I lost my shirt, and feel sick.

CoinBuyer12 · January 19, 2013 11:19AM

I bought this CWT cheap off a buddy to resell. I start things out cheap to attract bidders. I cannot believe how low this went for. I feel sick to my stomach.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARP-1863-ARMY-AND-NAVY-TOKEN-AU-UNC-RED-BROWN-/200880515877?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec5696b25&nma=true&si=fQHg%2F4B7W%2BnO0i0294hLpcNMefM%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Goldbully · January 19, 2013 11:20AM

Linky Dinky Winky

What is cheap? Civil War raw tokens on eBay?....Take your chances!! Sorry if you lost $$$ Cool Copper!!!

mrpotatoheadd · January 19, 2013 11:23AM

<< I start things out cheap to attract bidders. >>

And this usually attracts cheap bidders. Sometimes, that's all it attracts. Sorry to hear about your poor results.

CoinBuyer12 · January 19, 2013 11:25AM

Dunno. I usually start everything at 4.99, and always end up doing well. This is really a 1st for me. I was hoping this would of least brought $35-$40, it still has mint luster for pete's sake!

coinsarefun · January 19, 2013 11:28AM

I cannot begin to tell you how many CWT's, HTT's and other tokens....not to mention coins that
I have bought and sold at tremendous losses. Not to make light of what you just sold. Yes it probably should
have sold for $40-60 but if you do a .99 auction and not a BIN/ make offer that's what can happen.

I have bought $1.200 toned Morgan CC's only to turn around and sell it for $400-600.
And I am not the first nor the last one who has experienced this.

Again I don't mean to sound negative but that's what happens.

Now on the other hand I have done some absolute killer cherry picks on eBay and you may have done so
If not you will one day

keyman64 · January 19, 2013 11:30AM

Really cool item from a cool era for that price.

LindeDad · January 19, 2013 11:34AM

Images show the scratches that will keep it a RAW token. I actually would of dropped out at about $10.00 and many in the know never got into the game.

LanceNewmanOCC · January 19, 2013 11:50AM

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
.

coindeuce · January 19, 2013 11:56AM

You just got a very inexpensive lesson in marketing. Class dismissed.

lkeigwin · January 19, 2013 11:58AM

<< 

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
. >>

Indeed. I'm sure it feels bad but there are much rougher roads ahead.
Lance.

LotsoLuck · January 19, 2013 12:00PM

<< 

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
. >>

Boy howdy.

I think if you look through ebays sold you will find it went in the ballpark of what it should have. Even in plastic I doubt it would have fetched much more than $50-$60.
It is a common cwt, a nice cwt but common.

DoubleEagle59 · January 19, 2013 12:03PM

<< 

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
. >>

I agree.

What did you lose then, $20 thereabouts?

This is not 'losing one's shirt'.

My last run of Ebay items, I had $850 into them and I received only $700 for them (after fees).

That's the Ebay game.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

It's only money.

TwoSides2aCoin · January 19, 2013 12:19PM

Hopes are dashed selling, and lessons are learned.
Great collections are built buying and lessons are taught.

eBay ! It's a beautiful venue on both ends of the spectrum.
As often as I say "It sucks, it does".

It's all good.

agentjim007 · January 19, 2013 12:21PM

If 20 bucks makes you sick to your stomach find a new hobby.i ate $170 last coin I sold at a loss.

AUandAG · January 19, 2013 12:24PM

A couple of observations:

It's a very common piece.

It looks messed with on the obverse with someone trying to cover those scratches with
a dellers darkner or such.

You got a fair price.

bob

rhedden · January 19, 2013 12:26PM

If it is a common variety of CWT, good luck selling it on eBay. You'll only make money in an auction when multiple bidders compete for a rare or highly desirable item. Forget about it on the common stuff.

Justacommeman · January 19, 2013 12:29PM

Sometimes you get the bull, sometimes you get the horns

MJ

291fifth · January 19, 2013 12:36PM

It is a common "patriotic" with problems. It sold for about what is worth.

BAJJERFAN · January 19, 2013 1:22PM

At least it wasn't FREE shipping!

CoinZip · January 19, 2013 1:46PM

There are alternatives.

Wabbit2313 · January 19, 2013 2:31PM

I am out more than that every time my Daughter swipes here PayPal Student card, which is often! I only get sick though if she is buying her boyfriend lunch. Then I get mad. Then I get over it!!

Walkerfan · January 19, 2013 3:25PM

<< 

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
. >>

REALLY--35 bucks is NOTHING. I once lost $850 on one deal.

WTCG · January 19, 2013 3:48PM

<< 

<< I feel sick to my stomach. >>

if this makes you sick, you have some really hard roads ahead of you in numismatics
. >>

That's pretty much it. You didn't lose your home over this deal, the repo man isn't looking for your car and the Feds didn't seize the rest of your coins so you didn't lose your shirt. Consider this experience a learning experience and move on.

The smartest and most successful dealers in the numismatic world have all lost big money (four, five or even six figures) on deals at one time or another. Best thing to do is to not stew in despair and move on to the next transaction.

tradedollarnut · January 19, 2013 4:21PM

I lost $3M when I shut my Seattle company down. But it's all relative

Pokermandude · January 19, 2013 4:38PM

<< What did you lose then, $20 thereabouts?

