Ever buy a KEY DATE on eBay?

Shamika · October 11, 2004 4:21AM

What was your opinion of the transaction?

ziggy29 · October 11, 2004 4:23AM

Yep. In July I bought an 1877 Indian cent (NGC XF-40) and a 1914-D Lincoln (PCGS AU-50). Very pleased with both transactions and very happy with both coins. Got the '77 for VF money, too.

1956Quarter · October 11, 2004 5:04AM

Yes. A Key and 1 semi-Key. I alo bought 2 semi-keys from an internet seller. They were all slabed by PCGS except one, so one must assume that they are what they were graded at and be authentic. I paid less than the indicated grade sheet value at the time so even if I thought they were one less in grade I was still OK. I would not buy any key raw. All transactions had a return policy and went very smoothly.

XpipedreamR · October 11, 2004 5:21AM

Yeah, I bought a 1916D raw last month. The D fell off the other day, though.

If I return it to the mint, can they put it back on?

Tootawl · October 11, 2004 5:27AM

I would never but a key or semi-key date unless it was slabbed by someone I trust (PCGS, NGC, ANACS, etc). I would never buy one raw.

loanshark · October 11, 2004 5:48AM

Got my 1889 CC Morgan on Ebay. It was only a 20 grade but was very happy with the price and overall transaction.

Loan Shark

BAJJERFAN · October 11, 2004 6:09AM

I did once. Was a great transaction. Actually did a couple now that I think about it. Never a problem.

beartracks42 · October 11, 2004 6:50AM

I have bought a 1880-CC Morgan in Pcgs MS64 and a 1891-CC Morgan in ANACS MS63 on ebay for considerably less than GS bid. The 91-CC has since crossed to Pcgs 63.

Catch22 · October 11, 2004 7:21AM

I've bought at least 30 key date coins on ebay...most of them raw. Hey, if the seller has good feedback, good pictures and a reasonable return policy there is no reason to avoid key date coins on ebay.

Having said that, I would be reluctant to spend 4 figures on raw coins through ebay irrespective of the sellers feedback and return policy.

haletj · October 11, 2004 8:03AM

I bought an 1856 FE, 09-s Indian, 09-s vdb Lincoln all on ebay. All are terrific coins! I'm selling the FE again on ebay right now because I need the money to finish my Lincoln set.

Boom · October 11, 2004 8:06AM

Yes, already PCGS certified though and from people I know and trust. Only one rotten deal... from thanks1, a fellow Registry participant and a man in the military no less. He sold me a POS coin, lied about it before I ever bid on it, lied about why he had not left feedback alleging that he had no way of knowing whether or not I had received it yet uses the USPS program that allows us to print our own labels and therefore the ability to track and confirm.

I shipped it back insured mail and mysteriously the coin vanished. I returned the POS 8-16. He has done nothing to help me with my claim and I'm still out the money. As far as I'm concerned he is more a POS than what he sold me. I have no respect at all for a liar.

Of all the scumbags and whackoes on eBay I got screwed by a fellow Collectors Club/ Registry participant, a man that serves this country. Amazing. What a jack-ass. Never again and I hope the Postal Inspectors investigating this expose the dirty goings on at this installation. My worst experience.... from a fellow member- Imagine that!

anoldgoat · October 11, 2004 8:43AM

A 1914-D VF raw. Quite happy with it.

WaterSport · October 11, 2004 8:51AM

ALL of my Key Lincolns are from EBAY.

Ws

dollardude · October 11, 2004 9:19AM

I have built a good relationship with real-life dealers who helped me get several key dates. I did, however, get several semi-key dates from eBay with no problems at all. You just have to remember to do some simple, basic things to protect yourself. It's mostly common sense like checking feedback, reading the ad (basic, but very important), asking questions, checking pictures, personal past experience with a seller, favoring PCGS/NGC over raw, etc.

TomB · October 11, 2004 9:43AM

Believe it or not, I bought a 1796 quarter off ebay!

The coin was sold by a jeweler who took it in exchange for a Rolex watch. He was selling it as a VG10 and I asked him if I could pay the nearly five-figure sum using two personal checks; one check for half the money and that could be cashed immediately and one for the balance that could be cashed in six weeks. The reason for the delay was that I had a substantial sum tied up in a CD that was due in six weeks and did not want to break the CD, nor did I want to dip too deeply into other sources of funding. He took the checks and cashed neither until the six week period was over and then sent the coin FedEx across country.

I knew the coin was a problem-free, original and attractive F12 and sent it to PCGS at the ANA as a show special. The coin is now safely in a PCGS F12 holder and the seller still sends me Christmas cards with pictures of his family every year.

mirabela · October 11, 2004 12:14PM

I bought a raw 21-D merc on ebay last winter, if that counts. Alright, maybe semi-key. The coin is OK. I assessed it as F12 when bidding; I still do, albeit a kinda low-end one. The price was fair, though by no means a bargain. The guy I bought it from was on the level -- honest, punctual, etc.

That said, would I do it again after all the junk I've read here, and after my own little stung-by-an-ebay-A-hole wakeup call last summer? Probably not.

On a side-note, I found out a little later that I already had a 21-D. It was hiding in the 19-D hole of a Whitman album I've had since I was ten years old. Cute coin, what I'd call G-7 if there were such a grade. Go figure.

ccex · October 11, 2004 1:07PM

I have bought quite a few key dates on eBay, almost all of them raw. Of the 3 1895-O dimes, the best was an accurately graded F-12 which I won by a proxy bid while I was fishing in northern Minnesota. This coin is my most expensive Barber Dime, although it cost me only 65% of Graysheet bid. Knowing the seller and how hie images coins was the key to scoring this key.

lordmarcovan · October 11, 2004 1:18PM

I've bought key date Irish coins on eBay and done well.

Can't say as I've ever bought a key date Liteside coin online. But most of my collecting focus was in type sets, and my dealer focus is for similar coins.