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Share your stories: Fair rips at public auctions

Hi. We all know some coins get by at public auction now and then. I am interested in hearing about these "fair" rips. I am talking about the circumstances causing the coin to go cheap. There are the coins that are bought, doctored, slabbed, and subsequently sold for substantial profit, but I am not referring to these. Nor am I talking about simple crackouts that got upgraded. I am also not talking about coins held for longer than a year. I'm talking about coins where no work has to be done other than bringing the coin to a different market or the same market under different circumstances to realize a profitable quick flip.

I'll start. 2004 P Florida 25c PCGS MS68 went $64 on Heritage here . I was the buyer. This is a coin that has a value normally of $200-$300. PCGS price guide today is at $425. IIRC, the coin was nestled between lots of PR69DC state quarters so maybe that's why it got by. I sold it on Teletrade a few months later where it realized $210 here

So, what public auction coins do you know of that were "fair" rips? Simply cite what the auction coin went for versus what it was supposed to have went for. You don't have to have full documentation of purchase and subsequent sale as I had here; I'll believe your stories. I expect we'll hear plenty of stories about coins we consigned and that went dirt cheap.image
I have existed since the creation of this world and will exist until its end. Only my form will change. For these 80 human life years, I have the benefit of having a functioning body and consciousness. I will not waste this opportunity.

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    renomedphysrenomedphys Posts: 3,958 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've bought lots of coins that I would've characterized as "rips" at the time, only to realize that it was not the case when it came time to sell image

    I have also broken price records for a certain date/grade, only to realize huge profits down the road. Maybe those were the true "rips."
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    WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 7,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My only rip with Heritage has been winning a regular 1953 Cam proof cent, and then seeing it was a DDO. Not a big price difference, but it would have sold for more if it was designated on the holder.

    WS
    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
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    Here's a doozy.

    Won a 1999 1c broadstruck with a 25% obverse indent NGC MS65RD on eBay. I'm not on the up and up when it comes to values of error coins. Whenever I do bid on them, I bid what I "feel" is conservative and also based off of any like kind past auction results. I was surprised when I won the 1999 Cent for $21.11 on eBay. I had fun looking at the coin for about a month or so and then consigned it to Teletrade where it sold for $45 here I thought I had done quite well.

    Story's not over.

    I see the coin pop back up on eBay a few weeks later with low start and no reserve so I put it on my watch list. The coin ended up closing at around $80. I still felt I had done okay and surprisingly wasn't jealous.

    C'mon, you guys and gals, I know you must have tons of stories!image
    I have existed since the creation of this world and will exist until its end. Only my form will change. For these 80 human life years, I have the benefit of having a functioning body and consciousness. I will not waste this opportunity.
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    MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,740 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Flying eagle cent graded AU at an estate auction that I bought for $125. NGC graded MS65!


    8-1885 S Morgan Dollars that went for $15 each. All certified AU53-AU58.
    Fall 2026 National Battlefield Coin Show September 11 & 12, 2026 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. Early Bird passes Thursday September 10, 2026 from Noon to 5pm $25 each. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
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    AhrensdadAhrensdad Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭
    I bought a 1799 Large Cent at an estate sale, $250. The person who marked the date marked it as 17??. It was very clear to me what the date was. The coin graded VF details, net F by the old ANACS (small white holder). Did I mention I picked up a 1793 Wreath Cent at the same sale for $40? If I had any sense, I would have just bought everything. All coins were raw. There was a nice Au'ish 1856 Flying Eagle also raw. The person making prices did better with that one, $3,900. BTW, this was before I was dealing in coins, just a fanatical collector.
    Successful BST Transactions with: WTCG, Ikenefic, Twincam, InternetJunky, bestday, 1twobits, Geoman x4, Blackhawk, Robb, nederveit, mesquite, sinin1, CommemDude, Gerard, sebrown, Guitarwes, Commoncents05, tychojoe, adriana, SeaEagleCoins, ndgoflo, stone, vikingdude, golfer72, kameo, Scotty1418, Tdec1000, Sportsmoderator1 and many others.