This is not 'losing one's shirt'. >>

I suppose technically $20 is about the value of one's literal shirt

If a $20 bath is your worst so far on Ebay in 1000+ transactions, you're doing amazingly well.

Justlooking · January 19, 2013 4:52PM

Most of my shirts cost about $20. Some graded Civil War pieces went pretty high tonight. I was justlooking.

lordmarcovan · January 19, 2013 8:46PM

Man, that stinks. Looks like a decent piece.

Sorry you lost out.

But of course with auctions, that's always a chance one takes. I think you're right to take the chance and start low to attract bidders. It doesn't always work, as we're seeing here, but overall it's a good strategy, I think.

Or at least it's been good for me with world coins. My world coin auctions usually do pretty well and the coins usually end up going back to their home countries, where they have a following.

Rampage · January 19, 2013 10:47PM

In terms of percentage, sure you took a hit. But, in reality, if losing $20 to $30 is making you that sick, then you should be doing something else. Consider yourself lucky that it was not a $1,000 coin.

DorkGirl · January 19, 2013 10:54PM

I've had coins sell for less than face. You did OK compared to that....

derryb · January 19, 2013 10:56PM

What did you learn?

PerryHall · January 19, 2013 11:04PM

I get the feeling that Coinbuyer12 is a young kid that is new to coin dealing and that $20 is a lot of money to him.

ambro51 · January 19, 2013 11:12PM

Don't get rough here...Bowers started this stuff as a kid and see where it fit HIM

DoubleEagle59 · January 19, 2013 11:22PM

<< I get the feeling that Coinbuyer12 is a young kid that is new to coin dealing and that $20 is a lot of money to him. >>

I never thought of that.

If that's the case, I apologise for my comment.

BillJones · January 19, 2013 11:34PM

Unfortunately that design (liberty heard obverse, "Army & Navy reverse) appears on many varieties of Civil War tokens. For that reason collector interest is low. A somewhat casual collector like me sort of lumps them all together, and usually one example in your collection with this design is enough. Even the varieties that Fuld claims are rare bring low prices relative to their rarity rating and must be carefully marketed to bring a commensurate price.

LanLord · January 19, 2013 11:49PM

Just consider that part of the tuition you pay for a numismatic education

RadioContestKing · January 20, 2013 12:20AM

<< I get the feeling that Coinbuyer12 is a young kid that is new to coin dealing and that $20 is a lot of money to him. >>

He Has been selling on Ebay since 2003 doesn't appear to be a Y/N. I would also like to know if the OP collects anything? It appears to me he is a seller only. And after 10 years on Ebay selling and to post you lost your shirt and feel sick? Sorry but the OP needs to read more threads instead of starting them...................JMO Enjoy

ctf_error_coins · January 20, 2013 12:22AM

I always run 99 cent auctions Because they do attract buyers.

Sometimes you win other times no. On the whole tho, you should be winning.

I have (20) 99 cent auctions that end today and will put up another 20 tonight.

It is all part of the game.

yellowkid · January 20, 2013 12:23AM

One of the reasons I stopped buying tokens.........

astrorat · January 20, 2013 12:26AM

<< I've had coins sell for less than face. You did OK compared to that....

>>

Dang! Sorry to laugh ... but that is pretty funny.

astrorat · January 20, 2013 12:28AM

Edited to remove empathy after re-reading that the OP was "sick to his stomach" that he couldn't benefit from ripping his buddy on the CWT.

Karma is a bitçh ... and she has a great memory.

Wabbit2313 · January 20, 2013 12:30AM

<< I lost $3M when I shut my Seattle company down. But it's all relative >>

A guy who can lose 3 MM can afford a little more loss. Go drive up my 1895-S Redfield!

Which by the way started at 99 cents now that I think about it!!

Sonorandesertrat · January 20, 2013 12:55AM

Most collectors (dealers too) take a beating now and then.
Many collectors lose their shirts the minute they buy certain coins---they just don't realize that at the time.

braddick · January 20, 2013 1:43AM

Just sell five more of those swap meet 75c Indian cents on eBay at $5. each and you'll be fine...

TomB · January 20, 2013 1:44AM

<< I get the feeling that Coinbuyer12 is a young kid that is new to coin dealing and that $20 is a lot of money to him. >>

I think it is much more likely that CoinBuyer12 has significant history on other coin boards under a different user name.

sniocsu · January 20, 2013 1:45AM

Just not an example of losing your shirt...

BigDowgie · January 20, 2013 2:09AM

I did not like how the story started, " I bought this cheap off a buddy". Sorry you did not make a bunch of money!

lcoopie · January 20, 2013 2:37AM

Better than losing your car or house

BillJones · January 20, 2013 2:40AM

All of us have lost money on a coin, medal or token at one time or another. It's part of the hobby. We have also sold things for less than we should have gotten.

The token in question is not a big deal. It's no like you got pennies on the dollar for a really neat item; it is common and kind of boring. I'd just move on.

GBurger717 · January 20, 2013 3:00AM

I sold a lot of 17 Civil War tokens about a month of so ago for 90 bucks. They were holed and all but in Gettysburg I would have sold the same at 20 each. Lesson learned

LogPotato · January 20, 2013 3:17AM

<< 

<< I get the feeling that Coinbuyer12 is a young kid that is new to coin dealing and that $20 is a lot of money to him. >>

I think it is much more likely that CoinBuyer12 has significant history on other coin boards under a different user name. >>

I lost my shirt, and feel sick.

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