How long do you think about the ones that got away?

Zoins · September 14, 2015 2:02PM

In the process of collecting, there are always coins that got away. What's the longest you've thought about something that got away from you?

For the vast majority of the pieces I look at, it's out of sight out of mind. For a few, it's a month or so. It seems like only the rare occasion that I think about a missed item for more than a few months, but if it goes beyond that, I may keep thinking about it

bob48 · September 14, 2015 3:23PM

I am out of sight, out of mind.

There is always a new coin to buy for the sets I am working on.
If I thought it was a good buy then I would have bought it.
If over priced and I passed on it then maybe the next table at the coin shows has just what I need for the other set I am working on. or the next....

I try to get around the show before I buy anything, unless it is too good to pass up. That way I had a chance to see all the dealers before I bought anything.

lasvegasteddy · September 14, 2015 3:34PM

<<< forever
like alot of things other then coins too
c'est la vie

TopographicOceans · September 14, 2015 3:38PM

I don't chase 5 figure coins, so I've learned that if I miss out on one coin another one comes along down the road - and it can be even nicer than the one I missed out on.

oih82w8 · September 14, 2015 9:44PM

Not until you brought it up!

Thanks!

There was a Oregon Commemorative that I was waiting for the eBay Bonus Bucks to come around again, and it sold at Baltimore (earlier this year) before the bucks came around again. It sure was a nicely toned one and I am hoping that it pops up again at another dealers site.

BillJones · September 14, 2015 10:18PM

It is rare for me to think about a coin or medal that I did not buy. Generally it's "out of sight, out of mind" for me.

Still there is one piece that I kick myself to this day for not buying. It was an "1800" (The piece was actually struck a year later.) inaugural medal for Thomas Jefferson. About a dozen are known in silver, and I had a chance and the money to buy it. I didn't pull the trigger because I made the mistake of listening to advice that the price was too high and that it would come down. I missed my shot, and the chance to acquire one won't come again.

jdimmick · September 14, 2015 10:49PM

For me , pretty much out of sight out of mind, because it most likely went over what I could stretch to afford.

but, I do have a couple I regret selling

Broadstruck · September 14, 2015 10:57PM

I don't think about coins as anything I've ever passed on can be bought again.

There's one Rarity-2 Hard Times Token in CH-BU RB I passed on in 2008 as the floor ask was $750 and I missed it when it sold at auction for $200.

It's only common in VF-XF and if I could go back I'd gladly pay the $750 today as I've never seen another.

JJSingleton · September 14, 2015 11:03PM

There are a couple I will never forget. So I voted "Forever". But most coins that got away get very little thought, if ever.

cmerlo1 · September 14, 2015 11:12PM

I still think about this one. I bid over $400 (the most I could afford, and was really stretching it) on it and really thought I had it, then got sniped by a fellow forum member who saw what I saw.

TwoSides2aCoin · September 14, 2015 11:26PM

The pondering drives me crazy. So, I celebrate with the person who scored. Typicially with a "you suck". Then , let it go thinking : "C'est la vie " (such is life)

I remember holding on to the thoughts a few times and it only frustrated me.

JCLIGHTBRIGADE · September 15, 2015 12:02AM

For awhile, I recently lost out on a coin at DLRC with a starting bid of $140. I'd watched it all week and hit bid and it took at least 20 seconds before the confirm screen pulled up.

I was asleep watching the spinning thing and it took so long the auction ended, no bidders.

The coin then went up on Ebay and sold within minutes for BIN price of $165.

Based on my previous sales my valuation was $1,500-$2,000.

oih82w8 · September 15, 2015 12:05AM

<< <i>For awhile, I recently lost out on a coin at DLRC with a starting bid of $140. I'd watched it all week and hit bid and it took at least 20 seconds before the confirm screen pulled up.

I was asleep watching the spinning thing and it took so long the auction ended, no bidders... >>

I missed out on a DLRC website auction as well, I believe that their website is a hand-me-down from stacks...IOW it stinks!

Kyle · September 15, 2015 12:11AM

About 3 months ago I missed out on a high grade 1879-S morgan (raw) with incredible toning. I still think about that coin from time to time, I wish I had remembered to place my max bid (Which was going to be much higher than what it ended up selling for) before I had gone to bed the night before.

I just keep telling myself that it was probably cleaned and AT'd.

seanq · September 15, 2015 12:39AM

In the early days of eBay I passed on a clipped 1813 large cent, with really nice surfaces and about a 15% clip at K-3 with incredible flow marks and character. I had just started branching out into collecting type clips and it felt expensive to me at the time ($99.... seriously). I've never seen a nicer Classic Head clip since and I paid multiples for the decent but unexciting example currently in my set.

