Where have you sourced your slabbed coins in your inventory? (for Collectors only please)
Catbert
Posts: 7,288 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was looking at my inventory page on PCGS and decided to do a review of the sources from which my coins have been acquired. This is a snapshot in time since I've turned over my collection over the years selling some coins that led to new coins in the collection.
I don't know if this assessment is meaningful other than to underscore that a variety of sources can help one build a nice collection. Of the 79 slabbed coins in my collection (seated halves, type coins, proof washington quarters being the primary focus), here are the sources:
(13) Gerry Fortin + his auctions - seated halves
(12) Instagram - proof washies mainly
(11) Great Collections - associated type & proof washies
(9) John Agre/CRO - type
(4) Silicon Valley Coins - indian quarter eagles + seated half
(4) Bonnie Sabel - proof washies
(3) CU Forum buddies - seated halves + a washie
(3) Stacks auctions - type
(3) Heritage auctions - type
(3) DLRC auctions - type
(2) Legend auctions - type
Some of the type referenced above include halves.
The rest are (1) from the dealers below - type:
Liz Coggan, Shawn Yancey, Chris McCawley, David Perkins, Don Rinkor, David Johnson, Eye Appealing Coins, Witter Coin, HLRC, Paradime, Sheridan auctions, Goldberg auctions.
I like what I own and I don't think I would have the collection I own without diversifying my sources either through internet searches, IG participation, and attending shows.
Depending upon what you collect, YMMV. What are your thoughts on sources regarding your collection?
(from John at CRO)
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Comments
I find seated quarters from a variety of places - ebay, DLRC, Heritage, Stacks, GC, TECC, NNC. You never know where a scarce coin will turn up.
Thus far, mostly raw coins (US and World dating from the 1700's) that I acquire and submit for grading.
The few slabbed coins that I have purchased have been at coin shows from a variety of dealers, plus a few from other collectors.
I had never thought of my collection in these terms. There are a number of dealers I've bought from on eBay, in my spreadsheet I lump them all under eBay. Almost all 20th Century 1c, 5c, 10c and 25c, roughly:
eBay, 40%
Teletrade, 37%
Heritage, 10%
Coin buddies, 6%
GC, 5%
Dealer's sites, 2%
The numbers surprised me a little, especially how low the GC number was. Interesting way to look at it, thanks.
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
Eye Appealing Coins, David Lawrence Rare Coins, Great Collections, Heratige, eBay, Type Coin Company and a few others. I also bought many at Coin Shows such as Long Beach, from a bunch of other dealers.
Mr_Spud
Mine have been from a wide array of sources.
eBay has been a major source of one and two offs as well a few others between 3-10.
Major eBay sources:
greattoning (65)
kryptonitecomics (45) now disgraced
Great Collections (55)
Instagram (50+)
US Mint (50+)
Winged Liberty (50+)
Heritage (25)
lovedimes (20+)
Too many others to name with 1-3 buys.
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
Looking at my box of 20:
10 eBay
7 GC
1 Stacks
2 CU/IG friends (they are on both)
…1 of the eBay items was from GC originally (didn’t win it there) and 1 other eBay item was from a Stacks auction I didn’t win
Like most I find that casting a wide net is the best approach thus my coins come from a wide array of auction firms and dealers. Many years ago when the ebay auctions were a true auction (with some shilling) I did buy coins on that platform, but today it seems that the fees to sell have really driven up the prices, so I window shop there from time to time but seldom buy on ebay. Top sources
Auctions:
GC
Stacks
Heritage
Dealers:
Angel Dee's
Gerry Fortin
The BST here
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
All the major auction houses and a myriad of dealers.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I’d have to look through my records to be sure but for my primary set a few came from DLRC, a few from eBay, and a few from a dealer who is local but travels to a lot of shows who mostly stocks quality coins.
Great Collections, eBay, a few thru Heritage, DLRC & Legend. Several thru a couple Forum members.
The vast majority are eBay finds.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
All those old holders........surprised that ebay is your major source!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Northeast Numismatics; The Reeded Edge; Coast-to-Coast Coins; Northern Nevada Coins; Sarasota Numismatics; Great Collections; Heritage Auctions; David Lawrence Rare Coins; Liberty Coin Service; West Coast Coins; eBay
Heritage, SB, MA-Shops dealers (latest newp en route from Poland), GC. CRO has been the source for most of my coinage dated 1723 plus a few others. Angel Dee's for all my matte proof Lincolns.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Your list likes a lot like my list..............
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
I spend at least an hour or two EVERY night scouring a variety of sources for coins on my want list, including collectorscorner.com. I also utilize the Want List feature offered by several auction houses, such as Heritage, GC, and DLRC, although I buy many coins from Legend and a few from Stacks. I’m also on the email list with many dealers for their newps. I also check eBay weekly, and also utilize their Want List feature as well.
When I find the coin I need, I’ll get it, regardless of the source. As a result, my list of where I obtained my coins is extremely lengthy, but as a generalization, the vast majority of my coins has been obtained from auctions, but that’s only because that’s where the coins were that I needed.
Note to dealers: I don’t think I’m alone in using collectorscorner.com as part of my regular search. If you want me and others to find coins of yours that we need, I suggest you consider listing your regularly updated inventory with them!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Me too.
The BST forum here is another excellent source.
The original thread title is a bit confusing. Dealers have "inventory" while collectors have "collections'. I've never referred to my collection as being inventory.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Good point! I guess I was influenced by the PCGS use of the term to track what I own.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Good point. Perhaps our moderator could arrange to change the title on the Set Registry from "My Inventory" to "My Collection."
Without doing a tally: eBay, GreatCollections, DLRC, Heritage, and GFRC are the ones that come to mind.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Graded Buffs... 90% ebay
Raw proof/mint/world sets... 50/50 show and ebay.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
I've been chasing old holders long before the instagram gen jumped on the bandwagon and blew the top off the market.
"It's like God, Family, Country, except Sticker, Plastic, Coin."
"Inventory" is generically just a list of contents or holdings. You can take an inventory of your collection. It does not automatically imply the items are for sale.
GC 80%
Grading 5%
Ebay 5%
Virtual coin network 5%
Collectors universe 5%
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I work in a coin shop, most comes from work, however, several are from other dealer friends, other collector friends, and several from eBay.
My YouTube Channel