    Please visit my website Millcitynumismatics.com
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    RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,628 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How about an 1830 Large Letters half ANACS VF-20 cleaned, MARKED "O-114" ON THE HOLDER, for $52? it came from a big auction house at an auction around the last ANA in Pittsburgh.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

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    seanqseanq Posts: 8,824 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Going way back to my college days, at a small local auction I won a group of Whitman coin folders with partial sets of heavily circulated Lincoln cents, I think it was four books total, for $25. In one of the books, in the hole for the 1922 Plain, was a Die pair #2 1922 Plain. The coin graded G4 at ANACS and I sold it to buy an interview suit. image


    Sean Reynolds

    (Edited to add the venue where the books were purchased)
    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
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    illini420illini420 Posts: 11,582 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought an PCGS MS67 Jefferson Missing Edge Lettering Presidential Dollar at a local auction for $240.00 (at the time it was listed in the PCGS Price Guide for $5000!!!!). Apparently there were not too many modern collectors to put up a competitive bid as I was willing to pay a good deal more for it.

    The Price Guide prices later dropped, but I still ended up selling the coin on eBay for just over $2300, just under 10x what I paid about a year before. image
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    UtahCoinUtahCoin Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought what looked like an original roll of MS 1887 Morgans for $12 ea (early 1990's). Not only was it original, but had 7 or 8 1887/6 coins that graded MS64 & 65.

    Bought another roll of MS 1881 S Morgan Dollars from some backwoods pawn shop in the middle of nowhere in Missouri, also in the early 1990's. The shop wanted $17 ea, I took all of them for $12 ea. All graded DMPL MS-64 to MS-66.

    And then there is the VF 1833 LM-5 Half Dime I got on eBay for $260. Five known, 3rd finest. I still have it, but have been offered close to 5 figures for it.

    And of course, all the little old ladies that bring $20 gold pieces into the store. We tell them they are not legal tender any longer, but
    to help them out we will give them $20 each for them..........JUST KIDDING ON THIS ONE.
    Although it would not surprise me if some con man coin dealer uses this approach.
    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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    coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,515 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I purchased a rare Morgan VAM (rare by variety as well as condition) from Heritage for around 7.5K. It would realize 4X that today from a strong contingency of buyers.

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
    http://www.american-legacy-coins.com

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    coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought a 1944 PDS set on Ebay for $150 and ended up with some great coins including a 44-S that graded MS66
    I still have the set.

    Link to the registry


    This just got TrueViewed and is currently on Coin Facts front page




    image
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    machoponchomachoponcho Posts: 355 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Bought an PCGS MS67 Jefferson Missing Edge Lettering Presidential Dollar at a local auction for $240.00 (at the time it was listed in the PCGS Price Guide for $5000!!!!). Apparently there were not too many modern collectors to put up a competitive bid as I was willing to pay a good deal more for it.

    The Price Guide prices later dropped, but I still ended up selling the coin on eBay for just over $2300, just under 10x what I paid about a year before. image >>



    This one is especially interesting since I thought the Jeffersons MEL were being hoarded!
    ----------
    Utahcoin, your stories are certainly cause for motivation!
    ----------
    On eBay, there was this 1909 D 25c in an NGC MS65. It's a common enough date but it is a slightly better date in MS65. This was about 4 years ago when the GSBid was $1575 or so. A common Barber Quarter at the time in MS65 was $1000. The bidders on eBay must not have recognized it as a better date in MS65 since I won it for just over $1000. Sold it for $1375 to a dealer shortly after.