I can count the coins I regret bying on one hand, but I'd need a lot more fingers for the ones I regret letting get away.

Sean Reynolds

1Bustcollector · September 15, 2015 3:25AM

Not for me. I generally have a very good idea in the series I dabble in. For example, when it comes to bust quarters, I have a very experienced idea if I need to pull the trigger because I've done decades of research. It doesn't mean a nicer example will never pop up but it does mean Im very aware of making a good decision at the particular time an opportunity arises. I do not need to know all the players, but it helps. What works is staying abreast and updating my records, which I have to consider "a living document" and not a finite. Everyone makes mistakes, staying sharp is key. I do know that another coin will come around....but I also wait for the one I already have in mind or better. I try to eliminate as much risk as possible. Finally, timing is key. I could be an expert in my series but know nothing about timing of the Market which is extremely important all the time.

ctf_error_coins · September 15, 2015 3:32AM

It use to bother me a lot.

I have worked on changing my mindset in the last year.

Now, it never bothers me, there are always others coins next week .....

david3142 · September 15, 2015 3:34AM

I answered 5-9 years. There is one coin I really regretted not purchasing. It was a beautifully toned quarter in MS67*. The price was reasonable too at $425. It was the nicest one I had ever seen and I always thought about that decision... until... I found this one. It's only a 66* but the color speaks for itself. I'd love to see the other coin again for a comparison, but oh well.

Walkerfan · September 15, 2015 4:04AM

Only one or two coins that bothered me that I didn't purchase. I thought about it for a of couple years, until I got ones that were equally nice. I've been told that I have a great memory, so now I just remember them but they don't bother me anymore.

Boosibri · September 15, 2015 4:18AM

Depends on the coin. I missed a 47-O $5 in 45 CAC by minutes for $8k. I still envy the guy that snagged it.

2ndCharter · September 15, 2015 4:37AM

This is a story about a New York State National Bank Note, not a coin, but it fits this thread. In September of 1980, I attended my first "real" paper money auction which was held by NASCA in New York City. There was one note I really wanted and bid way over my budget (at that time), got cold feet, and dropped out at $500 (and it sold for $550). Some time later, a dealer friend of mine told me that the winning bidder was another dealer representing a client and he said, don't worry, you'll get another chance some day. Well, the dealer who won the note has long since passed away and, 35 years later, the note has yet to reappear. It's not in any of the major New York collections and has never made another auction appearance. Maybe someday.....

ambro51 · September 15, 2015 4:39AM

I think about family and pets that are gone....but a coin is just a few grams of metal.

roadrunner · September 15, 2015 5:21AM

The first really important coin that got away from me was in 1975. Luckily, I was able to buy it in 1986.

I still think about coins from the 1970's that got away. One in particular was a gem 1854 seated dollar at the 1976 ANA sale. I sat through the sale and was basically afraid to bid. It sold for a paltry $3K or so...and under my bid. That was a very tough date to find in Unc until the "5 sisters" showed up some years later.

When you have the catalogs around to remind you, it's hard to forget.

HandH · September 15, 2015 11:42AM

As I've only been collecting less than 10 years I voted for 5-9 years but I know I will regret missing out on one coin for a very long time. An 1861 $5 P58 CAC that was simply georgeous form a point of view of original color and skin. Was in the first two years of collecting and couldn't pull the trigger on the financial investment. Granted, it was less than a month after I purchased an 1864 $2.50 in P58 CAC that was quite a move for me. Today, in a heartbeat. Unfortunately today, that coin will be unavailable for a long time and any comparable is considerably higher than what was asked at the time. For my collection, that omission I am constantly reminded about.

astrorat · September 15, 2015 2:49PM

A few have gotten away, temporarily, but I was able to finally capture.

Others ... well ... I am still waiting.

VanHalen · September 15, 2015 2:53PM

I've been thinking about her for 27 years.

It just wasn't meant to be.

Twobitcollector · September 15, 2015 8:16PM

Not at all there will always be another one, even the 33 Saint

agentjim007 · September 15, 2015 10:20PM

Not nearly as long as the mistake I'm stuck with. Never lost money on the one that got away.

AMRC · September 16, 2015 12:40AM

It is much easier to forget that you overpaid for a coin that you liked, then it is a coin you liked very much but let go because you did not want to meet the price.

How long do you think about the ones that got away?

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