What do you do when you learn that you were the big fish in the small numismatic pond?

291fifth · October 22, 2008 12:43AM

You collected specialized material. You really knew the field. You were the "go to" guy for the dealers who had items to sell.

But ...

The thrill of the hunt is over. You have taken the collection as far as it can go. You have decided to sell.

But ...

You just learned that you ARE the market.

RYK · October 22, 2008 12:44AM

I have never been the big fish. I do not want to be a big fish in a small pond, nor a small fish in a big pond. I strive to be an upper middle fish in an upper middle pond.

richardshipp · October 22, 2008 12:48AM

How about a guppy in a bathtub ?

Can I interest you in some low end CBHD's by die marriage ???? What ??? What do you mean I was the market?

AngryTurtle · October 22, 2008 12:50AM

<< You collected specialized material. You really knew the field. You were the "go to" guy for the dealers who had items to sell.

But ...

The thrill of the hunt is over. You have taken the collection as far as it can go. You have decided to sell.

But ...

You just learned that you ARE the market. >>

Sounds like it's time for a well managed promotion...

mgoodm3 · October 22, 2008 12:52AM

Dude, you're hosed.

Walmann · October 22, 2008 12:54AM

Being but a minnow in bucket that still hasn't found the sides of the pail, I wouldn't know.

Longacre · October 22, 2008 12:57AM

<< 

<< You collected specialized material. You really knew the field. You were the "go to" guy for the dealers who had items to sell.

But ...

The thrill of the hunt is over. You have taken the collection as far as it can go. You have decided to sell.

But ...

You just learned that you ARE the market. >>

Sounds like it's time for a well managed promotion... >>

CoinJunkie · October 22, 2008 3:18AM

Go on a drinking binge?

Actually, maybe a better strategy is to have them all reholdered and pedigreed
with your name. If you can't get the money, at least they should give you a title...

TwoSides2aCoin · October 22, 2008 3:24AM

Have Online Classes.

Mentoring4Guppies.com

jfoot13 · October 22, 2008 3:30AM

After you write your 6th book that is wildly sucessful because it lost less money than the 5th one you can get a job at one of the grading services putting your autograph on slab inserts of your speciality for 25.00 a pop...

Shamika · October 22, 2008 3:44AM

<< You collected specialized material. You really knew the field. You were the "go to" guy for the dealers who had items to sell.

But ...

The thrill of the hunt is over. You have taken the collection as far as it can go. You have decided to sell.

But ...

You just learned that you ARE the market. >>

Funny (not), just last night it occurred to me that I may be in a similar situation as you described. We'll see soon enough.

jsf · October 22, 2008 3:50AM

I actually was just beginning DBHs about the time RYK announced he was interested in those. Man, you should have heard the wind rushing to fill the vacuum I left behind!

Shamika · October 22, 2008 3:53AM

Hey, I've got an idea! Start calling your normal list of dealers using an alias with an accent ("Fernando" or "Scottie" works well) and ask with great impatience about buying the specialized items you're speaking about. After doing this every week for a month, go back to those same dealers (as yourself of course) and tell them you want to sell everything. The dealers will gladly buy your entire collection thinking "Fernando" or "Scottie" will be calling them shortly ready to scoop it all up

NHSBaseball · October 22, 2008 3:55AM

<< After you write your 6th book that is wildly sucessful because it lost less money than the 5th one you can get a job at one of the grading services putting your autograph on slab inserts of your speciality for 25.00 a pop... >>

Unknown · October 22, 2008 3:59AM

This content has been removed.

WoodenJefferson · October 22, 2008 4:15AM

EvilEmpire · October 22, 2008 4:16AM

My 2 cents...if YOU are the market, kick back, do like shamika says,and call around to local dealers. Then, start a Dansco for, say, Peace dollars to keep you busy. You just CAN'T be the ENTIRE market. Someone, somewhere WILL want what you have. Perhaps there are some seeking what you have now, but you beat them to the punch, and they lost interest. BUT, if you can go no further with it, take some time and figure out what series you will take on next, and should you want to sell them, if they are really specialized, you'd need Teletrade or Heritage, etc, as ebay probably isn't the place to sell. Though, I don't know what it is you collected, I could be wrong....

DoUPlayOnePocket · October 22, 2008 4:24AM

I don't envy you being the big fish in a little pond. Sooner or later, somebody is likely to put a gaff in you.

Don't go for the idea of calling your dealer friends and disguising your voice. Hire several people to call for you.

Chris

19Lyds · October 22, 2008 4:34AM

<< You just learned that you ARE the market. >>

If you are implying that you are the biggest buyer, then yes.

Everytime I end up overpaying when I buy and under achieving when I sell!

lkeigwin · October 22, 2008 4:51AM

What IS your market? If it's okay to ask...

IGWT · October 22, 2008 5:05AM

Swim or die.

micmt · October 22, 2008 5:54AM

Ebay can be a wonderful thing. Somewhere...somehow....some one wants what you got.

jfoot13 · October 22, 2008 6:00AM

<< Ebay can be a wonderful thing. Somewhere...somehow....some one wants what you got. >>

Great next I'll be seeing Sell your stock on Ebay banners on the Big Board on CNN

shorecoll · October 22, 2008 6:10AM

Anybody need some low grade R-6 colonials

Aegis3 · October 22, 2008 10:55AM

You're finished with Coin World medals?

Swampboy · October 22, 2008 11:00AM

Threads like this leave me confused and vaguely disenchanted.

Why can't we just all press on?

I hope.

ColonialCoinUnion · October 22, 2008 11:01AM

You sure do seem to derive a lot of joy from coin collecting.

291fifth · October 22, 2008 11:26AM

It's just a hypothetical.

Note: I never expected my numismatic publisher medal collection to be popular and I have very little tied up in it. It isn't for sale nor will it be any time in the near future.

cladking · October 22, 2008 12:37PM

I was once the tuna in the mud puddle but the puddle has grown
a lot and I've found I'm just another little fish.

Bayard1908 · October 22, 2008 1:05PM

Write a book and thereby stimulate demand.

JRocco · October 23, 2008 12:24AM

Not directed at you 291fifth,
But there are many that THINK they are big fish
that just haven't gotten out very much. That or their
favorite dealers have succesfully convinced them that they are.

Sort of reminds me of people who say EVERY good
coin has already been slabbed.....They should only know

coindeuce · October 23, 2008 12:25AM

Sometimes you're the guppy; sometimes you're the piranha.

JRocco · October 23, 2008 9:22AM

<< Sometimes you're the guppy; sometimes you're the piranha. >>

And sometimes you are the fisherman

TwoSides2aCoin · October 23, 2008 10:08AM

coinkat · October 23, 2008 10:30AM

interesting that the pond may not be big enough for the sharks

speety · October 23, 2008 10:49AM

Ask Tradedollarnut.

BillyKingsley · October 24, 2008 4:39PM

It'll never happen. Not for me anyway. I don't have enough $$ to spend to become the best. Maybe if I became an expert in something that nobody else collects. Maybe I will be the leading expert in coins that have been run over by cars. I can spend hours documenting the kind of damage that ensues based on the size and weight of the vehicle that runs over it??

I am however, considered one of the top 3 in one of my NASCAR modeling pursuits. I am a natural self-depreciator, but I realized that I was right up there when the guy who I consider to be the best told me that my work was better then his. That made me think for a while!!

What do you do when you learn that you were the big fish in the small numismatic pond?

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