Interesting morality question: Say you break open a BU roll of 1969-s cents...

AllCoinsRule · December 8, 2009 2:40PM

...and find the whole roll to be DDO cents! With plenty of gems! Would it be morally wrong to take one coin out, stick the rest back in the safety deposit box, telling no one that you have them, and certify and sell that 1 coin. Then maybe repeat every 3-5 years or so?

And more interesting, what if someone directly asks you? How many 1969-s DDO Lincoln Cents do you own?

How would you handle this if you found such a roll? I don't think I would feel bad about not telling anyone I have them, but if they asked me directly I don't think I could lie.

devious · December 8, 2009 2:44PM

Keep them? Sell them? ARE YOU NUTS? I'd freakin melt the damn things!!!

ajia · December 8, 2009 2:45PM

I don't think I would feel bad about not telling anyone I have them,.....

but if they asked me directly I don't think I could lie.

Depends who was asking.
My answer might range from the whole truth (family or personal friend who did not collect) to "a few", to "why do you want to know?".

So, how many do you have?

tightbudget · December 8, 2009 2:47PM

I don't see how morals are involved in this. I'd say the best way to make the most money is to certify one every year or two and sell them one by one slowly.

EagleEye · December 8, 2009 3:08PM

The best way to distribute a hoard is to up front and honest about how many there are. Set a price and hold firm on that price.

When it is unknown how many there are, the rumor mill will exagerate the amount held back and will destroy your market.

illini420 · December 8, 2009 4:05PM

I think Eagle Eye is right. Once people catch on that you are selling one every so often and figure out that you have a hoard, they won't all assume you have one roll, some may think you have a bag of 5000!!!!

Artist · December 8, 2009 4:18PM

Thank you for entering me in your most generous giveaway!

morgandollar1878 · December 8, 2009 5:03PM

I would be tempted to keep them for bragging rights.

...or, I would certify them all at once and make everyone freak out with the higher pops, keep them and keep everyone wondering. I know the pops can have a bearing on prices and peoples perceptions, but if they aren't being sold it should only hurt the market slightly.

abitofthisabitofthat · December 8, 2009 7:48PM

I have several original bank wrapped rolls of 1969-S cents sitting on my desk right now. I know when I eventuallyopen them, there will be no doubled dies, but it is fun to wonder about it for now. If there were a large group of doubled dies, I would be up front about it. I think that this series is popular enough to absorb it without huge changes. I think people who previously thought that this coin was out of reach would now consider it. Placing a handful in an auction would certainly generate a lot of interest.

PerryHall · December 8, 2009 7:59PM

<< ....... and certify and sell that 1 coin. Then maybe repeat every 3-5 years or so? >>

How long are you planning to live?

19Lyds · December 8, 2009 9:16PM

I'm thinking that this is a dilemma which I will never have to face!

TennesseeDave · December 8, 2009 9:19PM

So how many do you have?

fcloud · December 8, 2009 9:20PM

How many do you have? When will the first one go on the market?

gonzer · December 8, 2009 9:45PM

The solution is to simply encase all the coins in lucite to make a paperweight for your office. Your morality won't be questioned. Your sanity? Well that's a whole other story.

WinPitcher · December 8, 2009 10:16PM

I'd put them into the hobby slowly and systematically.

Why destroy a market?

It is no ones business how many you have.

Steve

amiller · December 8, 2009 11:21PM

Slab 'em all at once, then sell from lowest graded to highest graded over a long period of time. Speed up the process if another hoard is found. Make sure everyone knows you are not going to dump them all at once.

The deep pockets collectors that want the top sets will buy the best available, so may end up buying several from you over the years, depending on the grades of course.

golfer72 · December 9, 2009 12:17AM

Interesting scenario but morality does not enter into it.

partagas · December 9, 2009 12:31AM

I think if one had a roll or even a bag, the hoopla and hype would drive sales better then a coin every few years would.

BAJJERFAN · December 9, 2009 12:41AM

<< So how many do you have?

>>

The correct answer would be the same as if you asked how much money he makes; none of your business. That is what I would say.

LindeDad · December 9, 2009 12:47AM

Be sure and lobby the set registry people to make it required in sets that it does not belong in like the mint set so there is a larger market for it first.

Sorry but the variety coins in mint sets is wrong IMO.

kranky · December 9, 2009 1:19AM

No morality issue here at all. No one is obligated to announce to the world what they own.

My favorite answer to questions like "How many do you own?" is "Why in the world would you ask me that?" It usually stops them in their tracks. I won't lie, but I certainly don't feel obligated to answer every question someone might ask me.

UtahCoin · December 9, 2009 1:19AM

<< I don't see how morals are involved in this. I'd say the best way to make the most money is to certify one every year or two and sell them one by one slowly. >>

That's what I'm doing with my Mint Bag of 93-S Morgans....

ambro51 · December 9, 2009 1:48AM

Send Heritage ONE a year.

Wrap the rest in six thousand pounds of dessicants and put them in a huge box and keep the box under guard.

ricko · December 9, 2009 3:03AM

This has absolutely nothing to do with morality. Do as you please, they would be your property. Cheers, RickO

Unknown · December 9, 2009 3:30AM

This content has been removed.

tbarreca · December 9, 2009 3:39AM

It's comforting to know that someone else has the same problem with the 69-S DDO that I have with the 70-S DDO.

(edited for typos)

BobSav · December 9, 2009 4:35AM

Ahh 1969 "The Summer of Love".............

Can you dig it ???????

:}

Bob

PTVETTER · December 9, 2009 5:34AM

Freedom of speech is one thing.... how many do you have?

I haven't heard that I have to listen... what did you say?

airplanenut · December 9, 2009 5:53AM

Send them to PCGS one at a time, letting the pop slowly rise as people wonder how many times you'll resubmit the same coin

Numismanic · December 9, 2009 6:15AM

I'd put the first one on eBay and see how many threads pop up here. "69-S DDO Lincoln cent real or fake."

droopyd · December 9, 2009 7:41AM

<< Send them to PCGS one at a time, letting the pop slowly rise as people wonder how many times you'll resubmit the same coin

>>

BUFFNIXX · December 9, 2009 9:57AM

I helped a collector up north put together a 50 piece hoard of a very rare variety. He did this over a period of many years, and when it is time to sell he will start with the best pieces and sell them slowly over a number of years. If this hoard every became widely known it would dramatically decrease the current prices. I have no idea when the hoard/herd will be diesposed off. buffnixx

BaronVonBaugh · December 9, 2009 9:57AM

<< Send them to PCGS one at a time, letting the pop slowly rise as people wonder how many times you'll resubmit the same coin

>>

Just start with lowest grade one and work your way up to the highest grade one.

Interesting morality question: Say you break open a BU roll of 1969-s cents...

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