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Cherry-pickers Poll: Which is most satisfying? CP'ing a dealer or CP'ing yourself?

Both give me a thrill akin to a gambling win, but I find cherrypicking myself always leads to a wee bit of self-loathing.

Ala, "How could I have not seen this variety when I first purchased it? I must be slipping!"

Examining a 1953-D 25c I just got back from PCGS I see it is an FS-601 D/D/D/S repunched mintmark. At MS66 this is a pop.1 poptop.
image

Comments

  • morgandollar1878morgandollar1878 Posts: 4,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I only cherrypicked myself once, and that was when I first started looking for varieties. All of my new purchases get looked over if I don't remember the varieties for a particular date. I don't like taking the CPG with me to shows because I don't want to annoy dealers, so many varieties I have memorized.
    Instagram: nomad_numismatics
  • seanqseanq Posts: 8,688 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Definitely dealers, and some dealers are more satisfying to pick than others. image


    Sean Reynolds
    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,352 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I did just Cherry Pick myself this morning. I was rumbling around in the bowels of the vault and found a roll of unc 1878-S Morgan Dollars, 3 of which are VAM 17 (A or B, not sure).
    I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector.
    Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
  • rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There are many levels of cherrypicking satisfaction. In order of preference:

    1. Cherrypicking a dishonest dealer you don't like, in person
    2. Cherrypicking yourself just before selling an item to aforementioned dealer, who was salivating all over it and tipped you off
    3. Cherrypicking someone via BIN on eBay who is deliberately overpricing their coins to take advantage of the clueless
    4. Cherrypicking anyone else on eBay, because THEY are clueless
    5. Cherrypicking something in your own collection. Bo-ring! Hopefully, you acquired the coin by method #1 above.
    6. Cherrypicking a dealer you like, telling them about it beforehand, and having to pay 50% more for the coin as a result.
    7. Not cherrypicking anything
    8. Cherrypicking a person who has coins to sell and doesn't know anything about coins- an unethical practice that should never be done.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,506 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Definitely dealers, and some dealers are more satisfying to pick than others. image


    Sean Reynolds >>

    image
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,408 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Every pick is satisfying, but gratification is the key, and that's a rarity.
  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cherry picking a dealer-you can cherry pick yourself anytime. When cherry picking a dealer you have to be first in line.
    image
  • RampageRampage Posts: 9,476 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well, I cherrypicked a 1900-P Proof Morgan dollar from a shop's Morgan dollar bin. I showed it to him and asked what he thought. He said junk. I said proof. He said junk again. So, I bought it and sent it to PCGS where they graded it Proof 50. I showed it to the shop again and he said he could throw half a dozen more in there and never realize it.



  • stealerstealer Posts: 4,007 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Well, I cherrypicked a 1900-P Proof Morgan dollar from a shop's Morgan dollar bin. I showed it to him and asked what he thought. He said junk. I said proof. He said junk again. So, I bought it and sent it to PCGS where they graded it Proof 50. I showed it to the shop again and he said he could throw half a dozen more in there and never realize it. >>


    If I had seen the coin I wouldn't have asked the dealer what he thought of it.

    Why would you do that? image Of course, if you have a good relationship with the dealer that is a different story.
  • RampageRampage Posts: 9,476 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Well, I cherrypicked a 1900-P Proof Morgan dollar from a shop's Morgan dollar bin. I showed it to him and asked what he thought. He said junk. I said proof. He said junk again. So, I bought it and sent it to PCGS where they graded it Proof 50. I showed it to the shop again and he said he could throw half a dozen more in there and never realize it. >>


    If I had seen the coin I wouldn't have asked the dealer what he thought of it.

    Why would you do that? image Of course, if you have a good relationship with the dealer that is a different story. >>



    I have a great relationship with the dealer. In fact, he knows that I cherrypick all the time and he is fine with it. Even if he thought it was a proof after I had already picked it (and before paying), he would still let me buy it. He is the most honest coin dealer I have ever met. There have been numerous times where he has even gone as far as to ask me for my opinion on certain thing because he knows I will have an answer for him.





