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What's the biggest financial homerun you have made in numismatics?

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  • my biggest homeruns are when i land a rare coin that is part of my core collection with the look i like at a fair price, not a windfall when i sell a great coin that i will miss later
  • GritsManGritsMan Posts: 2,599 ✭✭✭
    2008.
    Winner of the Coveted Devil Award June 8th, 2010
  • STONESTONE Posts: 15,275
    I found an unattributed 1829 Curl Base 2 Bust Dime in very nice VF condition last year (2010).
    Of course I bought it on the spot, but I told almost nobody about it until 4-5 months later, and still I kept it very quiet!
    I spent MANY hours looking at VF/EF PCGS Graded Bust Dimes of similar dates to get a spot-on perfect idea of how it should grade.
    I finally couldn't keep it a secret any longer until December 2010, where I spilled the beans (slightly) to this board.

    At Winter FUN 2011 I had it submitted to PCGS for grading. It came back just as I thought it would, PCGS-35.
    This makes it the finest known example of fewer than 40 known examples - being finest known was verified by Louis Scuderi who has been
    tracking this die marriage for a LONG time.

    While I have no immediate intentions to sell the coin, it is by far the most valuable in my collection and by FARRRR the best cherrypick I ever
    expect to make.
  • raycycaraycyca Posts: 1,709 ✭✭✭
    Clackamas, YOU SUCK!!!! How about sending some morsels for the little people? Congrats!!! image))image
    You only live life once, enjoy it like it's your last day. It just MIGHT be!

    image
  • Hi,


    Well, a certain very rare and historical significant book with information about a famous item with some coins it in. Bought for $20, valued now about $4000, and that is for the usual copy with anti-theft devices as well as the normal marks made to a library reference copy. Mine is clean image

    Best wishes,
    Eric
  • Everything I bought in 2008 was a home run, but my pride and joy is a 2008 PR70 FS one ounce Buffalo; I think I paid roughly $1400.00
  • 66Tbird66Tbird Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭
    No single big winner for me, but I'm still selling off 06 ASE Anni as singles. About half done with that. Used the profit on multiples of 06,07,08 AGE, APE, and Buff 4pc sets. Even snagged a trade dollar or two for the type set.
    Need something designed and 3D printed?
  • don129don129 Posts: 550 ✭✭✭
    Bought the 1995 20th Anniversary Gold/Silver set from the mint... just because. No reason really. Now I have one of the 1995-W Silver Eagles for free!
    Successful BSTs with adriana, barrytrot, Bochiman, Dabigkahuna, Modern Coin Mart, oilstates2003, terburn88, THEGENERAL, treybenedict
  • mbogomanmbogoman Posts: 5,244 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought an 1879-CC $1 (clear CC) raw off Ebay last month for $350 BIN. PCGS grade just posted last week - MS61.
  • Probably the only hit I have had with coins was in the 70's. I bought a shoebox full, an old collection, not an accumulation, for $75. Money was tight then and I think we lived on that money for a year. I remember there were two 1877 IHC's among other things.
  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I found an unattributed 1829 Curl Base 2 Bust Dime in very nice VF condition last year (2010).
    Of course I bought it on the spot, but I told almost nobody about it until 4-5 months later, and still I kept it very quiet!
    I spent MANY hours looking at VF/EF PCGS Graded Bust Dimes of similar dates to get a spot-on perfect idea of how it should grade.
    I finally couldn't keep it a secret any longer until December 2010, where I spilled the beans (slightly) to this board.

    At Winter FUN 2011 I had it submitted to PCGS for grading. It came back just as I thought it would, PCGS-35.
    This makes it the finest known example of fewer than 40 known examples - being finest known was verified by Louis Scuderi who has been
    tracking this die marriage for a LONG time.

    While I have no immediate intentions to sell the coin, it is by far the most valuable in my collection and by FARRRR the best cherrypick I ever
    expect to make. >>



    Stone's "financial homerun" is more akin to the grand slam hit by Milton Bradley of the Harrisburg Senators, to win the 1999 Eastern League Championship series, with his team down 3 runs, a 3-2 count, bottom of the 9th inning, and during a driving rainstorm. Here's THAT story.

