the others are always just dipped white silver. Or “rainbow toners”.
My trivial reason for not buying it is that it’s not a series in which I have much knowledge. Nor in which I have any need to acquire an example.
Sellers are required to post both sides of a coin. If they refuse to put up the photos of both sides, you can report them and ebay will give them a day or two to add the photo(s). This happened to me just a few weeks ago ($12.00 coin-not slabbed). I reported it and two days later it was removed by ebay. I had asked the seller for reverse photos and got no response.
thanks for the heads up
I do not know where or how to report things like this after numerous searches. It gets easier just to move on. As my wife says "do not complain about your delivered food as the next order my come with something you really did not order mixed in" lol
Kennedys are my quest...
I wasn’t looking for your endorsement.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Good thing. We're on the same page then.