  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,743 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Well, I cherrypicked a 1900-P Proof Morgan dollar from a shop's Morgan dollar bin. I showed it to him and asked what he thought. He said junk. I said proof. He said junk again. So, I bought it and sent it to PCGS where they graded it Proof 50. I showed it to the shop again and he said he could throw half a dozen more in there and never realize it. >>



    My kind of dealer-I would be in that coin shop almost every day.
    Bob
    image


  • << <i>There are many levels of cherrypicking satisfaction. In order of preference:

    1. Cherrypicking a dishonest dealer you don't like, in person
    2. Cherrypicking yourself just before selling an item to aforementioned dealer, who was salivating all over it and tipped you off
    3. Cherrypicking someone via BIN on eBay who is deliberately overpricing their coins to take advantage of the clueless
    4. Cherrypicking anyone else on eBay, because THEY are clueless
    5. Cherrypicking something in your own collection. Bo-ring! Hopefully, you acquired the coin by method #1 above.
    6. Cherrypicking a dealer you like, telling them about it beforehand, and having to pay 50% more for the coin as a result.
    7. Not cherrypicking anything
    8. Cherrypicking a person who has coins to sell and doesn't know anything about coins- an unethical practice that should never be done. >>



    That looks about right, but I would add

    5.5 Cherrypicking a dealer you like, telling them about it beforehand, and paying no extra premium because they are happy for you and like to learn more about varieties.
    Collector:
    Currency - 1928-1929-1934 Series Stars All Denom. - 126 of ~846
    Lincoln Cent Varieties
    Baseball cards: Kirby Puckett
  • DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,334 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Depends on the dealer.

    I had great pleasure in cherrypicking a quarter off of the famous AH about 6 years ago.

    Seems he missed a very important 'dot' (Canadian coin).

    A $200 purchase turned into a $1400 quick flip.
    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
  • seanqseanq Posts: 8,688 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I remember at a small local show years ago, a dealer got impatient with me after I'd spent some time rummaging through his inventory. He barked, "You're wasting your time looking for stuff in there, I attribute every coin I get!" So I thanked him for the advice, paid him for the 1890 QDO Indian cent in XF and 1945-P TDR Jefferson nickel in AU I'd set aside from his stock, and walked away with a smile.


    Sean Reynolds
    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • ambro51ambro51 Posts: 13,823 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image...cherrypicking the club 'expert' selling some of his stuff in the club auction.....image
  • Type2Type2 Posts: 13,985 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's just fun picking anyone but alot more fun when you pick a Dealer I dont know why but it is....image


    Hoard the keys.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,298 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Definitely dealers, and some dealers are more satisfying to pick than others. >>

    image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    When I go out looking for varieties at shows and I find a variety in which I don't need I will point them out to the dealers. The last show I went to one of the dealers I pointed out a 1940-S/S Mercury dime at an earlier show was telling me he sold it at that show and thanked me. At the ANA show this summer I told a dealer he had a 1941-S DDR and suggested he find someone with a microscope to confirm.

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • Cherry Picking dealers
    I usually sell them once I get them to expand my biz.
    My latest pick is a 1927-s quarter in XF

    Recent picks:
    1882 O/S for $30. Came back as a ms-63
    1908-s Indian for $3. Came back as VF-20
    1901-s quarter for $8. Came back as a genuine but I was still happy.
    1916-d dime for $2.55 came back as a AG-3
    1872 Cc dime for $10 came back as a genuine
    1889-CC $1 for $28 cane back as a VG-8
    1916 dateless quarter for $5.75 cane back as f-2
    1936-d quarter for $6. Darkly toned I dipped and submitted, she came back a ms-65

    These are from my local dealers. There spread is pretty wide but picking makes it so worth it.

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