A new twist on the Gold Liberty Bells (The rush for in-hand stock) - Market Legs or Grading Deadline
HoneyMarket
Posts: 992 ✭✭✭✭✭
Wanted to post this in the original Liberty Bell topic, but noticed it got locked down. I think there is a new twist here worthy of a civil, non-argumentative discussion.
It appears there is a buyer actively hunting for the Gold 1/2 oz and 1 oz Freedom Bells, but with a strict catch: they must have inventory in hand right now.
I received an email today from a fellow collector/dealer stating: "I can use a few of each the freedom bell gold 1 oz and .5 oz. Coins MUST be in hand right now. I'll cover a shipping label to get them to me. Please reach out if you have any IN HAND. Ordering for overnight delivery from the Mint will not work. Thank you."
This caught me off guard. Both the 1/2 oz and 1 oz options have shown as available on the Mint's website with overnight shipping options.
Is this a sign of genuine secondary market legs for these unique bell-shaped coins?
Or is the buyer just scrambling to beat the 30-day submission windows for "First Strike" / "Early Release" grading designations?
Would love to hear fellow thoughts (civil of course - as we like to stay civil here) on what's driving this specific "in-hand" demand.
https://usmint.gov/freedom-ringing-liberty-bell-one-half-ounce-gold-coin-26LC.html
https://usmint.gov/freedom-ringing-liberty-bell-one-ounce-gold-coin-26LB.html
BST references available on request
Comments
Can you ask the person who emailed the purchase request to you?
I think you meant to ask, who the person was that e-mailed - it was one of our own here - @joebb21
Here was his original post on the subject:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1124303/buying-todays-freedom-ringing-liberty-bell-coins-all-3#latest
BST references available on request
Makes absolutely no sense if they are also available from the Mint with overnight shipping. So it's either a scam, or the bid is below the Mint price.
Because there is no third option where someone is willing to buy ungraded coins at prices above what they would pay to get inventory directly from the source. Honestly not a lot here to discuss, civilly or otherwise.
No market legs. No grading deadline. No reason to buy anything from a private party that is available on the same terms, with the same shipping window, as directly from the Mint, with an unconditional return privilege. Scam, or below market offer.
My guess would be a scam where the payment later bounces, which is why "ordering for overnight delivery from the Mint will not work." Because they don't have good funds to facilitate payment. Just a scam to induce dummies to send them coins, in the hope people who missed a Mint return window and do not see "market legs" will jump at a mirage of a chance to get out.
As Benjamin Franklin (a true numismatic genius) once famously said upon exiting the Constitutional Convention:
"You can have a civil discussion... if you can keep it." 😉
Or wait, was it a Republic?
Either way, let's keep the discussion friendly, folks!
BST references available on request
“ It appears there are buyers actively hunting for the Gold 1/2 oz and 1 oz Freedom Bells, but with a strict catch: they must have inventory in hand right now.”
“Buyers” or a buyer?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I, and many others have sold (flipped) to Joe in the past - he's been an honest dealer and quick payer. I highly doubt it's any sort of scam but your point(s) are well taken and a reminder to always be weary. But still, this is not just anyone - but someone with a good reputation.
BST references available on request
Good Point - Buyer (singular). I will revise my OP.
BST references available on request
Is it "weary" or "leery"?
Suggest that you give Joe a call and ask him why the big hurry and why not just buy it from the mint.
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
How about "wary"? I think that is what he intended to convey!
I get your humor though PerryHall!
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
running like a water color in the rain...."
Okay. That's certainly an additional piece of information, but does not explain why sourcing coins in the wild with a buyer provided shipping label is preferable to overnight shipping of in stock product from the Mint with a return privilege.
Rosland Capital had a great reputation until the day they stopped shipping and later stiffed Fox News on millions of dollars of bills for commercials. Too many stories to count of people getting hurt in the coin world.
There is nothing to see here regarding what you are asking about while the Mint ATS is 832 out of 2026 for one coin, and 709 on the other. Any time anyone gets scammed, aside from the scammer there is always someone on the other side of a transaction willing to suspend disbelief in order for the scam to work.
This would be another time. No reason the buyer legitimately cannot buy these direct from the Mint for delivery on Tuesday if they actually have the funds to support the purchase.
