What % of the 'good stuff' ever turns up in auctions?

Singapore

Seems like a lot of the stuff I'm looking for trades privately and never see the auction light of day.

Any higher end dealers / collectors have any thoughts?

dorkkarl

what the heck is the "good stuff"? xf early type? high-end seated proofs??? what?

K S

Singapore

Choice rare and valuable coins of any type.

RKKay

I can't speak for regular issues, but many of the most desireable patterns appear in auction.

dorkkarl

sorry to be a pest, but by "choice" do you mean only high-end unc's? or choice period, like a super-choice XF bust half? imo, the super-choice mid-grade type coins are extraordinarly under-supplied in the market right now. can't find 'em! i can walk onto any major bourse floor & turn up 100 high-end unc bust coins, but i'll be danged lucky to find a handful of choice XF coins.

& as for auctions? HA. look through the heritage catalog, & compare the number of unc's to xf's.

K S

Singapore

I wasn't referring only to Uncs. or cc coins.

Let me start over - what % of all desireable and valuable coins appear in auctions vs trade privately?

dorkkarl

AAAHH, sorry to be so dim-witted.

in that case, my answer would be that the enormous majority of the "good stuff" does not make it to auction, & moves in private channels. in fact, i have no doubt of it.

K S

BillJones

According to what I hear from some dealers, most of the good stuff is sold at auction. Most of it certainly isn't on the major bourse floors. The pickings there are pretty slim right now.