Could dealers buy and keep an inventory of strictly original coins??

Wisconsin

Would a dealer be able to make a living if they had to pass on every coin that was not 100% original. This means no dipped, soap and watered coins, or conserved pieces. Are there enough original coins on the market that anyone could survive on them alone???

Jay

Bear

Most dealers large and small could not remain in bussiness, if they only

handled origonal coins. There are specialist dealers , that handle only high grade, high priced

origonal toned coins. Since they require a much smaller volumn to make a living, only these

limited number of dealers would remain.

sliderider

I think if dealers stopped buying unoriginal coins, nobody would sell to them anymore, and if they didn't pass those coins along, they wouldn't have any money to make more buys. I think if the market stopped trading in those coins, then the prices for the top grade stuff would soar even higher because it would become the dealers only source of capital.

MrEureka

It's definitely a viable business model, but the dealer would need to very aggressively promote that aspect of his business.

ANACONDA

"Would a dealer be able to make a living if they had to pass on every coin that was not 100% original. This means no dipped, soap and watered coins, or conserved pieces. Are there enough original coins on the market that anyone could survive on them alone???"

Yes. The trick would be making sure you present yourself to enough buying opportunities. The more coins you look at, the more original coins you'll be able to buy. How hard do you want to work and how smart are you?

There are some cool coins that are not original. Some early (proofs made before 1900, for example) totally white coins are almost certainly conserved however, they can be extremely desirable.

FrattLaw

I think Rare Coins of New Hampshire does a pretty decent job at it. They mainly stock all original, never played with coins from what I've seen.

Michael

coincollector1989

Frattlaw

gemtone65

I must say that I am amazed at how few original 19th century coins I see when attending a show. And, even up through the 1940's, it's very hard to find an untoned piece with blazing original luster.

One of the more subtle things to like about collecting naturally toned coins is that the untoned part of the coin, e.g., the reverse, is usually untouched. In fact, a good way to learn what an original white coin should look like is to study the untoned side of a naturally toned coin.

MrEureka

fact, a good way to learn what an original white coin should look like is to study the untoned side of a naturally toned coin.

Good point!

roadrunner

One of the more subtle things to like about collecting naturally toned coins is that the untoned part of the coin, e.g., the reverse, is usually untouched. In fact, a good way to learn what an original white coin should look like is to study the untoned side of a naturally toned coin.

One sided dipped coins are also something to watch out for. Not all toned coins with nice obverses and white reverses (or vice versa) are original.

I also think the Aspen Park Rare Coin (ASPRCI) also sticks with mostly all-original coins. While I've never bought from Evan Gale before, I've seen some his coins and they are nice. He's been doing this for a number of years as has RCNH, so as Mr. Eureka stated, it is a viable model.

rr

gemtone65

"One sided dipped coins are something to watch out for. Not all toned coins with nice {i.e., natural} obverses and white reverses (or vice versa) are original."

I would definitely be on the lookout, as I can't recall ever seeing one for sale that was naturally oned on one side and dipped on the other. In fact, it is very difficult to dip only one side without some of that dip leaving a residue that is easily noticed on the other (toned) side.

coinguy89

I think too many people make too big a deal about purchasing strictly original coins, most I think wouldn't even know and it would otherwise appeal to them. I don't think any dealer keeps only original because there are people out there, like me who aren't afraid of getting a bit damaged, or cleaned or whatever coins, as long as they appeal and the price is right.

Iwog

Sorry coin guy, that's too logical. You need to be re-educated.

There is no way to tell if a coin was dipped 50 years ago and retoned. I see coins every day marketed as original that I know for a fact have been dipped. How do I know they were dipped? Because I've dipped enough coins to learn what they look like. (a stark contrast to the "original" crowd who will not dip, even for educational purposes.)

gemtone65

I certainly don't have a problem if you like to collect cleaned, damage and/or unoriginal coins. I would think, however, that it would be useful knowing that you're doing so, which generally requires the ability to discern one from the other. Otherwise, among other things, how would you know what a fair price was for any partifcular piece that you liked?

nwcs

>Would a dealer be able to make a living if they had to pass on every coin that was not 100% original

I doubt it. And I think it would be an absolutely silly thing to ask of a dealer. All I would ask of a dealer is honesty: either admit when you've messed with the coin or when you suspect it's been messed with.

MrEureka

I think it would be an absolutely silly thing to ask of a dealer.

nwcs - You're missing the point. Nobody is demanding that dealers limit themselves to "strictly original coins". "Strictly Original" is just a niche marketing strategy.

BTW, every dealer has his own way of doing things. If you're curious, my approach is to handle whatever comes my way, but only offer retail clients those coins that I would buy for myself if I were collecting the series. Most of these "retail quality coins" (as I call them) are 100% original, others "close enough", and the few that are far from "100% original" are rare enough and attractive enough that I still like the coin.