We are still at least 2 weeks away from any First Strike deadline, as though there is actually any resale market premium for that designation on something like this, where the entire mintage was struck at one time, so that's not a reason. Neither are there "market legs" on anything where the Mint ATS just keeps going up.
I see that your post has been edited, so it's not possible for me to respond to questions concerning what it originally contained- sorry.
It wouldn't be for first strike. If you ordered today, and the Mint shipped on the 14th, you'd still qualify for First Strike.
Great! Look at the date of the post. What makes you think he is bidding for anything today? Other than maybe silver?
Edit: I see you are posting about an e-mail received today, not the original post. Haven't we seen situations in the past where bids or offers have come from hacked accounts?
@joebb21 clearly knows how to use BST. Why would he be using a sketchy e-mail for something like this? Now my money is on a hacked account, unless @joebb21 has a reason for why he can't buy from the Mint, and needs delivery NOOOWWW rather than in a few days, when funds might clear at the Mint, assuming actual case sent via PayPal does not clear immediately.
.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
A buyer. But singular, plural... does it matter? lol
At least it wasn't "buyer's" or "buyers'". 🤣
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
The important point: whether the offer is real or not, it says absolutely nothing about "legs" in the secondary market.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Thanks - Have to watch out with Text to Speech some times! (or is it, sometimes??)
BST references available on request
Yeah, maybe there are no legs in the secondary market...but I'm really curious as to why, out of the blue on a Sunday, I (and I'm sure others who have dealt with him in the past and rcv his e-mail's) rcvd an e-mail request of him looking for in-hand Gold Liberty Bells.
I honestly believe he has a buyer who's interested otherwise he would not have sent out his email - and that says to me (at least) that there is something of a secondary market out there. Why is a great question with Mint availability. Then again, maybe the Mint - even though they have inventory, are not in a position to send them out overnight or they'll just backorder them, as they work their way through all the returns they are getting.
Who knows, maybe he'll show up here - or revive his original post that he made in BST - or create another one.
BST references available on request
Why not reply to his email and ask him?
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
It’s the same email he always uses to buy and sell and send offers. I received it too. I have no clue why he’s wanting some today but I have no doubt it’s a real offer.
I did!
But at the same time, I figured others here rcvd the same email and since I could not ask about it in the original thread, I had to create my own post.
BST references available on request
MasonG @ August 2, 2026 2:49PM:
"Can you ask the person who emailed the purchase request to you?"
Yes, but as far as I knew, he hadn’t done that.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
"a few of each". Yes it does appear there may be a secondary market. No it is not a huge one.
Right on ! I got the email also.
Sold him an Army privy ASE last year. Legit.
It's one guy who needs a few immediately. I had an eBay buyer pay me $12 priority shipping on a $3 note because he needed it in 2 days. It doesn't mean that the market for that very common note is hot. [I hope it is, I personally have 100 of the notes.]
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
...> @jmlanzaf said:
I've sold a few British sixpences that were needed real fast for weddings, not that they were actually worth the cost + shipping the buyer paid.
So, for those asking... I reached out to Joe to ask.
He's offering $100 over the the current price for the 1/2 oz and $200 over Mint price for the 1oz.
Someone out there has a need for these Gold Liberty Bells ASAP and it appears to me like they are willing to pay him a very favorable finders fee for obtaining them and getting them shipped ASAP.
So, if anyone is stuck with these and wants to offload them...there is a flip for these!
BST references available on request
That was a great flip. I believe I sold a few different orders to Miles Per Day, who paid a $205 profit on a 3-coin order!
BST references available on request
Love the accusations and speculations here...
Op can ask me privately if they were really curious.
To answer the above question- The mint has placed a hold on sending coins as they have some serious in house damage control to deal with on the packaging of these coins.
I have multiple orders with them open on the bells- where I paid for overnight shipping- but all orders are on HOLD.
However, I have orders that need to be filled with product. So- since I, and dozens of other people, have orders on hold- I must go out into the market and buy IN HAND to fill those orders.
If you want to try and order from the mint and they ship overnight and want to flop for a quick profit- sure- go ahead. Im only committing to buy from people who can ship what is in hand- not on hold orders