Oh...this is such a sore subject for me, as it is truly one of my biggest regrets. It is, however, one of the biggest reasons I got back into collecting a couple years ago.
When I was about 19 or 20 years old, I saved up ALL summer to buy what I felt to be just the most gorgeous and alluring coin at the time: a 1928 MS64 St. Gaudens $20 gold piece. I acquired the coin and had never beheld something so valuable in my position. I grew up under some pretty challenging circumstances and was, in fact, the first in my family to attend and later graduate from a university. The contrast between that beautiful coin that I beheld in my hand and where I had come from meant more than I can put into words.. About a year later, in 2005, I was engaged with a woman and wanted to travel to Australia to visit my family (my stepdad had adopted me some years previous and I wanted to experience his homeland). We sometimes do crazy things when we are in love.
In 2005, the price of gold was around $400, I believe, and I received perhaps $650 for the coin, if my memory serves me correctly. I was able to travel and had an amazing trip, to be true. Around this time, I also sold my grandpa's coin collection he had gifted me. I am pretty ashamed of this, but I made the horrible and awful mistake of cleaning those coins--I did not know better. I ended up having to sell the mostly junk silver for melt (a combination of Morgans, Walking Liberties, and Washington quarters), as the value for the Saint was not enough.
It is true that I needed the money at the time but I did not appreciate the value of what I was selling and every day since then has been about trying to reckon with that through a renewed and reinvigorated coin collection that now dwarfs what I owned then. That is a big part of what collecting coins represents to me: a reckoning with my past mistakes with a renewed appreciation for value. So, in the final analysis, it is truly bittersweet.
1968-S PR70 DCAM Roosevelt Dime - Pop 1
1961 PR68 DCAM Franklin Half
1959 PR68 DCAM Lincoln Cent
1964-D MS66+ Toned Kennedy Half
All 4 were bought raw, I didn't realize how difficult the 61 Franklin and 59 Lincoln would be to replace with another raw coin. However, sold both of them near what was the peak of the market since I've been collecting, so not bad decisions.
The only one I truly regret selling is the Kennedy, it gave me more joy than the proceeds of the sale.
I've sold a few coins off and on over the years, and so far no major regrets. It takes me a bit of time to decide what to sell, so that could be a factor. When those sales result in getting a nice upgrade for one of my sets, it makes the sale that much easier.
I regret selling a high grade 1795 S-76b large cent I had, not because I don’t have one, but because the replacement cost me so much more. The coin I had probably would have gone into a Mint State holder although an expert grader told me 35 years ago that “It was missing a few molecules on the surface.” I sold it to raise money to buy my first Gobrecht Dollar. The piece I have now is a bit better, it even has a slight trace of red on it, but it cost me 8 times the amount I got for the first one.
As an observation, early copper guys views this variety as a “common coin” even in AU and Mint State. I saw a number of them offered in Mint State holders when I was shopping for the replacement, BUT a lot of them had planchet issues. Since the planchet problems were mint caused, I guess the graders gave them a pass. Still, it you are looking for a high grade piece, I much prefer one that was struck on a decent piece of copper.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
To answer honestly yes an no!
I have owned many coins in my days of collecting. At one time sat on near 2lbs of gold coins , Ive owned some very special low mintages, as well .
But sometimes one needs think about moving on to other pastures, one may need the money to make a next move...so yeah I have owned loved and let go...so someone else can enjoy....i will post a couple I wish were still a part of the collection....but at 67 collecting since 7 ,knowing very well ya can't take them with you....that sooner or later you will part company.
So yeah I am guilty of both having buyer and seller remorse! But then I think....hey Im not still driving the same car I was at 16.....time moves..on....and so do coins....so unless your budget is bottomless ,sometimes one must sell to move on.....
However this one may go with me lol
I DO have a few coins that members wish they hadn't sold to me and would buy them back...
Old toned gold, anyone?
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
Yes, most of them, until payment is made and a few days have gone by... the best is when there's instant payment and I get timely feedback that the buyer is completely satisfied then there's absolutely no regret.
Comments
Nope.
Oh...this is such a sore subject for me, as it is truly one of my biggest regrets. It is, however, one of the biggest reasons I got back into collecting a couple years ago.
