Hitting the Wall

ziggy29

Do y'all ever reach a point where it seems like you just can't find any of the coins you need? And if you find them, they're either sold immediately or bid well beyond "stupid money?"

That's about where I'm feeling now.

I haven't made an addition to the type set in a month. Still, I'm determined not to drop my standards because of it. It's really frustrating, though -- when I receive notification of some dealer's new purchase in e-mail, when I check it -- usually within a small number of hours -- it's already gone. Or I finally find something up for auction somewhere. Even with a healthy bid at the ready, lately the nice ones I'm looking for are bid up to stupid money so early that even my best snipe is defeated hours ahead of time.

I guess it's a good thing this time of year, what with property taxes due soon and all. But I can still afford $50 here, $150 there, even $250-$300 once in a while. And I need plenty of coins in that category -- or what should be in that category -- but I just can't seem to get my hands on them.

It feels like I've hit the wall. Perhaps I should look at it as saving money for the right opportunity.

Russ

I used to hit the wall, but I kept hurting my hand. Now I just throw things at it.

Russ, NCNE

relayer

Gonfunko

Just keep looking. Eventually, the market will cool off, you'll get a snipe, win a few coins, maybe cherrypick something. And to ease your frustrations, instead of hitting the wall, you can just listen to it:

Tootawl

<< <i>I used to hit the wall, but I kept hurting my hand. Now I just throw things at it.

Russ, NCNE >>


Are you sure it wasn't just your hand?

mgoodm3

I had a bad day once where I called one dealer and the coin I was looking forhad just been sent out on approval. Called another dealer about another coin I was interested in and they were on the phone at that moment selling the one I was interested in.

Bear

Dont lowe your standards. You will regret every one of the coins

you purchase under the lower standards and will sell them at a loss.

JrGMan2004

<< <i>I used to hit the wall, but I kept hurting my hand. Now I just hit Marty instead.

Russ, NCNE >>

Baley

You must be in the market for nice and scarce and older coins, which continue to advance in price. I'm finding the same thing in my "want list", and find myself having to "stretch" to obtain such coins.

Some other folks around here are reporting that the coin market is weakening. I suspect that the coins they're talking about are quite common, and more are found or "made" every few days, for which some folks continually receive the coveted "you suck" accolades.

For that kind of coin, I agree, and think the "coin market" for those coins will begin or continue to weaken.

For "real coins" that are scarce in ANY grade, I think the "coin market" will continue to do quite well.

ldhair

<< <i>Perhaps I should look at it as saving money for the right opportunity. >>


A wise thought.

BillJones

<< <i>I haven't made an addition to the type set in a month. >>



Have not been able to do anything for a month? Try several years.

Last week I bid on a Lincoln 1860 campaign medalet, which I've been looking for for about three years in the Herritage Auction. I was leading after the email bid phase of the auction closed by a couple bids, but someone took it on the floor one bid ahead of mine. I bid 20% more than the highest estimate, which was more than I thought the lot was worth, but it made no difference.

RYK

I think I am hitting the wall, in a different way. It is getting increasingly difficult to find coins that interest me enough to add to my collection. I seem to be able to talk myself out of just about anything.

High Relief Saint in 65 for $21.00? "No, thanks, under 20x, I see a little hit next to the torch."

1861-D G$1 in crusty 45 for a $1.50? "Is it that a green spot under the six in the date?"

(You get the idea...)

IGWT

It's not so much hitting the wall as an opportunity for taking a breather.

seateddime

Ziggy,

you have a good eye, the coins will come, right after to bought one you should have passed on.

tightbudget

On the bright side, take this opportunity to accumulate more money so that later on, you can buy yourself one out of this world coin!

barbershopper

Patience is the answer. Best to wait for the coin you want rather than filling a hole.
JT

adamlaneus

Just paid my property taxes. Oh, the coin I could buy with that check. My, oh my.

