At major auctions, who buys more - Dealers or Collectors?

TopographicOceans

tradedollarnut

Yes

TopographicOceans

Are you sure?

BillJones

Back in the '70s when it seemed that a lot more coins were bought on the auction floor and people tended to make personal pick-ups unstead of having the coins shipped, it seemed like dealers bought coins in greater volumes. I can't speak to the dollat amounts.

BAJJERFAN

I would think it would be one or the other.

joebb21

dealers normally.

ricko

Probably varies with the size of the show.... for example, FUN may be more on the dealer side, and small shows more on the collector side.... This is just an assumption on my part, nothing to back it up. Cheers, RickO

silverpop

whoever has the most cash to spend

roadrunner

Maybe things have changed since 1975-2006. But during those periods the majority of buyers at the bigger "floor" auctions were dealers, even if many were buying on commission for collectors. Internet only auctions are a different animal. A large % of collectors feel comfort in buying something directly from a dealer they trust, even if it means they find it for them at auction and then resell it to them.

MrEureka

My understanding is that collectors buy more significantly more than dealers at the major auctions.

TopographicOceans

Looks like a split decision.

But the collectors wind up with the coins eventually, so we'll give them the victory

Timbuk3

Dealers !!! :-(

rays

Almost impossible to know.
For most auctions, the overwhelming majority of floor bidders are dealers. With the advent of internet bidding, a higher and higher proportion of lots are won by non-floor bidders.

Many more collectors turn out to major sales, such as Eliasberg, Husak, etc.