How do you think the latest downward movement in......

Crazy4Coins

.....bullion will effect the coin market?

When economic optimism and inflation rises, how does that effect a collector verses a seller?

For some of the seasoned collectors or dealers, how did a swing in the economy for the better change your positin in the market?

Could this just be a short term correction since the market tends to swing each direction based on daily events? Has the economy really found a solid footing to rebuild itself on? IMHO, I think its still a little to early to tell, I'm sure thats why the fed kept rates where they were, in a effort to let the economy have a jump start.

Insert input below

Randy

Neptune

I am not a dealer, but IMHO: it is too soon to tell, and you just never know. Personally, I think things will stay basically stable until latter 2005 once the election is over - unless there is another major catastrophe of some sort (praying NOT). After that, thing could get realllllllllll squirrely.

mrearlygold

I make money whether you're buying or selling. As long as you're doing something.

That said, I was at heritage in 1991 and the department had gone from I think 30+ salespeople, ( then I was hired) to 4, then 3.

It was impossible to earn a living there. The coins heritage had in inventory were crap ( as evidenced by everything going into a bullet sale), and the mailing list being given away to us rare coin exchange.

I finally said "adios" .

I REALLY focused on my specialties of Bust dollars, early US gold, patterns, dated gold. Most customers have done well despite the hard years in the beginning. And the fact that the vast majority of people really didn't want to ante up for the early gold. A few sharp people started getting into the early dollars and they've done real well.

It's going to be a real interesting couple years ahead of us.

Rgrds
TP

Coinosaurus

TP-

Interesting info on Heritage. Any idea which bullet sale that was? Because, I am about to get rid of a bunch of bullet sale catalogs and I might want to keep that one

I always thought that the "US rare coin exchange" was some branch of Heritage since their mailings all looked alike.

mrearlygold

<< <i>TP-

Interesting info on Heritage. Any idea which bullet sale that was? Because, I am about to get rid of a bunch of bullet sale catalogs and I might want to keep that one

I always thought that the "US rare coin exchange" was some branch of Heritage since their mailings all looked alike. >>




Every bullet sale consisted of that stuff. So you would have to save them all. It was pathetic. We were told to push heritages coins ( do you remember the russian mini coins advertised?) but we really didn't have much, and then one of the principles would come into the coin room and wipe out what was there to put it into the bullet sales.

USRCE "was" a branch. It decimated the mailing list.

In defence of those actions, it's big business ok? And I was told the nut was a million a month. So they did what they had to do to keep that battleship afloat.

But for anyone with any specialty, it was terrible.

When I left I realized the only way to survive in that type of market was to focus on better material that the mainstream generally avoids ( already mentioned), and to keep the overhead as small as possible ( which I really had no choice, as my income stream was as small as it could get hahahaha). Do the right thing for people and they would hang in there.

It worked.

Rgrds
TP

kieferscoins

How long did you work for Heritage?

Cameron Kiefer

mrearlygold

Including ustic ( a division), about a year and a half.

TP

BillJones

<< <i>I REALLY focused on my specialties of Bust dollars, early US gold, patterns, dated gold. Most customers have done well despite the hard years in the beginning. And the fact that the vast majority of people really didn't want to ante up for the early gold. A few sharp people started getting into the early dollars and they've done real well. >>



As a collector who might be thinking of coins as a way to "save" some money as well as a way to enjoy the hobby, buying classic early coins that have a stong collector following AND true scarcity has always been a good bet. When the general market goes south, attractive problem free early coins that are nice for their grade have the best chance of holding their value. With the exception of the recent market, their price increases are usually slow but steady mainly because the "market makers" seldom promoted them. Yet for precisely that reason, those coins almost always held their value.

mrearlygold

<< <i>

<< <i>I REALLY focused on my specialties of Bust dollars, early US gold, patterns, dated gold. Most customers have done well despite the hard years in the beginning. And the fact that the vast majority of people really didn't want to ante up for the early gold. A few sharp people started getting into the early dollars and they've done real well. >>



As a collector who might be thinking of coins as a way to "save" some money as well as a way to enjoy the hobby, buying classic early coins that have a stong collector following AND true scarcity has always been a good bet. When the general market goes south, attractive problem free early coins that are nice for their grade have the best chance of holding their value. With the exception of the recent market, their price increases are usually slow but steady mainly because the "market makers" seldom promoted them. Yet for precisely that reason, those coins almost always held their value. >>



Righteeo Bill and particulary with "the exception of the recent market". There's so much crap in holders now it's amazing to me. And it seems that the majority can't tell the difference.

I went with Rick Bagg last week to look at a collection the fellow had paid well over a million dollars for. What a bunch of _______. I'm still thinking about posting about it in detail, but am waiting to get some advice of my own liabilities if I do so.

Methinks I'm OT now. Sorry.

Rgrds
TP

Crazy4Coins

There's so much crap in holders now it's amazing to me. And it seems that the majority can't tell the difference.

Especially within the last few months.Six months ago you could actually find some decent coins and a few good buys here and there.Now you have to sort through all kinds of crap to find one nice coin.

LAWMAN

Good question. I know prices have floated up pretty high on some common silver items and coins; if like other consumer items, then prices always go up faster than they come down (if they come down at all). But, then again, we are talking about coins.

GOLDSAINT

Heritage has been calling for months saying the TOP is near better sell! I thought this was a sales ploy maybe they are right. Maybe this is deflation, the stock market is down, gold is down, silver down, bonds down?