Ernie, (About Extra-Fine???)

Danegeld

I know this name has popped up in this forum before but, there is a significant amount of frustration I experience when I check out a newly listed auction which has an item I really want and 'LO' Ernie is the seller. You can be assured the coin will be a full grade or two over reality. I e-mailed him about an (About XF) bust half he was listing and asked if he would submit it to a third party for grading. I even agreed to foot the cost. "Nope, not going to happen..." was his response.

Just Venting
Ben

dbldie55

He certainly has his own grading standards.

ziggy29

Most of his stuff is listed and re-listed and re-listed. I guess if you buy a coin as a weak VF and sell it as an XF, for example, you can have patience as long as you can find someone to bite eventually.

Some of his stuff is actually pretty decent, stuff I wouldn't mind having in my collection -- but it's usually overgraded, and often pretty severely so. And even that wouldn't necessarily be so bad if the opening bid didn't assume the coin was properly graded.

Besides, there's a term for "about XF." As we typically use the term, it's called "VF-35."

relayer

Ernie

Coinhusker1

Beware of "ernie's" alias, "ebwcoin", and I think he has one other.

streeter

Beware of "ernie's" alias, "ebwcoin", and I think he has one other.


Ernie Ernie Ernie what have you gone and done?

Danegeld

<< <i>Beware of "ernie's" alias, "ebwcoin", and I think he has one other. >>



Right you are!!!
Ernie #2

streeter

#2 seems to be keeping PCI in business

Outhaul

Say what you like, but I have never had a problem with the coins I buy from Ernie. Additionally, I have never seen such a strong buyer at extremely fair prices. I buy and sell with Ernie frequently. I've also seen his eBay coins in person and with the exception of a few his grading was spot on according to standard. Some may be borderline, or may not have great eye appeal, but the grade is usually correct.

Another point, if there's a circulated example of a tough coin out there you can rest assured he's got one.

Cheers,

Bob

dbldie55

When did the standard for good change to accepting the reverse to be nearly blank?

skingspan

Is Ernie the guy who runs the coin show in Westford MA? I have bought a few things from him and have always been satisfied.

Colorfulcoins

have bought from him and never had a problem - and that includes returning coins. When I email him with questions and specifics, he'll agree his grades are somewhat different than many other's. No complaints!

Outhaul

Yep...that's the same Ernie.

nencoin

About EF is also term you might hear collectors from overseas use (British grading system). Near Extremely Fine (possibly called About Extremely Fine) when used by British standards is roughly equivalent to an XF45 here. For those interested in knowing a bit more about this, you might want to view this Equivalence Chart.

Chris

Danegeld

I would venture to say face-to-face dealings are indeed pleasant and go very well as he seemed very polite over the phone in my request to return an 1859 Indian in advertised XF-45, the coin was much closer to F-12.

His rapport has never been the issue, just his liberal grading on actual grades of his INTERNET advertised items has been significantly off the mark.

Take Care
Ben

GoYankees

<< <i>Is Ernie the guy who runs the coin show in Westford MA? I have bought a few things from him and have always been satisfied. >>



Yes.

I met Ernie once at the Auburn, MA show. I collect moderns so I didn't buy from him. It was my first coin show in 15 years and Ernie was very helpful.

BTW I plan on going to the Westford show this Sunday.

ARCO

For four years now I have perused about a thousand "ernie" auctions and have never seen one coin for the price in relation to the overgrade given by Ernie that has compelled me to buy from him. Sure, I have come close a few times with borderline coins, but they were still a bit expensive for his generous grading.

By God, I will find ONE coin that is worth the price he lists it at for the grade, or I will die trying!

Tyler

GAT

Ernie reads this board as I got into a PM battle with him one night. He objected to my posting that he overgrades 2-4 points.

Vet

I saw that xf bust half aint no way in hell its EF.

Barberman55

<< <i>Another point, if there's a circulated example of a tough coin out there you can rest assured he's got one. >>




He may have it, but if it's anything like the raw Barber halves that he sells, then they're probably cleaned, or downright ugly.

ozzie101

IMO I wouldn't touch the Australian sovereigns that he has for sale with a ten foot pole.

Most of what I see on his site in the Aussie sovereign area are IMO way WAY WAY overgraded even for liberal US standards.

I doubt that most of the MS stuff would even pass for very fine or less likey extra fine (in rare cases) here in Australia.

mercurydimeguy

First on topic: Ernie cracks me up. ALL of his coins on his Ernie eBay ID are junk!!! That's just MHO. He has another ID under which he sells high-end and certified "real coins". That's why he will never submit the "Ernie" ID stuff because it is terribly overgraded/junk. The good stuff/real stuff is under his other eBay ID.

This part is WAY off topic -- But Danegeld, love your icon That's my Registry Set 16-P

Here's what it looks like when it's full size:

Danegeld

I love Mercury dimes, I have a few rolls and including a 21, 26-s, and a couple of 31-d's. No 1916's though I just wish I didn't have to share all of my old man's stuff with my lil bro' when dad passed away in 95. My brother cleaned up on most of the silver, but what are brothers for, LOL

TUMUSS

While I agree with most of the comments posted...I have a question for ya all...What's worse - Stating that your coin is/will grade higher that it will (and let the buyer set the price), OR Selling a coin (plastic or raw) for a set price that is overpriced?

mercurydimeguy

......it is better to rationlize the price than to make excuses for poor quality. IMHO, if you don't want to offend people, don't set a grade for the coin. -- just listed as "Circulated Walking Liberty 50C..You grade" and then let the buyer set the price.

That won't work because people who overgrade prey on the newbies, and thus without a stated grade the newbies are less likely to bid. Knowledgeable numismatists who know how to grade, conversely, will likely either not bid on the coin or not bid nearly as much as the seller can get by overgrading the coin and selling it to a newbie. It is different, however, when raw coins are sold by sellers who give MBG's, as this allows you to review the coin in hand and if you like it/keep it, and if not you can send back for a refund.

Danegeld

Oh Yeah, Ernie's PM's have started rolling in... Well, the truth will catch up with everyone someday, LOL!

Ben

Outhaul

Ya know, if you don't like Ernie's stuff, then just stay away. Those who know and have purchased from him must be very happy as he does have a 99.8% FB rating with over 17,000 total positives (which means repeat buyers) so he must be doing something right.

Get off his back facrissake...if he isn't your kind of dealer or he doesn't have what you're looking for, then move on.

Oh, yeah...he does indeed have some ugly circ stuff, but I've certainly seen that stuff in other dealer auctions and shows, some even SLABBED! Look at it this way, if he has a key date that's ugly as a pan of fried a$$holes, but a nice one would cost you a bomb, then he's da man. And he certainly does have a ton of key dates that fit both descriptions.

I look at Ernie as a dealer who caters to all collectors; those who collect high end and those who just collect. And he'll never blow you off at a show...he'll take all the time that's necessary to answer all your questions...unlike most dealers I meet.

Cheers,

Bob

KurtHorn

<< <i>Ernie >>

HansMoleman

Is it possible he simply does not know how to grade? It may be that he is not purposely overgrading but grading how he sees them. I have seen the same seller list a cleaned VF coin and a nice toned AU as "EF".