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What do you tell people something is worth?

sparky64sparky64 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
A friend of mine handed me his childhood IHC collection to take a look at. It's a typical partial collection in a fallen apart tri-fold album.
I took it apart, checked for varieties and put them back into a Whitman slider album for him. I feel obligated to tell him what they're worth.
Assume my grading is spot on and I didn't miss any varieties. I come up with a greysheet bid price of $312.
Now what? I've never sold to a dealer but what would one give for something like this (typically).
Bid prices, ask prices, dealer prices, auction prices.... What do you tell people when you appraise?

"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

Comments

  • RedTigerRedTiger Posts: 5,608
    If it is a friend, I will tell them what I think a typical dealer offer might be (the wholesale value) and what those same coins might cost to replace (retail value). In your case, it sounds like mostly low grade, mostly common coins, that you figure have a sheet bid of $312. A fair dealer offer might be about half of that for low grade common raw coins. Replacement value if bought one-by-one at a shop might be around $450. I know that $150 wholesale vs. $450 retail price spread might sound outrageous to some, but for mostly common, low grade, raw coins, I think I am in the right ballpark.

    You might also mention selling on Ebay, where the price realized for a new seller would be in between those values. Outsourcing via a consignment deal to an established Ebayer, the hammer price will be closer to sheet, but the consignment percentage and Ebay fees would take out 30% or so on that size deal.
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭
    he may not be unhappy
    especially if he paid 1 cent each for them??
    LCoopie = Les
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,710 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How much of the value is in problem free key and semi-key dates?

    All glory is fleeting.
  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486
    It doesn't matter what you tell him they're worth, unless it's a fortune, he is going to think you are wrong, after all, look how "old" they are.image
  • tahoe98tahoe98 Posts: 11,388 ✭✭✭


    << <i>It doesn't matter what you tell him they're worth, unless it's a fortune, he is going to think you are wrong, after all, look how "old" they are.image >>



    ....this certainly has and does happen!image
    "government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is a force! like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." George Washington
  • LotsoLuckLotsoLuck Posts: 3,786 ✭✭✭


    << <i>It doesn't matter what you tell him they're worth, unless it's a fortune, he is going to think you are wrong, after all, look how "old" they are.image >>




    Boy aint that the truth.
  • sparky64sparky64 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>How much of the value is in problem free key and semi-key dates? >>



    Probably 75%

    "If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

    My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

  • Easy solution since you say this is a friend.

    Buy him a RedBook, and either highlight or mark the pages and info he seeks. This way it eliminates any issues with trust that may develop due to your advice and pricing.

    Id recommend being upfront and honest about any values you do give if any.
  • JJMJJM Posts: 8,089 ✭✭✭✭✭
    give him a retail price and a price he could expect from a dealer if he wants to sell, i would
    offer him something in between if you wanted them, or he needed to sell them

    👍BST's erickso1,cone10,MICHAELDIXON,TennesseeDave,p8nt,jmdm1194,RWW,robkool,Ahrensdad,Timbuk3,Downtown1974,bigjpst,mustanggt,Yorkshireman,idratherbgardening,SurfinxHI,derryb,masscrew,Walkerguy21D,MJ1927,sniocsu,Coll3tor,doubleeagle07,luciobar1980,PerryHall,SNMAM,mbcoin,liefgold,keyman64,maprince230,TorinoCobra71,RB1026,Weiss,LukeMarshall,Wingsrule,Silveryfire, pointfivezero,IKE1964,AL410, Tdec1000, AnkurJ,guitarwes,Type2,Bp777,jfoot113,JWP,mattniss,dantheman984,jclovescoins,Collectorcoins,Weather11am,Namvet69,kansasman,Bruce7789,ADG,Larrob37,Waverly, justindan
  • BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I give a range and tell them what local dealers are apt to pay vs a collector that may want them.
    I also state that no matter where they are sold, there are costs (ie....ebay with its fees, or a dealer with a much lower initial price).

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,895 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>It doesn't matter what you tell him they're worth, unless it's a fortune, he is going to think you are wrong, after all, look how "old" they are.image >>



    Show him the Grey Sheet and if he still questions your calculations, tell him to show them to a B&M coin dealer and get an offer. Some people just need a reality check.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,847 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It all depends upon what the coins are. If they are a bunch of common date run of the mill grade coins, the Gray Sheet price is probably too high. Many dealers try to get the Gray Sheet at shows, so you can figure a price that is 20 to 40 percent below Gray Sheet.

    Some Gray Sheet prices for stuff like rolls of Buffalo nickels are just too high, and the discount for wholesale is a lot lower than that. I've seen rools that list for $20 each bring half of that in dealer to dealer transactions.

    If you have key dates or really nice early coins, the Gray Sheet could be on the low side, but you have know which dealers to contact. Specialist dealers often pay a bit more than generalist dealers.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,624 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Honesty is the best policy, aside from appraisal fees.
  • COALPORTERCOALPORTER Posts: 2,900 ✭✭
    Price the keys. The rest maybe 5 cents each.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have always given the honest answer, but, as mentioned above, it is not always accepted. Especially if they bought the coins off the TV hucksters... dang... people get really p*ssed off when you tell them the truth. They do not believe you, think you are ripping them off and tell YOU (as if they are experts) what it is supposed to be worth. Then, even when they go to a dealer, and he prices it the same or lower, they will not even talk to you again - I guess that is due to shame, first at being taken, then at treating you unfairly. Sad, but I have seen it happen several times. Cheers, RickO
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    He may not like the reality.
    If there's nothing special and no keys most of the common stuff might be found for $1-2 each.
    A few better coins would make a big difference.
    Ed
  • FairlanemanFairlaneman Posts: 10,426 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have looked at friends coins two times.

    The first guy I had to tell him that his Indian cents were cleaned and probably not worth a whole bunch. His lincolns had a 14D and a couple of others in the book and I told him that the coins needed to be in PCGS plastic before he thought about selling them. Outside of that I told him to take them to our local dealer for prices. He still knew what he paid for many of the coins so going to the local dealer would not be huge gamble for this guy.

    The second guy just had a bunch of run of the mill stuff that you could pull out of circulation when we were kids. Nothing was worth much so I also told him to check with a couple of dealers or just to pass his coins down to his daughters. I was strong with passing them down to the daughters.

    Ken
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,800 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I usually tell Longacre his coins are worth less than they really are just to scare and annoy him. image
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    "I usually tell Longacre his coins are worth less than they really are just to scare and annoy him."
    Wow.... RYK, you must really have to lowball the value, considering he buys just above 'dreck'...image Cheers, RickO
  • sparky64sparky64 Posts: 7,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the input, everyone.
    All very helpfull.

    "If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"

    My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress

  • relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I usually tell them what a dealer will offer them, and if they are looking to sell, I offer them 5% more so we both make out.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions

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