Cherry Picking Coin Shows, Clubs, Consignment Shops, On-line Auctions, Estate Sales, etc..
OAKSTAR
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@SanctionII recent thread "I Cherry Picked myself" had me thinking. I Cherry Picked two nice pieces from a local coin club over the past several years.........which was absolutely surprising and shocking to me because I'm not an expect, I'm just a hobbyist.
I'm thinking (and I might be wrong) most dealers don't know, understand or care about errors or varieties.........is this true?
Have you ever Cherry Picked from any of the above areas? If so, post what you have found.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
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I cherrypick wherever and whenever I can. Constantly reading and studying coins improves my "Spidey" sense when encountering a likely suspect. My loupe is always around my neck too. They're out there! Peace Roy
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When I was routinely going to local clubs I had two decent finds: a 1945-P DDR Jefferson Nickel that graded MS65 at PCGS and a 1940 R38 Proof that graded PR67 at PCGS.
The broad answer to your question is "yes". Some dealers don't know or care, the price they have on the coin gives them the margin they need and whatever money they're leaving on the table, so be it. Some dealers know, and still don't care. I remember pointing out a variety to a dealer on a coin I wasn't planning to buy, and he said it would take too long to sell it if he added the attribution and marked the price up. Then you have the ones that care but don't know. I remember ages ago at a local show, a dealer telling me, "you're wasting your time trying to pick me, I go through everything," even as was buying two unattributed Red Book varieties from him.
As to venue, you can cherrypick anywhere. I've found unattributed clips in bulk bins of foreign coins in an antique mall being sold by the pound. Heck, I found a contemporary counterfeit Washington quarter in the reject slot of a CoinStar. Even the folks pulling silver from bank boxes are "cherrypicking" if you squint. You never know what you'll find unless you're always looking.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Not from a lack of trying, but I haven't scored a nice variety or VAM in a couple years.
It almost pays to let others do the work and just buy the coin you seek.
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Of course. It’s easy to do when you have more knowledge than 90% of the dealers at my local coin shops and local shows. Most have a general understanding of most coin series, but nothing further than that. It’s a fun game and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come out ahead. I even have some dealers I routinely buy from ask me about certain varieties and have always allowed me to purchase the coins at a non-attributed price. Most don’t care and are happy for the sale. That is what I have found in most cases.
About 4 years ago I cherrypicked three 1946 DDR Walkers off ebay. One was visible in the pics (thus I had to pay $125 for it) and graded 63. The other two were luck - they were in old folders where the reverse was not visible but I could see they were MS, and they graded 63 and 64. Have not found one since then
If you haven't found more, then I am guessing you aren't looking. I've picked maybe a dozen of this variety off eBay in grades from VG up to MS63. I randomly looked a couple of weeks ago and spotted two more unattributed examples, one in low grade and an EF where I ended up the underbidder.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
Oh, I am looking. Either I am looking in the wrong places or you are getting to them before me
I just remembered I did pick off an AU50 a couple years ago (part of a group of 8 coins) but not nearly as big a score as the MS ones.
i got one 1882 o/s morgan that came back a 58 that i cherry picked. still a nice pick
All of the above - many times....Only 2 dealers I will tell what I am seeing if they have an unattributed coin I am buying. But if implying coins are only picked if they are worth a lot attributed you would be wrong. Most of the stuff I am buying is minor and of little value added because of the variety. Take last night on eBay. This came along. I don't have one so I bought it. Not worth much over what I paid, $33.
varietyvista.com/01a%20LC%20Doubled%20Dies%20Vol%201/1954PDDR002.htm
1954 DDR # 2 Pick up is the elongated Period in EPU and the die chip on the N in CENT.
Then there was this on a dealer site Tuesday Night. Gladly buy it for the asking price of $115. It's RPM 3. - It will be heading to GC once I get it attributed. Last one sold at GC for $600. So it just depends on what I see out there. It's how I fund my collection. Pick up point was the die crack on the upper right wheat stalk.
If you know what to look for, you can find and pick almost anything.
I would say it's hard to pick high grade gold Matte Proofs, but I've seen it done.
Coin Photographer.