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

  • SteveSteve Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭
    My #1 was purchasing a PCGS slabbed 1914D in MS64RB for $1,550 and cracking it out! Years later I resubmitted it to PCGS and it came back MS65RB. Still in my collection with a price guide of $11,000. Steveimage
  • jmcu12jmcu12 Posts: 2,452 ✭✭✭
    Purchased an 1876 CC Trade Dollar at a local auction for $30.

    Looked at it closer and discovered it was a double die reverse.

    NGC graded it AU Details, cleaned. Still in my collection but still probably worth about $600-$750 (guesstimate).
    Awarded latest "YOU SUCK!": June 11, 2014
  • rld14rld14 Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭
    I bought a beautifully toned Lincoln cent out of a junk box for 50c... it's now in a PCGS 66RB holder image
    Bear's "Growl of Approval" award 10/09 & 3/10 | "YOU SUCK" - PonyExpress8|"F the doctors!" - homerunhall | I hate my car
  • rld14rld14 Posts: 2,390 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Oh nothing big, just had a buffalo nickel laying around raw for about 5 years and finally sent it in and got a MS68* grade out of it image >>



    Did you bring that to the Parsippany show some time back? If so I think I remember it... gorgeous coin.
    Bear's "Growl of Approval" award 10/09 & 3/10 | "YOU SUCK" - PonyExpress8|"F the doctors!" - homerunhall | I hate my car
  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lets revive this thread!



    Some great reads.

    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • CommemKingCommemKing Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I bought a 1966 Kennedy half dollar for $4.50 and had it graded at PCGS. It came back MS67 with a pop 3/1 at the time. I sold it for close to $3,000 to a forum member.



    Also bought a 1944 S Walker in an NTC slab with bad picks for $40. I could tell it was toned is all. When it came it had the most beautiful rainbow rim tone on obverse and reverse. I sent it to PCGS raw and it graded MS65. I sold it for $1000 to a forum member.

  • abcde12345abcde12345 Posts: 3,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: CommemKing

    I bought a 1966 Kennedy half dollar for $4.50 and had it graded at PCGS. It came back MS67 with a pop 3/1 at the time. I sold it for close to $3,000.




    Could it have been a misattributed SMS?
  • CommemKingCommemKing Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Could it have been a misattributed SMS?


    Probably not. I don't care though, as I got my money and PCGS did authenticate it for what it was.


    Whats funny is I have sent in SMS coins that came back as regular business strikes and sent regular business strikes that came back SMS. I'm not sure how they figure it out.
  • djdilliodondjdilliodon Posts: 1,938 ✭✭
    Purchased 20 sets of the 20th anniversary silver eagle sets and got many 70's. Flipped all for about $23k when all was said and done. Went to a jeweler who called my dad when he was alive bragging he just ripped off some old lady giving her $10 each for some nice silver dollars. Wanted us to come down and look at them. While I don't remember the dates as I'm not interested in Morgan's I found 3 CC Morgan's that where outstanding. Nicest raw Morgan's I have ever seen in my life! They where in flips from long ago with labeles from big time auction houses. All three I had graded at 67 to my eye. I offered $550 for all 3 and he accepted. Sent them ATS and it proved I made a wonderful purchase image.
  • cupronikcupronik Posts: 773 ✭✭✭
    Bought a super gem BU 1935-S Lincoln Cent for $110. at the St. Louis CSNS show in 2005. I considered it THE highlight buy of all my raw coin purchases at that show (even
    BEFORE I submitted it to PCGS.) It came back MS-67RD, becoming the fifth such 35-S in MS67RD.

    Consigned to HA.com for Sept 2005 Long Beach auction where I netted $16,000!!!
    (The buyer paid $18,400 with fees. etc.)

