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Dealer's Arrangement of Coins In Their Cases ...

foodudefoodude Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭
Do you prefer the proof and mint state coins be arranged separately (i.e., have all the proofs together in one section and all the mint state coins together in another section), or combined? Why?

What other constructive comments do you have about how you prefer to see coins arranged in a dealer's case?

Greg Allen Coins, LLC Show Schedule: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/573044/our-show-schedule-updated-10-2-16 Authorized dealer for NGC, PCGS, CAC, and QA. Member of PNG, RTT (Founding Platinum Member), FUN, MSNS, and NCBA (formerly ICTA); Life Member of ANA and CSNS. NCBA Board member. "GA3" on CCE.

Comments

  • michaelmichael Posts: 9,524 ✭✭
    i myself like coins in cases arranged in red book style

    with special numismatic tasty morsels prominately displayed and as such highlighted in the dealers case!!

    michael
  • Interesting thread - I actually was thinking alot about this after I attended a 200-table show a couple of months ago.

    What I appreciated the most when looking at cases was the ability to scan the merchandise quickly to see if there were any coins of interest. Maybe this just appeals to my nature to organize things, but here are some thoughts I have:

    I think having proofs and MS coins separate is a good idea, since I perceive most people are looking for one or the other.

    I like things grouped by type, which they usually are but not always.

    Segregating or merging slabs/raw is a tough one and I don't know which is better, although most dealers I have seen keep them separate. I don't mind it because right now I am buying only PCGS/NGC slabbed coins, unless they are recent US mint items. However, if I was slab agnostic in my purchases, it would be tough scan inventory if half of the washington quarters (for example) were one place in flips and the other half somewhere else in slabs.

    What I really don't like is stacks of slabs in a case. What is under there that I can't see???? This also applies to boxes of coins in the case (unless a general description is on the box of what is in there). While it is maybe impractical to have every coin layed out side by side, I often don't want to trouble the dealer just to find out what is in the hidden material.

    Another topic I have seen discussed here is whether or not it is good to put prices on the coins. I like them to be there and visible from the case. It is nice to know at least where the dealer is starting from on the price. A good example of where this could have saved me time is when I saw some nice MS63-64 slabbed Liberty 5c in a case. I waited about 10 min to inquire about a few. Apparently these were "attractively toned" and the dealer was asking 2+ times regular prices for them. I could have saved the time if I had seen some prices.

    What bugs me the most (for personal quirky reasons) are the "codes" written on the coin holders which then the dealers decipher into a price. I find myself wondering what their code is for (is it what they are in the coin or is it the asking price?) and thinking more about how to break the code than if I like the coin.
    Dave - Durham, NC
  • FrattLawFrattLaw Posts: 3,290 ✭✭
    Dealers ---

    List prices! Sure its a pain in the A** but it will translate into more sales and less tirekickers.

    And arrange you cases by denomination, date and mintmark. I hate looking everywhere in your case for the 1 or 2 coins I need. This will also create more traffic and draw more people in. I for one always notice which dealers have the most traffic. Either it's because they have the best quality or the best prices. Both of which attract customers.

    Michael
  • foodudefoodude Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭
    I started this thread rather late last night. Thanks for the input so far. ttt to hear comments from the day crowd.
    Greg Allen Coins, LLC Show Schedule: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/573044/our-show-schedule-updated-10-2-16 Authorized dealer for NGC, PCGS, CAC, and QA. Member of PNG, RTT (Founding Platinum Member), FUN, MSNS, and NCBA (formerly ICTA); Life Member of ANA and CSNS. NCBA Board member. "GA3" on CCE.
  • <<List prices! >>


    I agree, this would save a lot of time on both sides of the table.

    image

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  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,343 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Being able to quickly find what I am looking for is important. I like to see coins in order by denomination and date. Dealers with sloppy cases are telling you something about themselves.
    All glory is fleeting.
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,971 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I like to have coins lined up by denomination and by date and mint mark. Some dealers put their coins out a random, and it drives me nuts. It's soooo... easy to miss something that way.

    As for boxes of coins cases, some dealers have a lot of inventory and can't show it all. If you are a serious collector or dealer you often spend entire days just running boxes. Its sort of the nature of the business.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Agree with Bill.

    Most important - it doesn't matter how you arrange the coins if the case is covered up with someone's papers, briefcase, lunch, etc. Keep you stuff off the case, and politely ask buyers to keep their stuff off it too. There are plenty of cases I just walk by when they're obscured with junk.
  • FC57CoinsFC57Coins Posts: 9,140
    Im in agreement with most folks here - denominations from small to high - by date and mint, business strike and proofs kept separate.
  • jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,675 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Same here, I like them in asscending order by denomination. I dont mind the proofs mixed in, but like to see all the coins in date/denom order. There is a gentleman by the name of Allen Flowers that sets up in this area. Perfect display starts with Half cents right up thru dollars, commem's then gold.
    as your searching thru the case, if the date or type you r looking of isnt thier, then I guarantee he doesnt have it?

    jim


    At your larger shows, I dont mind seeing the power coins in a seperate display sometimes that kind of nice?
  • LucyBopLucyBop Posts: 14,001 ✭✭✭
    I prefer GEMs in those cases, in any order!
    imageBe Bop A Lula!!
    "Senorita HepKitty"
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  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    I would arrange by date and mintmark. I would separate MS from PR.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section

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