    I have existed since the creation of this world and will exist until its end. Only my form will change. For these 80 human life years, I have the benefit of having a functioning body and consciousness. I will not waste this opportunity.
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    rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,649 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just recently bought an 1875-s "micro-s" Seated half, F-12 details with a light cleaning, for $29 in an auction. There are 30 known in all grades, and most are AG-VG. It's worth somewhere between $900 and $1500.

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    mozeppamozeppa Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭
    for 25 bucks i bought a 1933 st gaudens 20 buck gold piece from a little old lady who was gonna trade it at a bank for paper cash because it was so heavy.
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    I bought a group of 2 1971 PCGS PR69Cameo Kennedy halfs
    for about $175 at auction a few years ago.
    When said coins were received only one was PR69CAM
    The other was PR69 DCAM! Woo Hooimage

    Regards, Larry
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    I bought a 1971 proof set for $4 at an estate auction. Contained a no-s nickel that graded PF68 CAM.
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    MikeInFLMikeInFL Posts: 10,192 ✭✭✭✭
    I purchased my avatar, a prooflike 1889 gold dollar, on eBay raw for AU money ($200).

    The coin graded 65 at PCGS and according to the PCGS price guide is worth $2,300.
    Collector of Large Cents, US Type, and modern pocket change.
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    barberloverbarberlover Posts: 2,228 ✭✭
    At a coin universe coin auction sometime in the late 90's I bid 880 dollars on a pcgs 64 1902 S barber quarter, at the time internet coin auctions were not as popular as they are today, still I considered my bid a " joke bid" being 60 % of retail and was very suprised to win the coin.
    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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    MrBearMrBear Posts: 444 ✭✭✭
    About nine years ago, when I was just getting back into collecting for the first time since I was a kid, I bought a raw 1909 $5 Indian for $170 on eBay. PCGS graded it at MS63. Probably should have sold it in 2006 when it was worth $4000, but that story is just too darned good!

    Won an NGC MS67 1880 gold dollar at a recent Heritage auction for about $3300. They usually go for about $1000-$1500 more, and one sold back in June for over $6000. THAT one was PCGS graded. So I crossed mine. image
    Occasionally successful coin collector.
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    ebaybuyerebaybuyer Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭
    image

    just paid for it today
    regardless of how many posts I have, I don't consider myself an "expert" at anything
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    ebaybuyerebaybuyer Posts: 2,984 ✭✭✭
    then this one not long ago. while not very rare or even horribly scarce as a date itself, finding a decent XF with ANY head detail is no easy task. i consider it a rip at $70

    image

    regardless of how many posts I have, I don't consider myself an "expert" at anything
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    NotSureNotSure Posts: 3,053 ✭✭✭
    This is one of my best, if not the best.....'62 Type B Washie....CU guide of $275, paid $39 on TT....total pop of 64, 3 better. Same exact night, another one sold for, I believe $140.

    image

    Should have added, this score was in Feb.
    I'll come up with something.
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    deviousdevious Posts: 1,690
    I purchased a 1936-1942 proof set of cents raw as well as a ton of additional random error cents in the lot for $346. the 1936 was graded pr65rd and i sold the rest for just over 400 dollars. so i walked away with about 54 dollars netted and a free 1936 pr65rd proof cent. well, minus the grade fees. still did good in my eyes image

    On ebay in 2009 I forgot to add.
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    Many years ago on ebay I randomly bought a MS63 1867 2c in a PCGS OGH. I throw it in a box and don't pay any attention to it. A month goes by and I am looking at some coins. I pull the 2c out and it is staring me right in the face. It is the DDO. Didn't even need magnification to see it.
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    PatchesPatches Posts: 1,700 ✭✭✭
    I bought a PCGS Fair-2 1793 Chain Cent "America" off a dealer for 2k, I immediately sold it on eBay with a buy it now of $3,500 the next day. The even more bizarre thing was the person who bought it from me, listed it on eBay as soon as they received it. They started at .01 as a true auction, and it realized over $4,800. I can't complain though, it was my best flip by far ever.

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