Not long ago, a few coins became available that I thought would not be available to me. I was glad I had some 'dry powder' to deal with that.

Focus on the hunt! Do not become impatient; do not reduce your standards.

WoodenJefferson

When you least expect it...BAM! The one you were looking for just falls out of the sky.

Never give up...never surrender.

Billet7

<< <i>I think I am hitting the wall, in a different way. It is getting increasingly difficult to find coins that interest me enough to add to my collection. I seem to be able to talk myself out of just about anything.

High Relief Saint in 65 for $21.00? "No, thanks, under 20x, I see a little hit next to the torch."

1861-D G$1 in crusty 45 for a $1.50? "Is it that a green spot under the six in the date?"

(You get the idea...) >>



If you ever want to get rid of those "problem" saints for $21.00 give me a PM. More than happy to ease your pain.

Swampboy

Interesting post.
They had walls back then?

Billet7

My problem is I can't find something for eight months or so and suddenly I find 5 different ones I want...since I only have money for one...I wave bye bye to the other four....not to be seen again for another year or two at twice the price.

Musky1011

The wall is only in your mind

Think beyond your mind

That endeth the lesson of today--Grasshopper

bidask

<< <i>Do y'all ever reach a point where it seems like you just can't find any of the coins you need? And if you find them, they're either sold immediately or bid well beyond "stupid money?"

That's about where I'm feeling now.

I haven't made an addition to the type set in a month. Still, I'm determined not to drop my standards because of it. It's really frustrating, though -- when I receive notification of some dealer's new purchase in e-mail, when I check it -- usually within a small number of hours -- it's already gone. Or I finally find something up for auction somewhere. Even with a healthy bid at the ready, lately the nice ones I'm looking for are bid up to stupid money so early that even my best snipe is defeated hours ahead of time.

I guess it's a good thing this time of year, what with property taxes due soon and all. But I can still afford $50 here, $150 there, even $250-$300 once in a while. And I need plenty of coins in that category -- or what should be in that category -- but I just can't seem to get my hands on them.

It feels like I've hit the wall. Perhaps I should look at it as saving money for the right opportunity. >>

Go to a major coin show...you will find what you want and cure your needs.

RYK

Go to a major coin show...you will find what you want and cure your needs.

It did not work for me. This was the first time that I went to a national coin show that not only did I not exceed my budget, I was a net seller!

fc

my problem seems to be my taste in coins has exceeded my budget.
i am not going to kill myself to buy them.

at first i was happy with a common date half eagles in AU or low MS
which was affordable considering the intrinsic value of the coin was
greater then 50% in most cases.

then it became the much much harder dates where i could only afford
coins in VG08 or what have you.

so the rest are gone and i kept two nice ones. own with motto and
one without.

my lib half eagle type set :-|

for a bit i thought about collecting low ball coins.. and have one nice
one.. but to find them truly original is difficult.

Now i am content not buying anything and just reading the boards
and enjoying other people's purchases. much more affordable.

i find, for myself, that is how i mature into a hobby. more was better
until a point when you realize it is not so.

adamlaneus

<< <i>so the rest are gone and i kept two nice ones. own with motto and
one without.

my lib half eagle type set :-| >>







If you have a change of heart, i've got seven of your former half eagles, all safe and snug.
"Daddy? Where is daddy?" they say to me. It's creepy.


Seriously, though, I hear you.

My response to "the wall" has been to try to open my eyes wider. Broaden the series I look at. See if I can convince myself there is something i've been missing about a series that I previously didn't get. Also, there is much in the land of world coins that is interesting. So much time and so many places make for almost an infinite variation of stuff!

Keeping the spark alive is hard. Sometimes you need to let the spark die and let some other interest kindle itself.

BlindedByEgo

Wow... Old thread. Nice to see smoe things don't change.

GrumpyEd

Noticed that this thread started in 2004 then jumped 5 years!

I wonder if the reasons for hitting the wall changed?
The conditions sure have.