Has anyone ever dealt with Gus Tiso Numismatics?

Longacre

I see his advertisements in CW all the time and it looks like he has some good stuff. He also seems like an old timer, so maybe his business practices encompass the positive aspects of a bygone era in numismatics. I think one reason why I notice his ad is because my hound's name is Gus, but I guess whatever it takes for someone to remember your ad!

Inditonka

A couple of years back I bought a coin off his website, no problem. He's usually set up at the bigger shows.

cartwheel

He is a full-page Coin World advertiser, mostly Morgans and a few Walkers and type coins. He carries (for me) a very high-powered inventory. I bought a common date MS65 Morgan from him once; it was nice enough and the price was okay, but it has heavy die polish on the reverse which I don't consider very attractive and which wasn't mentioned in his description. Of course, every coin in his inventory is described as being "PQ++" or "PQ+++," etc. I stopped at his table at a show once; he was polite, but not looking to chat, even though I was the only person at his table. I'd probably buy from him again.

Cartwheel

BAJJERFAN

His coins are generally pretty nice and he doesn't exactly have bargain basement prices. His pix leave a LOT to be desired but I think one can play with them to get a better idea of what the coin looks like. He is one of the very few that can correctly pronounce my last name.

Fountainhead

Gus is THE MAN when it comes to Morgans. The pics on his web site just don't do his inventory justice. It's probably best to meet him at one of the coin shows, asking him in advance to bring the coin in question with him.

Problem is, I suspect Gus likes some of his coins so much he doesn't part with them easily - if he reveals them to prospective customers at all, that is. As collectors we must forgive him this understandable weakness, though as a customer it can at times be infuriating! I hope it doesn't drive him into the poorhouse...

Jcarney

Yes, I've dealt with Gus in person at a couple Baltimore shows. He specializes in higher end Walkers and Morgans (at least he did 2-4 years ago) and is a consummate professional. I showed him an NGC MS65 Walker in an old holder I'd bought from Teletrade and asked his opinion. He said it was undergraded, was a 66 and handed it back. I was pretty stunned.

etexmike

I have dealt with Mr. Tiso on a couple of occasions.

If you like the pics on his web site you will probably love the coin when you get it.

Not the best of pics to judge a coin on. They are usually much nicer in hand.

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etexmike

DennisH

Gus is a really good guy, he's just not Mr. Warm and Fuzzy right off the bat. He's extremely busy virtually all the time, which is why he can come off as distracted and unfocused with customers. Once he gets to know you, though, he's friendly and good-hearted and you can even get him to smile and laugh.

He does use PQ on everything, which is both highly debatable and it dilutes the image of his coins. But if you need a specific Morgan, Gus is going to either have it or he'll have it soon. There have been many shows where I could put together a complete Morgan set from his cases alone. Unfortunately, he will never be the low-cost source of those coins, because he constantly steps up to buy what he feels are nice and/or rare pieces. With all the shows he attends, it's a wonder he has a website and photos at all. My only complaint about his website is, it's difficult for him to keep it current with what he actually does or does not have.

TONEDDOLLARS

I have seen him at many shows, but have never bought anything from him. He does not carry what I want, but if you like nice lusturous Morgans in high grade he is one of the dealers to see. His coins are always presented nicely. I agree he does not give out that warm
and fuzzy feeling when you step up to his table.

Barndog

Here's a link to his site: LINK

Cladiator

He's got what appears to be a damn nice 1837 Bust Half.

walkerman

I've dealt a lot with Gus in the last 15 years. I've usually paid a little more for his coins but have always thought they were worth it for the quality .

The customers to whom I sold them thought so also.

Collectors looking for quality will not be disappointed

Dave Weygant

lava

He does seem to be very busy, and this rubbed me the wrong way at one show, where he had his back to the table and was arguing with someone on his cell phone for more than an hour. He had a coin I wanted, but I was tired of looking at his backside everytime I came to his table. He is not a warm and fuzzy dealer, as someone pointed out. His argument also left with with a bad impression. I could do without his arrogance as well, and yes, he does feel every coin he owns is pq, which is certainly not the case. His coins do seem to be listed for a premium.

