2004 ASE already?

Geoman · December 2, 2003 12:57PM

Okay, I have been thinking about buying a few raw ASE. So went to eBay, just to check out current prices, and see that almost the entire first page of auctions is for the 2004 American Silver Eagles. Yea, I know these are all "presales." But it does get frustrating that people are being inundated by auctions claiming "Be the first to own one on your block" or "First Strike" a "must have." Plus, what gets me, is that the price is averaging $8.50 plus shipping. Doesn't the current year usually go for around $7.50 each. I know silver is up a little, but not that much.

By the way, what is the best way (and cheapest) to pick up some raw ASE's? I am thinking about getting 8 ASE, maybe 4 separate years, with 2 from each year. It seems like eBay isn't the cheapest, as shipping would get you on separate orders. Similar with mail order. I think the cheapest way I have seen, is at a local show. Any thoughts?

airplanenut · December 2, 2003 1:47PM

First strikes don't matter- it's not like they don't replace worn out dies...

HavanaJoe · December 2, 2003 1:56PM

It all depends on how badly you want to add it to your collection. Price premiums usually drop after February or so, but for the extra buck or two it may be nice to have the coin early. Personally, I may pre-buy an '04 just to have my collection up to date. I usually buy dupes and rolls, but once I have one coin in my hand I can wait to price pick later.

Cheapest way I have found to buy ASE's is to buy a mint roll of 20 from someone- you can usually get a good price per coin. Of course, you will have 20 coins. I have also got good deals on buying "mixed lots" of 5 or more coins- again, you have to want the multiples.

DeepCoin · December 2, 2003 11:38PM

I find the easiest way to buy the current ASE MS, not proof is to go to a small local show and buy one there. You generally can look over a few before choosing the one you want. I have done this for the past couple of years and it works fairly well. When you are talking an $8 coin, it is nice to be able to see it first and not pay any postage or fees.

Geoman · December 2, 2003 11:46PM

DeepCoin, I agree. The best price I have found is at local shows. I have seen them advertised for $1 less in magazines, but once you add $4 or $5 shipping, then it becomes a $13 coin, instead of getting them from a local dealer for $8.

I have been thinking of buying up to a roll of each year of the ASE, and think the best way for that is to buy a roll at a time (like HavanaJoe suggested). Ends up being cheaper than buying just a few coins at a time. The only problem for me is that it is a larger amount of money needed to buy rolls, than a few at a time.

baccaruda · December 3, 2003 12:06AM

If you want just one or maybe a few for albums, go to your local coin shop and pick the one you want for a fair price. Generally you can get very fair prices on these at the shop.

If you're looking for a roll, try to get one sealed otherwise you may get a "junk" roll with milk-spotted, nicked up coins that Ebay makes it so easy to get rid of.

HavanaJoe · December 3, 2003 1:11AM

I've not had a chance to buy from a coin show because if they have them around here (Massachusettes) they don't advertise well. There are also no coin shops in my local area, I'd have to go to Boston for that. So I stick with eBay.

The best Eagle buy I got so far was when I bought a lot of 5 '00 eagles for a winning bid of $36 ($7.20 per coin) and then re-sold 4 in seperate auctions for $8.50 each (total of $34), thereby paying only $2 for the Eagle I kept. Sometimes, if you can buy in lots and then sell back in smaller lots you can recoup all or most of your cash.

Tootawl · December 3, 2003 1:39AM

I like to go to a show and get my MS SAEs there. That way I know what I'm getting rather than taker pot luck.

HavanaJoe · December 3, 2003 2:33AM

I noticed there are some sellers taking pre-sale orders on 500 count boxes (most noticably Falloncoin) at some good prices- about $3500 ($7.00 per coin, not including shipping). One could make a little cash buying these boxes and then selling them out as mint rolls. Even at a low price of $150 per roll ($7.50 per coin) you could make a couple hundred bucks profit... Of course, I don't have $3500 to buy a box of 500 Eagles right now or I'd do it myself.

HavanaJoe · December 3, 2003 2:58AM

Just put my bid in on an '04 that's part of a 200 coin Dutch Auction. One good thing about this time a year is so many sellers are scrambling to sell out the pre-sales that you can get good prices in a Dutch Auction. I would bet all 200 don't even sell out in this Auction.

'04 Dutch

NoviceKris · December 3, 2003 10:10AM

If you are stuck in the sticks, miles and miles from a coin shop, don't forget your local pawn shops.. many deal with coins and have the ASE in stock and you can haggle around on the price.. and usually you can also find ones from previous years.. maybe not every year all the time but you can have a few options and get chummy.. let him know what you are looking for.. this is a good time as the ASE is a popular gift item.. watch out for those born without morals that will put an MS coin in a presentation box and charge a proof price. Naughty, Mr Pawn Guy.
I have seen some pretty inflated prices just because it had a presentation box, not even as good as the ones the mint has for their proofs.

quick question: Anyone ever bought a green monster box of 500 ASE coins? HavanaJoe has a good idea for those regular ebay sellers.. selling by the roll or by the piece could net you a nifty profit.

JMHO

Happy Holidays.. hope you get stockings full of key dates...

Kris

Skipper53 · December 3, 2003 11:04AM

I know the Mint sells proof silver eagles but don't they also sell
uncirculated strikes, too ? At least initially ?

RonMan · December 3, 2003 11:10AM

Skipper53...It's my understanding that the MS Silver Eagles are only offered to dealers by the mint. They have never been offered on their website.

Tootawl · December 3, 2003 11:57AM

That's true. The Mint only sells MS SAEs and MS GAEs to companies that meet certain criteria. They have to have a certain amount of sales and a certain amount of inventory on hand. I think they need to meet a few things also. The Mint does sell proof SAEs and proof GAEs thru thier web site.

2004 ASE already?

Comments

Leave a Comment