Need advice for Morgan/Peace dollar pricing at my first coin show

Prethen

I need advice from any of you collectors and dealers alike. I realize my quandary might seem silly for some (all?) but I want to try to approach this right without completely wasting my time or the show goer's time (who would just ignore my stuff). By the way, if you think it is a total waste of my time to sell this stuff at a show and I'd do better with the BST board or eBay, let me know that. I intend on hitting the gun shows first because I think the common stuff will have a chance to sell there.

Collectors: Tell me what might attract you to look at and/or purchase (common) Morgan/Peace dollars at a dealer's table. Note anything you like or dislike about certain displays or pricing policies.

Dealers: Please tell me what works for you with your common Morgan/Peace display and pricing policies.

Here's some specific points that I'm either planning to do or going crazy trying to plan:
* I have over 9 rolls of common Morgan & Peace dollars that I'm going through to give VAM attributions (where possible), grade, and categorize. I'm probably wasting a huge amount of time trying to come up with a VAM designation (that would likely have relatively low interest) on my low grade common dollars. But, it's a learning experience, so I figure what the heck. [I'm sure a bunch of dealers out there are thinking I'm nuts to even worry about grading descrepancies of anything below XF on any of these common coins, but I need all the grading experience I can get so it doesn't bother me too much.]
* For really low grade stuff, Good or less, what should I do? I have no problem putting them in a 2X2, but should I put a price on each coin because those coins essentially will sell at a small premium over silver content. Am I wasting my time and should just throw them into a "bucket" with a price sign? I've never seen "bucket" coins sell well unless a dealer gives up on 'em and sells them for at or below wholesale.
* How about all the stuff from VG-AU? I'm planning on putting them all in 2X2's, especially if I have a VAM attribution. How should I price these coins? Is it silly to indicate AU55 or AU58 or should I say "Ch. AU" or "AU/BU"? Should I forget about putting prices on most grades and simply have a sign that notes a price for a given grade? How would you display them - in a "bucket", 2X2 boxes, or ...? My initial plan is to have a display case with a VAM placard and all the VAM's laid out. I plan on very little premium if any on most, especially those with a VAM interest/rarity of I2/R3.
* How about those common 1921 Morgans and 1922/1923 Peace Dollars that are BU? Should I bother indicating MS60/61/62/63 or just BU on the 2X2 and not killing myself over their precise grade? Also, if I have a full roll of 1921 Morgans or 1922 Peach Dollars in BU to sell, should I break them up and sell them singly or as an entire roll?
* In general, what's the proper way to "right price" these coins? I can't make a profit letting most of them go for wholesale and I realize it's unrealistic to sell them for full retail.

If I find I'm being drowned in table fees and other supply costs, I might need to go down the eBay (or other) auction path (gasp!). I prefer to have more fun and enjoy the coin show scene and meet collectors face to face.

I truly appreciate anybody and everybody's input. After my first show, which won't be for at least 3-6 weeks, I'll be sure to post the outcome.

morgannut2

To tell you the truth, I think selling a lot of common circulated Morgan and Peace Dollars isn't "putting your best foot forward". I can see a set-up with ultra original lower grade material that is comprised of keys, semi-keys and top 100 Vams but otherwise why bother? You are trying to set buyers' (me) opinions of your type of inventory--and this just looks like some unnamed dealer "stuff" (the kind you see in the full page ads of rip-off dealers in Coin World. As far a pricing, why not walk around and see what other dealers get and slightly undercut or match them? Actually the idea of VAM's seems OK, as long as they're decent original coins.

jdsinva

As a collector. . .

Don't have you raw coins priced 2-3 grades above what they really are.

A good view of the coins in the case without some guy there with his notebook want list and price guides spread out all over the display cases like he's the only one in there to buy, haggling over a $20 coin

BigD5

I'd sell that stuff on the bs&t.

In, out and done with.

BAJJERFAN

The first thing would be to price them at more than you paid. Second if yer at a small show with mostly low budget buyers you won't make squat; the best place to make money is where there IS money.

PutTogether

On the 21 morgans, and 22/3 peace dollars, I sure wouldn't bother labeling 60,61,62 etc.

If you are selling other things as well, it wouldnt hurt to give a free circulated common date away for free, especially to a kid.

thebeav

The last time I sold a bunch of circ dollars at a show.......
I separated them by obvious value and dumped them, raw, into 3 different allstates. A sign in each case read," Anything in this case 12.00", anything in this case 16.00 and anything here 19.00, or whatever values made sense at the time. People poured through the piles with a want list in their hand. No haggling was necessary and very little effort on my part. It really worked well......


Paul

jdsinva

<< <i>The last time I sold a bunch of circ dollars at a show.......
I separated them by obvious value and dumped them, raw, into 3 different allstates. A sign in each case read," Anything in this case 12.00", anything in this case 16.00 and anything here 19.00, or whatever values made sense at the time. People poured through the piles with a want list in their hand. No haggling was necessary and very little effort on my part. It really worked well...... >>



A VAM picker's dream!

JrGMan2004

As a collector, I like to see a price on the flip/slab... easy to see, and when I have a limited amount of money, it will draw my eye quickly to the coins in my price range... I realize that it's not a very feasible proposition if you have to reprice for each show, but, it draws my attention to a dealers wares...

kieferscoins

<< <i>I'd sell that stuff on the bs&t.

In, out and done with. >>



I agree with BigD5.

"If I find I'm being drowned in table fees and other supply costs"

You will be drowned with fees if all you have to sell is 4-5 rolls of circulated Morgans.

Cameron Kiefer

Prethen

So far, I'm getting one major perspective on this and that is "Do NOT showcase crap!" I agree with that. Now, I'm just trying to find out the most expeditious (and, of course, profitable) way to do sell the stuff.

Here's some of my further thoughts on this. The lower grade stuff should either be wholesaled off or sold in small lots on the BST or in auction. The better VAM and VF/XF+ stuff could potentially be 2X2'd. The VAM stuff, I would likely put in the case (what the heck, I'm curious to see if anyone's even remotely interested) and the rest put into some sort of bin (i.e., not showcased). I might 2X2 some of the better 1921/22/23 common BU stuff and sell off the rest in small lots as noted above.

I like the idea of having coins to give to kids. I cannot afford to give away silver dollars all day long, especially to non-buyers or on small sales (although, don't get me wrong, I respect any and all customers and viewers alike). What other fun coins/etc. would be good for give aways? I've seen dealers give away state quarters, sample slabs (which I only have 1 of), cheap mercs/buffs/etc.

Thanks for all the feedback so far! I want to especially thank Morgannut for the slight "slap to the head" as if to say "What the heck do you think you're doing!" I appreciate what you're getting at. I want to proved a reasonable presentation and not make it look like I'm trying to hock off a bunch of junk.

NoGvmnt

To draw the lambs to your table you first must do something wierd and freakish to attract their attention. I suggest you purchase and wear a "Mullet" wig (It seems to be working for JB).

Jim

Longacre

I agree that the BST forum is usually best.