Confussed:???????
lonelyp
Posts: 1,634
This post is ment to help, me, and outher newer collectors.
I understand why everyone says, "Buy the coin. Not the holder."
But...
As I understand it. One of the major reasons that TPGs are here is. To make it, safer, and easier to buy coins "sight unseen".
Then I read "Hot Topics" and Laura, (I beleive to be) a well known, knowledgeable, respected dealer. Says the TPGs have let the standards slip. (to put it mildly) and there are a lot of agreement posts. And yet EVERYONE says DON'T BUY RAW either.
Grading on the computer screen, doesn't work very well. I can't make it to a lot of coin shows. And only have 2 or 3 shops in the area. So I tend to buy online, When I do buy some.
Now I'm not trying to build a top registry set. Or dealing in early gold coins. I'm not going to spend xxxxx$s on a single penny. I'm not going to lose BIG money on a single transaction. But of course I don't want to be screwed every time I turn around either.
So I can't trust ebay
I can't trust the TPGs I can't buy raw.
What CAN I do?
pz
I understand why everyone says, "Buy the coin. Not the holder."
But...
As I understand it. One of the major reasons that TPGs are here is. To make it, safer, and easier to buy coins "sight unseen".
Then I read "Hot Topics" and Laura, (I beleive to be) a well known, knowledgeable, respected dealer. Says the TPGs have let the standards slip. (to put it mildly) and there are a lot of agreement posts. And yet EVERYONE says DON'T BUY RAW either.
Grading on the computer screen, doesn't work very well. I can't make it to a lot of coin shows. And only have 2 or 3 shops in the area. So I tend to buy online, When I do buy some.
Now I'm not trying to build a top registry set. Or dealing in early gold coins. I'm not going to spend xxxxx$s on a single penny. I'm not going to lose BIG money on a single transaction. But of course I don't want to be screwed every time I turn around either.
So I can't trust ebay
I can't trust the TPGs I can't buy raw.What CAN I do?
pz
(Old man) Look I had a lovely supper, and all I said to my wife was, “That piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah”.
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
0
Comments
<< <i>So I can't trust ebay
What CAN I do?
pz >>
Collect stamps.
<< <i>So I can't trust ebay
What CAN I do?
pz >>
You're speaking in extremes. You can do all of these, just buy from "respectable" dealers.
<< <i>Educate yourself and buy coins you like. Forget what everyone else says. >>
If you want to get into the more expensive coins then. I would and do stick with the PCGS graded coins. Many here also collect NGC and ANNAC graded coins. And I would almost bet that most here would not spend over about $500.00 for a RAW coin, Yes there is a difference if you have it in hand then maybe if you are the expert on that exact coin.
But for almost every case that we read about or see there are exceptions. So I adopted a rule a few years ago. I will not spend over $100.00 on a coin that is not in a TPG holder, PCGS being my primary choice.
But the best advice I can give you is never buy a coin sight-unseen. Always make sure if you buy from a distance to make sure you are entitled to a return if the coin does not live up to your expectation.
If you are going to buy slabbed, find a dealer that carries coins in your price point and that carries the kind of material that appeals to you.
It's really not that difficult.
I would say: Decide on a particular series of coins that gives you satisfaction, then research this series to death, then exhaustively research the dealers who specialize in the series you have chosen. Talk to the special ones. Test, with a few inconsequential deals, make some judgements, then you can START to do business. Good luck, good question.
<< <i>I think that asking this question in "extreme" form is appropriate. I can see that if a new collector relies upon the statements seen on these forum(s), he could/should be throwing up his hands in total confusion.
I would say: Decide on a particular series of coins that gives you satisfaction, then research this series to death, then exhaustively research the dealers who specialize in the series you have chosen. Talk to the special ones. Test, with a few inconsequential deals, make some judgements, then you can START to do business. Good luck, good question.
Neo...
I am LESS confussed now. If i remember correctly the coins specifically mentioned in the HOT TOPICS were gold coins. And would be out of my price range and field of interest anyway. But the fact that even a seemingly common coin. In high MS can command a price that seems astronomical to me, causes some confusion.
I resently won a 56 ms66 fbl (pcgs) in the auction for Frank. I don't mind if I over paid for this coin since it was in a good cause. But in another post I see a 1950 D cent can go for over $1,000.00 if certified ms66 or67. Or maybe it 68 or 69. No mention of dd. it's not a 1909s vdb. Or do I think it could be as rear.
My Black Book puts it at $2.15 in ms 65. And thus the need to know if I can trust a TPG (thinking of the top three).
Another gold coin thread, on a coin that was worn allmost to planchet. And people couldn't believe the grade it was given. although I forget what it was, besides to high. I could see where an older (1800s) gold coin may be harder to grade. Or more likely to be over graded. Than a modern cent.
But still...
Thanks to all repliers.
pz
Ps. I think the gold coin I mention was the same as RYKs icon coin. But even more worn.
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?
I did a search but didn't come up with one.
Thanks
pz
(Priest) BLASPHEMY he said it again, did you hear him?