Of all the coins I have looked at of his, I think I have only purchased one, and I am happy with it. The same coin had come out of a Heritage auction just 9 months earlier, and somehow the price of the coin escalated in that 9 months. Still, I am happy with it.

On the flip side, he touted one of his rare date morgans in au58 as being the best possible coin for the grade. It had a look to it in the hand that made you want to skip over intense scrutiny and just buy it, although at that price I had to scrutinize it. When I looked at the coin under magnification, however, I realized just how much huffing and puffing he was doing -- the coin had a lot of marks, and no way was a top of the line 58, and it only takes one experience like that to raise an eyebrow at everything else the guy says.

My advice would be to see his coins in hand if you are paying a premium, which you likely would be.

WTCG

Gus Tiso may not seem like the most hospitable person at first, but he has been around nearly forever. He's a good dealer to work with, and almost all of the top Morgan Dollar registry set owners have worked with him to get their sets where they are today. If you are serious about assembling a top quality Walker, Morgan or Peace Dollar set then it is definitely helpful to know Gus Tiso.

MikeInFL

I bought this coin from him at FUN, and was pleased with the coin, price, and service...Mike

morgannut2

I've dealt with Gus for years. He's kind of gruff but I try to always talk about coins I've bought from him. Which usually gets him to pay attention. He believes his coins are high end for the grade and does pay more. You can get a good discount sometimes on NGC coins from him--in the sense he's very aware of the PCGS premium and will dicker a bit. He also has the contacts to find a Morgan you want. He will take trades when you buy which can make higher cost coins easier on the budget. I've never seen a totally misgraded or problem Morgan in his inventory (unless of coarse it's labeled/discounted)---

Veep

I guess that I'll have to take a contrarian view. I've bought a few commems from Gus and talked to him several other times at shows without making a purchase. I've found him to be quite gracious. He does a ton of shows and I've often thought that he was one of the hardest working guys in the business.

Rob790

Bought a nice Morgan from him once. Asked him questions about the coin, talked a little about the date and series in general. He seemed nice enough and without my asking for it, offered me a discount on the piece! The coin was PQ for the grade. Would buy from him again.

Coxe

Gus is a good guy. I have bought from him. Knowledgeable, but in the last case of a purchase by me from him, he should have looked at his 1878 7TF Morgans more closely. I got a 7/8TF gem in a rev 78 holder (NGC) for a bargain. (Took it to Dave Lange and had them retag it for ten bucks.)

DaveG

You can meet him in person.

He comes to the White Plains show fairly often.

Longacre

<< <i>You can meet him in person.

He comes to the White Plains show fairly often. >>



Thanks DaveG. You'e always a wealth of info!

mrcommem

I see Gus at the coin show here in St. Louis. He is not the most talkative person but when you can get him to chat he is very polite. I have bought a number of classic silver commemortives from him. He is pricey, near the top of the Trends value list, however, many of his coins that I bought were crossed and upgraded by PCGS. Not much on toned coins. Usually white or very lightly toned. I have never bought a poor coin from him.

MrEureka

He also seems like an old timer...

"Old timer"? (I think Gus and I started at right about the same time.)

Well, at least I get to tell you some of the stories about Gus in the old days!

Longacre

<< <i>He also seems like an old timer...

"Old timer"? (I think Gus and I started at right about the same time.)

Well, at least I get to tell you some of the stories about Gus in the old days! >>





I thought he was a lot older. Sorry about that.

DaveG

Longacre:

By the way, Gus was at GSNA today.



He kept asking: "Who is Longacre and why does he hate me?"

SUPERCARCOINS

..........i like to watch him comb his hair............