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Dealer Poll when buying raw coins from the public.

relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,286 ✭✭✭✭✭
Let's say Joe Schmoe walks into your shop wanting to sell a raw coin. In MS64, the coin is a $200 coin. In MS65 the coin is an $800 coin. You believe the coin has a good shot of going 65 at PCGS. What is your offer?

A. I am confident in my grading skills and offer him 65 money.

B. I offer him 64 money as the downside is too great if I'm a point off.

C. I offer somewhere between 64 and 65 money to curb my losses in the event I'm a point off.

D. I offer to send the coin in and then make my offer once PCGS grades it.

I would make this a poll if I knew how.
Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions

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    BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    E. Pull out the Graysheet and offer 20 points back of AU58 money, all the while talking down every slight hit on the coin.

    I mean, it could happen, right?image
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    TPRCTPRC Posts: 3,817 ✭✭✭✭✭
    C. I offer somewhere between 64 and 65 money to curb my losses in the event I'm a point off

    Even if I'm wrong, I got a premium 64.

    Tom

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,088 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Most likely I would offer the option of B or D and explain why this choice was offered.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
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    robkoolrobkool Posts: 5,934 ✭✭✭✭✭
    B & D...
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    llafoellafoe Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
    B and D make the most sense. It really doesn't matter how well you can grade, it's the grader at PCGS that matters.
    WANTED: Cincinnati Reds TEAM Cards
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    Joe Schmoe? Raw coin? Local shop? That is not a good combination for getting a solid offer.

    Take this hypothetical, crack a solid for the grade coin out of a PCGS or NGC slab with the sticker. Take it to 100 random selected coin stores. I'd guess not a single dealer would offer full wholesale MS65 money for the coin, and less than 20% would offer MS64 wholesale money or better. I'd guess as many offers near melt value of a silver coin than those offering above MS64 wholesale. A few honest dealers might suggest submitting the coin and then making the offer, but if the seller wants a cash deal right away, it isn't going to be a good day for the seller.
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    WTCGWTCG Posts: 8,940 ✭✭✭
    From a business standpoint, options "B" and "D" are the most logical. "D" is a good option if the buyer and seller cannot agree on grade.
    Follow me on Twitter @wtcgroup
    Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
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    I would offer him $200 now, but the option to submit to a TPG (for a fee) prior to him selling it. If the coin comes back a 65, my offer goes up.
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    Hand him the grey sheet and ask him to price it. After all he is selling it so he should give me the price he wants for it, just like I price everything I offer for sale.
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    291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The value is in the plastic, not the coin. He doesn't have the plastic.

    Buy the coin as a 64.
    All glory is fleeting.
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    PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 47,590 ✭✭✭✭✭
    From what I've seen, most B&M coin dealers will size up a coin seller and then try to buy his coins for the cheapest price possible.

    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

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    here is my 2c - I have two B&M's close to me. I have tried to sell a few nice duplicates there twice. Waste of time.
    They both say that for any uncirculated coin - ms60 price is the top they will pay, just in case they are wrong on the grade.
    Oddly enough, they have plenty of raw coins with grades and prices up to ms 65. I tried offering ms60 money for a few
    and was told that they were way better than ms60. So, bad coming in, good going out. An old song to be sure, and not just in the coin world.
    Regards,

    Jim
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    darktonedarktone Posts: 8,437 ✭✭✭


    << <i>here is my 2c - I have two B&M's close to me. I have tried to sell a few nice duplicates there twice. Waste of time.
    They both say that for any uncirculated coin - ms60 price is the top they will pay, just in case they are wrong on the grade.
    Oddly enough, they have plenty of raw coins with grades and prices up to ms 65. I tried offering ms60 money for a few
    and was told that they were way better than ms60. So, bad coming in, good going out. An old song to be sure, and not just in the coin world. >>




    I have had the same experiences. Local B&M dealers just don't know how to grade good enough to make a real offer so they just lowball high enough to cover themselves.
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    291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,206 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>From what I've seen, most B&M coin dealers will size up a coin seller and then try to buy his coins for the cheapest price possible. >>



    With the marginalization of numismatic coins at many brick & mortar coin shops this seems to be more true than ever.
    All glory is fleeting.
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    UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭✭✭
    B, or perhaps D depending on customer attitude.
    I used to be somebody, now I'm just a coin collector.
    Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
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    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,419 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ...and what if it comes back in a bag?


    do you prefer las vegas or atlantic city?
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    phehpheh Posts: 1,588
    None of the above. I offer 80% of what I can flip the raw coin.
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    << <i>Hand him the grey sheet and ask him to price it. After all he is selling it so he should give me the price he wants for it, just like I price everything I offer for sale. >>



    What this brother said.
    Every man is a self made man.
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    TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm confident in my grading skills, for the most part. That's why the "Genuine" holder is my friend and raw coins and collectors of them do not get preferential treatment at the B&M. I've used the "power of PCGS" to reprove a few guys, already. I hate saying "I told you so", so I just pull out the "gennies" , particularly when I hear a repeat customer say : "This is an MS 65 all day" .

