Pluses & minuses of selling a Registry Set - any thoughts?

Monstavet

The last couple of days, I have started thinking about selling one of my registry sets, really just toying with the idea more than anything else. Wanted to know what peoples' thoughts are on keeping a set once completed versus selling it. Reasons to do either, and ways to go about selling (intact, coin by coin, groups of coins, etc.) . What are your thoughts?

BTW, the set is my Kennedy Proof Set, 100% complete, currently at #9 on the Registry. The set is two fairly easy-to-find upgrades (of about $250 apiece) away from moving into a tie for 6th. To move up higher than that will require big money, and patience.
Here is a link, if anybody cares: Kennedy Reigstry Sets - I am #9

Thanks for your input!

MadMarty

Nice set... When my set is complete, I'm going to upgrade what I can and put it away for my retirement (ya never know, the company I work for could be the next Enron)...

Monstavet

Well, I think if it were proof Morgans like your set, I would not be thinking about selling it. Don't get me wrong, I love Kennedy half dollars, but their upside potential is , shall we say, a little less than a complete proof Morgan set! Good luck finding that last proof Morgan - I am sure your set is great!

andy007

I haven't got around to buying the last few common date proofs to finish my set(#25 right now), but once complete, it would fall right ahead of your set. What I'm trying to say is go ahead and put that baby up for auction so I can get a good value on my set

dpoole

Monstavet,

Unless your particular set is particularly near and dear to your heart, it may not be a bad time to sell.

The Registry idea is still fresh and active, and activity still abounds among people who entertain a chance of moving up in the rankings. This may not always be true. Coins, as we know, go up and down in value, and don't keep anything like an upward trajectory over time. You obviously are aware that nobody can predict anything about what coin values are going to do.

What we do know, though, is that Registry grade coins have moved up in price recently, and, like Labute and others, it maybe smart to cash in on emotionally expendible sets now.

Not that I'D do it, of course.

gary

dpoole,some sets may be selling,but others like my # 4 modern proof type set seems to be dead..gary

MoneyLA

In the last few months Ive sold both the #1 Washington silver proof set (still listed in all time list) and a second set which was once the #2 set but I did not have it remain in the all time list. Frankly, my plan was always to sell them and to move on to another series to collect-- and to leave my name in some record along the way. Ive left my name, Ive sold my sets, now onto other things.

Did I feel bad about selling? Yes. If I had the resources to only buy and never sell, I would only buy and never sell. But I dont have that much cash. I like to accomplish something and move on, sorta a numismatic "been there, done that" psychology.

The pleasure of knowing that I had been there and done that is the memory that I enjoy.

cheers, alan mendelson

fletch2645

I recently sold a registry quality MS69 set of Silver Eagles coin by coin and did much better than I thought I would have by selling it as a complete set. Who knows, though. Now seems to be a good time to sell if you are not too attached to the set you are describing.

Joshua

I've sold a couple of sets most notably a mercury dime set and a proof Indian Head penny set both through a large auction company (Heritage). They were great in dealing with and getting the coins to the widest of audiences. If the market for your coins is heating up and you have some coins that others above you might need then it would be a good time to sell the coins individually through an auction house. It's always tough to part with coins you like but if the timing is right there are always other sets to collect. Hope this helps a little. Joshua

oreville

I met (many times) and viewed the grandaddy of probably some of the greatest of all coin collections back in 1971. They sold some of their great coins in 1980 or 1981 but the majority of theri great collection was sold in 1996.

It broke their heart to ever think they would ever have to sell but they had gotten old and then passed away. Coins were the light of their lives. But helping out other collectors were even more important to them. I was one of those fortunate young collectors.

The great collectors? Henry and Emma Mae Norweb. They taught me almost everything I know about coins. I would never trade what I have learned from them about coins and life for a million dollars!

Coins are not for selling if you are a collector. You buy the coin once, you are responsible for it for the rest of your life until the next generation takes over and carries on your need to be a curator of coins.

I broke ther Norweb's rule in 1983 when I sold my walking liberty half set. It broke my heart and now I have spent even more $$$ just buying just ONE of Jack Lee's walker than the entire gem set I used to own. I would gladly take my old set back in a heart beat.

PhillyJoe

Just thinking out loud, how would you assign a value to your set? Would you price it at PCGS (as many sellers do), greysheet,would you discount it because someone is buying all 51 coins at once, or would you charge a premium for the time and expense in putting together a complete collection. I'm asking for philosophy not dollar amounts.

Joe

shirohniichan

Complete date sets have traditionally sold at a premium, but I don't know about registry sets.

Monstavet

Well, I have decided to sell the set. I could spend quite a bit more money to end up at #6...to go up to the first page will require me to play the PR70 versus PR69 game...and I don't have the motivation to buy coins that are essentially the same in my mind(but that is another subject that has been debated a lot here).

Thanks for all of the input on this. THis set is important to me, as it symbolizes a change in my collecting habits, and it also got me involved in these boards. Both of these things have made me a better coin collector. While the set is important to me, the money I get from selling will allow me to pursue some of the other sets I am interested in (especially proof Jeffersons).

As for how I will sell the set, I have decided to break it up and sell it in small groups of coins. I want to keep certain individaul coins for my type set, as well as a couple that I just plain like. Look for the coins to start showing up on the BS&T board this coming week, before going over to Ebay. I am not looking to "make a profit," just hopefully get my money back in most cases. I will try to offer the coins at a discount here on the boards. If interested in something particular from the set, please PM me.

Thanks to everyone on these boards! Hopefully someday I will be able to give back some of the knowledge that I take away from these boards everyday!