I'm Looking For Some More Coin Show Tips

ChuckC

I'd like to bring some sort of pricing information with me so I know that whether or not the dealer is ripping me off and so that I can bargain. Anything online that I could run off? Is it disrespectful to bring pricing info? Any other recs?

Also, what's this I've been hearing about old green label PCI slabs being undergraded by 1-2 pts? You think that would be worthwhile to look into if I see a coin I like/need?

fcloud

Many dealers are willing to look up the coin you are looking at in their gray sheets. Just ask.

As far as green labels upgrading. Look at the coins yourself. Just because some coins are undergraded, that does not equate to "ALL" coins being undergraded.

Barry

Don't count on green labels upgrading. If it would have upgraded, it probably still wouldn't be in a green label slab.

TommyType

In my humble, common coin experience, you should be more worried about knowing how to identify grade and condition than price.

Pricing information is so readily available that it isn't in anyone's interest to play games with price outside a narrow spread, either seller or buyer. (Again, talking common coins in common condition). Feel free to bring your own price guide....Nobody expects you to rattle off the price of everything from memory.

Where you need to be ready and knowledgable is Grade, and identifying other Condition variables, (any cleaning, surface quality, color, attractive for grade, ugly, etc).

It would probably be a good idea, (for me at least), to bring a grading guide with me to a coin show. Problem is, one needs to keep up appearances.

Tom

Conder101

<< <i>Is it disrespectful to bring pricing info? >>


No, the dealers bring theirs. Ask most dealers for a price on one of their coins and what is the first thing most of them do? They reach for their greysheets. If they can, so can you.

Heywood

I would reccomend against pulling out one of the Magazine price sheets, as in many cases the prices are retail. For example, a recent magazine has the 1953 proof set at $325, bid is about 260 ask 270.

If you have a dealer you frequent, or have a relationship with, they might give you a slightly out of data greysheet, which will help "Keeping up appearences"

The old rule (Coin collecting for dummies) was that even though the greysheet is supposed to represent Wholesale",

You could sometimes find a coin at bid,
Almost always at or below ask,
and rarely above ask.

This doesn't always hold true for the Hot or "Trending up" coins where you will hear dealers lament " I wish I could find that at ASK!".

Registry set candidates and CC morgans come to mind.

Other option is to Have a plan of what you want to buy and write down the ranges

Ask here-i.e. What is fair for a PCGS MS 63, 64 65 non FBL 1956 Franklin?,

Don't just run around trying to find an undergraded coin, as there are many people with more experience than you (or I ) who have passed on it- or the one point jump doesn't justify the re-grading fee.

( I do regret that I passed on a PCGS Green label mS63 PL 83cc Morgan, than I was sure would grade 64 very slim chance at 65, just at the time, the 63-64 jump was about the grading fee.) (The coin was nice, and I should have bought the coin and not the holder)

mhammerman

Take a little 5X pocket loupe and USE IT! If you see a coin you like you should realize that the lighting will most likely suck...probably to your disadvantage. It is best if you have two or three coins your are looking for when you go to the show and know the grades and prices for those coins before you go. If you just have a few coins you are looking for, you will be successful if you know the prices by grade, have a loupe, and have patience...don't hurry, there are more coins where those came from.