    1 1 16168007 9175 1923 $20 US Genuine (95 - Scratch or Rim Nick)
    2 1 16168008 8680 1878 $10 US Genuine (98 - Damage or Tooling)
    3 1 16168009 8711 1887-S $10 US Genuine (98 - Damage or Tooling)
    4 1 16168010 8725 1893 $10 US AU50
    5 1 16168011 8737 1897 $10 US Genuine (92 - Cleaned)
    6 1 16168012 8383 1893 $5 US Genuine (95 - Scratch or Rim Nick)
    7 1 16168013 8404 1901-S $5 US AU53
    8 1 16168014 8409 1904 $5 US AU50
    9 1 16168015 7762 1851-O $2.50 US Genuine (92 - Cleaned)
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The grey sheet is a decent guide for wholesale buying, but Perry Hall described me pretty good. I size up the person and find out what they're thinking and what they know, then I tell them the truth as I know it. Then I offer proof (QDB's photo grading and Dannreuther's Book on counterfeiting and coin grading). This is how "trust" is built in any relationship. Fair offers, accurate grading/ assessment and often times a customer still walking because they're upset... (not at me, but about the truth).


    Truth: it's what we all want (unless of course, we aren't truthful and that's typically when we hear the words:
    "I don't wanna hear it".
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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,865 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It all depends upon what the customer is willing to do. I'd advise him to get it certified and then offer it for sale. If he refuses to do that and has to have instant cash, I'd pay the full MS-64 bid if I could use it and send it in myself. There are no guarantees when you send a coin in to be graded what the grade will be. The dealer should not be expected to play grading service roulette by paying a price between MS-64 and 65.
    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 ... ?
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    PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,123 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I recomend they join the PCGS collectors club and send it in them selves.

    That takes the guess work out of the question.
    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


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    I do not have a B&M but do set up at shows...

    I have learned the hard way over the last few years, that being the "nice guy" can be very expensive... it the last two years I have taken losses well into 5 figures (with no decimal point image ) on bad purchases... I have also made some good to excellent purchases that helped balance the scale... at best I have broke even...at worse, I am still in the loss column... I still maintain my FT job outside of coins and I still drive a car over 10 years old... and I am still having fun with coins... so no complaints here... but some lessons learned...

    Frankly, it does not matter if it is Joe/Jill Schmoe or an experienced collector or another dealer... each coin must be evaluated on it's own merits... whether raw or certified...

    I have become MUCH more selective in my buying habits lately and am more inclined to let material walk away than I am to buy it... I will offer a lowball on some coins BUT will attempt to explain why... yet I have also learned that with some coins, no price is low enough... (except maybe spot on silver/gold... but even then one never knows which way the PM market will go on any given day)...

    Again... even if the coin is in a slab... a technical "Grade du jour" does not mandate a price... Will I or a potential customer "agree" with the grade assigned? Does the coin have eye appeal? (A technical grade does not imply eye appeal) ... Is it a coin with much demand or is it a coin that might sit in inventory for many years? Just because it is a coin and just because it is in a holder, does not mean anyone wants it... for instance... other than two or three people, how many people want shield nickels? (a joke, sort of) ... a common date merc dime or Morgan or whatever in MS63 or 64 or 65 with average eye appeal... exactly where is someone going to sell such a coin? and at what price? yes... there is dreck in this world... like it or not...

    Unless I am certain of where I might "place" the coin... I am going to protect my ASSets...

    At the end of the day... I might choose either to pass altogether... or offer a low price (with the advice that they shop it around and if offered more...take it)... or I would suggest they submit before selling...

