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Coin Report-- availability of coins at a local flea market in Connecticut
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
On Sunday at 6 AM, I was at a large flea market in New Milford, CT, selling raffle tickets for a charitable organization that I belong to. [For the car guys in the house, the first prize is a ’66 Mustang, V8, convertible, and nicely restored. Driving the car to the market, however, I was mortified by the lack of ABS and side curtain airbags. To make matters worse, the friggin’ car didn’t even have a cup holder for my latte. 
]
Because I was there with a colleague, I was able to spend some time walking around the flea market in search of coins. Although I felt a little out of place because I do not have pony tail and I kept my shirt on at all times, I was astonished at how similar the flea market is large numismatic conventions. In a nutshell, there is basically something for everyone, at all price ranges. On the coin front, I was easily able to find a lot of coins, but none were worth mentioning. Generally, there were a lot of circulated coins in 2x2 holders, and I found that they were overpriced for the most part.
For example, I posted a frantic message to the boards while I was at the market because I found a MS64 PCGS graded Roosevelt Dime (1964 and very attractively toned) in a strange slab that I had never seen before. The slab had a white label, and it said “Sample” on it, even though the coin was graded. I need to find Conder101’s thread about the generations of slabs to see if I can recognize what I saw. The seller wanted $55 dollars for it. Based on the responses that I got back from my other thread, the coin was very overpriced and could be obtained on Ebay in the $15 range.
As for other coins, another seller had a ton of slabs, but from a slabbing company that I never heard of. I think the slabs were called NBC or something similar. They were ALL graded MS70 and designed as “full strike”. Now I am not the greatest grader in the world, but I could clearly see that these coins were spotted messes and certainly not fully struck. The guy’s prices were a little strange, too, because he was selling a slabbed Sac dollar for $1. I guess that gives an indication of what the slab was worth, although I am failing to see how this guy expects to make a profit.
I also found another strange PCGS slab. Although the slab looked legitimate, the inside of the holder looked really “wet”, for lack of a better term. The coin was very bright and shiny, but it looked like there was some water or liquid inside the slab. I know the slabs are not waterproof, so maybe someone tried to dip the coin inside the slab (if that is even possible). The coin just had an odd look to it. I was going to ask to pick up the slab, but the seller was pretty busy with someone else so I didn’t bother.
I found one counterstamped shield nickel, with a big “F” on it that I would grade as G6 on a good day. The 2x2 holder was pretty funny because it implied that the “F” stood for “Fine”, which was what the grade was designated as. Too bad the counter stamp wasn’t MS
.
In other cases, there was a lot of junk (circulated wheat cents, circulated Jeffs, etc.). I did not see any medals (last year there was one guy who had a lot of them). I saw a total of one gold coin (a half ounce American Eagle bullion coin), which was slabbed.
On the numismatic side, there were slim pickings at the flea market. However, if I was in the market for rusty tools, brand name perfume, and garishly patterned dishes and bowls, I would have been in heaven.
The day ended when I turned the key on the ’66 Mustang, and heads turned as the low rumble of the four barrel V8 came to life. With the convertible top down, I inched through the crowd, as my colleague parted the pedestrians on the walkway. Several people commented on the cool car (and no doubt the excessively cool tax lawyer driving this mean machine, although I was not about to admit that my normal ride is a minivan). As I left the parking lot, I wanted to light up the tires as I turned the corner, but with my luck the Fuzz was directly across the street directing traffic, and I didn’t want to end up in the pokey. So I decided against it. The highlight of the day was when even Mrs. L. commented that I looked like James Dean in that car.
]Because I was there with a colleague, I was able to spend some time walking around the flea market in search of coins. Although I felt a little out of place because I do not have pony tail and I kept my shirt on at all times, I was astonished at how similar the flea market is large numismatic conventions. In a nutshell, there is basically something for everyone, at all price ranges. On the coin front, I was easily able to find a lot of coins, but none were worth mentioning. Generally, there were a lot of circulated coins in 2x2 holders, and I found that they were overpriced for the most part.
For example, I posted a frantic message to the boards while I was at the market because I found a MS64 PCGS graded Roosevelt Dime (1964 and very attractively toned) in a strange slab that I had never seen before. The slab had a white label, and it said “Sample” on it, even though the coin was graded. I need to find Conder101’s thread about the generations of slabs to see if I can recognize what I saw. The seller wanted $55 dollars for it. Based on the responses that I got back from my other thread, the coin was very overpriced and could be obtained on Ebay in the $15 range.
As for other coins, another seller had a ton of slabs, but from a slabbing company that I never heard of. I think the slabs were called NBC or something similar. They were ALL graded MS70 and designed as “full strike”. Now I am not the greatest grader in the world, but I could clearly see that these coins were spotted messes and certainly not fully struck. The guy’s prices were a little strange, too, because he was selling a slabbed Sac dollar for $1. I guess that gives an indication of what the slab was worth, although I am failing to see how this guy expects to make a profit.
I also found another strange PCGS slab. Although the slab looked legitimate, the inside of the holder looked really “wet”, for lack of a better term. The coin was very bright and shiny, but it looked like there was some water or liquid inside the slab. I know the slabs are not waterproof, so maybe someone tried to dip the coin inside the slab (if that is even possible). The coin just had an odd look to it. I was going to ask to pick up the slab, but the seller was pretty busy with someone else so I didn’t bother.
I found one counterstamped shield nickel, with a big “F” on it that I would grade as G6 on a good day. The 2x2 holder was pretty funny because it implied that the “F” stood for “Fine”, which was what the grade was designated as. Too bad the counter stamp wasn’t MS
.In other cases, there was a lot of junk (circulated wheat cents, circulated Jeffs, etc.). I did not see any medals (last year there was one guy who had a lot of them). I saw a total of one gold coin (a half ounce American Eagle bullion coin), which was slabbed.
On the numismatic side, there were slim pickings at the flea market. However, if I was in the market for rusty tools, brand name perfume, and garishly patterned dishes and bowls, I would have been in heaven.
The day ended when I turned the key on the ’66 Mustang, and heads turned as the low rumble of the four barrel V8 came to life. With the convertible top down, I inched through the crowd, as my colleague parted the pedestrians on the walkway. Several people commented on the cool car (and no doubt the excessively cool tax lawyer driving this mean machine, although I was not about to admit that my normal ride is a minivan). As I left the parking lot, I wanted to light up the tires as I turned the corner, but with my luck the Fuzz was directly across the street directing traffic, and I didn’t want to end up in the pokey. So I decided against it. The highlight of the day was when even Mrs. L. commented that I looked like James Dean in that car.
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
That was a great report!
<< <i>I felt a little out of place because I do not have pony tail and I kept my shirt on at all times >>
Lincoln set Colorless Set
-- "I found one counterstamped shield nickel, with a big “F” on it that I would grade as G6 on a good day." --
Sweet! What'd you pay?
Not sure if this is the answer for the "wet" slab...but around here at the local fleamarkets...many of the people set up for Saturday and Sunday...with all their "goods" stored in a van or truck over night.....the night is cool...then they throw the goods back out onto tables in the HOT brigh sunshine and condensation forms in and on the goods. I too have seen some third world slabs with condensation formed in them sitting in the hot sun....
Hey Longacre, brother, you misspelled laddie.
A dealer I know had a guy walk in with a canvas bag of silver dimes he bought at a local flea market. Circulated junk silver the dimes were, excpet for one. The one exception was a 1942/41 mercury dime. The price that one dime brought from the dealer plus the money paid for the remaining junk silver gave the flea market buyer a profit on the deal.
Bet that does not happen often.