When I was about 19 or 20 years old, I saved up ALL summer to buy what I felt to be just the most gorgeous and alluring coin at the time: a 1928 MS64 St. Gaudens $20 gold piece. I acquired the coin and had never beheld something so valuable in my position. I grew up under some pretty challenging circumstances and was, in fact, the first in my family to attend and later graduate from a university. The contrast between that beautiful coin that I beheld in my hand and where I had come from meant more than I can put into words.. About a year later, in 2005, I was engaged with a woman and wanted to travel to Australia to visit my family (my stepdad had adopted me some years previous and I wanted to experience his homeland). We sometimes do crazy things when we are in love.
In 2005, the price of gold was around $400, I believe, and I received perhaps $650 for the coin, if my memory serves me correctly. I was able to travel and had an amazing trip, to be true. Around this time, I also sold my grandpa's coin collection he had gifted me. I am pretty ashamed of this, but I made the horrible and awful mistake of cleaning those coins--I did not know better. I ended up having to sell the mostly junk silver for melt (a combination of Morgans, Walking Liberties, and Washington quarters), as the value for the Saint was not enough.
It is true that I needed the money at the time but I did not appreciate the value of what I was selling and every day since then has been about trying to reckon with that through a renewed and reinvigorated coin collection that now dwarfs what I owned then. That is a big part of what collecting coins represents to me: a reckoning with my past mistakes with a renewed appreciation for value. So, in the final analysis, it is truly bittersweet.
@stownsin and yet the experience is more valuable than the value of former possessed coins sold. You are richer for it!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Ones I wish I still had are:
1968-S PR70 DCAM Roosevelt Dime - Pop 1
1961 PR68 DCAM Franklin Half
1959 PR68 DCAM Lincoln Cent
1964-D MS66+ Toned Kennedy Half
All 4 were bought raw, I didn't realize how difficult the 61 Franklin and 59 Lincoln would be to replace with another raw coin. However, sold both of them near what was the peak of the market since I've been collecting, so not bad decisions.
The only one I truly regret selling is the Kennedy, it gave me more joy than the proceeds of the sale.
I've sold a few coins off and on over the years, and so far no major regrets. It takes me a bit of time to decide what to sell, so that could be a factor. When those sales result in getting a nice upgrade for one of my sets, it makes the sale that much easier.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
I regret selling a high grade 1795 S-76b large cent I had, not because I don’t have one, but because the replacement cost me so much more. The coin I had probably would have gone into a Mint State holder although an expert grader told me 35 years ago that “It was missing a few molecules on the surface.” I sold it to raise money to buy my first Gobrecht Dollar. The piece I have now is a bit better, it even has a slight trace of red on it, but it cost me 8 times the amount I got for the first one.
As an observation, early copper guys views this variety as a “common coin” even in AU and Mint State. I saw a number of them offered in Mint State holders when I was shopping for the replacement, BUT a lot of them had planchet issues. Since the planchet problems were mint caused, I guess the graders gave them a pass. Still, it you are looking for a high grade piece, I much prefer one that was struck on a decent piece of copper.
To answer honestly yes an no!
I have owned many coins in my days of collecting. At one time sat on near 2lbs of gold coins , Ive owned some very special low mintages, as well .
But sometimes one needs think about moving on to other pastures, one may need the money to make a next move...so yeah I have owned loved and let go...so someone else can enjoy....i will post a couple I wish were still a part of the collection....but at 67 collecting since 7 ,knowing very well ya can't take them with you....that sooner or later you will part company.
So yeah I am guilty of both having buyer and seller remorse! But then I think....hey Im not still driving the same car I was at 16.....time moves..on....and so do coins....so unless your budget is bottomless ,sometimes one must sell to move on.....


However this one may go with me lol
"That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante"
I DO have a few coins that members wish they hadn't sold to me and would buy them back...
Old toned gold, anyone?
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
Here's one.

"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
My Indian head proof coin 😭😭😭😭😭

Yes, most of them, until payment is made and a few days have gone by... the best is when there's instant payment and I get timely feedback that the buyer is completely satisfied then there's absolutely no regret.
Not yet. Kept the ones, for now, that I know would bother me if I sold them.