    Also... I am wary of buying raw MS coins and tend to stick to circs... too many examples of sure thing 63+s coming back AU58 and visa versa... frankly, I no longer will submit coins to any grading service... far too much inconsistancy IMHO... if i want a coin in a holder, I will buy it in a holder... much simpler that way and i can sleep better at night...
    Re: Slabbed coins - There are some coins that LIVE within clear plastic and wear their labels with pride... while there are others that HIDE behind scratched plastic and are simply dragged along by a label. Then there are those coins that simply hang out, naked and free image
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    << <i>E. Pull out the Graysheet and offer 20 points back of AU58 money, all the while talking down every slight hit on the coin.

    I mean, it could happen, right?image >>



    Note to self: don't offer to sell any raw coins to this person.
    The President claims he didn't lie about taxes for those earning less then $250,000 a year with public mandated health insurance yet his own justice department has said they will use the right of the government to tax when the states appeals go to court.
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    LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>E. Pull out the Graysheet and offer 20 points back of AU58 money, all the while talking down every slight hit on the coin.

    I mean, it could happen, right?image >>



    Note to self: don't offer to sell any raw coins to this person. >>



    Why not one of the more honest answers to this what it.
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    mrpotatoheaddmrpotatoheadd Posts: 7,576 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I have learned the hard way over the last few years, that being the "nice guy" can be very expensive... >>

    Ain't that the truth? When I statred buying stuff for resale, I used to make the kind of offers I'd like to get if I were the seller (read: bending over backwards to be "fair"). It soon became apparent that if I didn't want to lose money, I'd have to make my offers based on what I could resell the coins for instead.
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    64 money.
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    relicsncoinsrelicsncoins Posts: 8,286 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The reason I posed this question was to confirm what I already suspected. The vast majority of responses were to offer 64 money even if the dealer felt it was a 65. It re-enforces for me that plastic does indeed rule the market these days and if you want to get anywhere near what your coins are worth when you go to sell them or your heirs go to sell them they better be in top TPG plastic or you are likely to leave most of your money on the table.
    Need a Barber Half with ANACS photo certificate. If you have one for sale please PM me. Current Ebay auctions
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    GreeniejrGreeniejr Posts: 1,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The reason I posed this question was to confirm what I already suspected. The vast majority of responses were to offer 64 money even if the dealer felt it was a 65. It re-enforces for me that plastic does indeen rule the market these days and if you want to get anywhere near what your coins are worth when you go to sell them or your heirs go to sell them they better be in top TPG plastic or you are likely to leave most of your money on the table. >>



    Something is only WORTH what someone is willing to pay for it. If it isn't in plastic and you can get only 64 money for it, that is what it is WORTH as you present it.
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    BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The reason I posed this question was to confirm what I already suspected. The vast majority of responses were to offer 64 money even if the dealer felt it was a 65. It re-enforces for me that plastic does indeed rule the market these days and if you want to get anywhere near what your coins are worth when you go to sell them or your heirs go to sell them they better be in top TPG plastic or you are likely to leave most of your money on the table. >>



    Yeah, but in the old days, before plastic you had "sliders" being sold as "Gem BU" at coin shops... And they would buy true Gems as sliders. Cleaned copper was represented as Red... Caveat Emptor with knowledge and experience the only safety nets.

    Plastic has just refined the game and given it the imprimatur of respectability.
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    pennyanniepennyannie Posts: 3,929 ✭✭✭
    The poll is wrong, coin prices as follows

    All ms 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 coins are priced at ms60 unc price, no ifs ands or buts.

    AU58 does not exist, those are priced at vg pricing

    XF and below- melt
    Mark
    NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
    working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!

    RIP "BEAR"
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    roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,374 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I concur with Red Tiger.

    I saw this in action at my local B&M which I had thought had typically offered good prices on great coins. In this case they offered about 20-30% of wholesale. The coins in question were 4 raw US gold coins worth about $20K-$25K each at the time. They offered about $25K for all 4 coins and got them since the owner really didn't know what they had. These were all key dates in 20th set gold sets. They all graded out as PCGS 64 with a market value closer to $90K. They were fresh looking coins put away years back. In essence they offered about AU58/MS60 money for these. Their only downside was if they were all counterfeits. They'd have broken even if only 3 were fake. It was a nice day's work. As it was explained to me by the owner after I saw the coins, you have to get some scores to pay the rent.....I'll say!

    roadrunner
    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
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    GreeniejrGreeniejr Posts: 1,321 ✭✭✭
    How about we add a nice little twist to this. Lets say Joe Public walks into a store with his father's coin collection. His father put a lot of effort into the collection and put it away in PVC flips 25 years ago. The coin look to likely be BU but are caked in PVC. Included in the collection are Cents through Gold with key dates with big spreads. How should the dealer figure it?

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