    Needless to say, it's the finest 35-S cent I've ever handled.
  • MonsterCoinzMonsterCoinz Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought an NGC Lincoln for $1650. Within the month it crossed to PCGS at the same grade and sold for $4900.
    www.MonsterCoinz.com | My Toned Showcase

    Check out my iPhone app SlabReader!
  • AMRCAMRC Posts: 4,280 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wait, you're supposed to sell them for MORE than what you bought them for??? image
    MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
  • Booger9989Booger9989 Posts: 407 ✭✭✭
    Well I made over 15 grand on the baseball gold coins so you could consider that a HOME RUN!!!!!
    Positive BST Deals as a seller : Wondercoin, Chumlee, Jerster, Perry Hall , DMarks, MWK, drewsef, SoCalBigMark, Lakesammman, Nurmaler
  • Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,431 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought a 1943 cent struck on a dime planchet for $300, sold it for $2000.
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,825 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My recent big score was a coin I bought at ebay auction for $129 sold at retail 2 weeeks later at $340. Many others at good margin - Despite tough market conditions numerous store sales at 30% Gross Margin or higher.



    Another was a couple of years ago some USGTC I had 6800 in retailed for 9500 at from my table at a show. A guy with Knapsack had come in bourse room going from table to table buying gold coins. Nice band new $100 bills ohh the smell of money! The deal spurred me to buy an estate deal I had been on the fence on.



    Recent world currency deal which was a $500 sale at approximately 3x cost. The notes were discounted to Market Value by about 5% so in reality not that bad a deal for the buyer.



    Estate bought circa 1994 mostly Mexican Silver Coins banked big time (like 5x cost) on that around 2011 when silver went up and coins taken out of bank box for ebay blowout.



    A vatican World Gold Coin - NGC MS64 bought around 1994 for $350 sold $2250 in 2014. Numerous other World Gold coins bought 1990-95 banked big time 2011-12 booked multiple cost retailing them.



    I look for deals with potential I can buy low then sell high somewhere down the road.
    Investor
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The woman I was dating when I bought the Cheerios Sacagawea threatened to break up with me for that. She did. I scored.
  • OperationButterOperationButter Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭
    Tomorrow might give another member a financial homerun image
    Gold is for savings. Fiat is for transactions.



    BST Transactions (as the seller): Collectall, GRANDAM, epcjimi1, wondercoin, jmski52, wheathoarder, jay1187, jdsueu, grote15, airplanenut, bigole
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ebay
  • I bought an awesome well-pedigreed totally original concave rays Fugio from Tony Terranova for $20k ... decided to stop collecting and sold it back to him a couple of years later for $20k. That is the biggest financial homerun I've made in numismatics ... everything else I've lost money on ;-)
  • winkywinky Posts: 1,671
    Bought a 1873 DDO dime as an XF, PCGS said No NO it is a VF30, Wow what a deal that was. The problem, it went the wrong way. Don't buy from that guy.
  • derrybderryb Posts: 37,699 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Biggest score was finding hundreds of Washington dollar coins with edge lettering missing. I was fortunate to be in one of the few areas where they ended up getting rolled from the gigantic mint bags into rolls that were released in $1000 brick boxes. Bought and searched about 30 of these bricks. Seems every roll had a few of them.

    No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left

  • nankrautnankraut Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭
    I'm an old guy, so here's a true story:



    In 1961, when I was living in the Chicago area, I once cashed my paycheck at my local bank ($234.00 for two weeks pay). Since I was trying to put together a set of Morgan dollars, I asked the teller to give me the money in silver dollars, which was no problem at that time. So, I took 'em home and looked thru the bunch----found a really nice looking 1893-S, which I put aside and took the rest back. (had to buy groceries, pay bills, etc). I eventually put together a complete set, (about half of them were pulled from bank rolls @ my bank). Most were VF-BU. About 25 years or so later, I sent the entire set in to ANACS for certification/grading. That was when ANACS issued the "photograde" certs. About half of the cois were labeled as "cleaned", but the 1893-s came back as AU-50.



    As I recall, I sold it (complete date/mintmark set) to a dealer @ the Long Beach show for $1800 cash in 1995.
    I'm the Proud recipient of a genuine "you suck" award dated 1/24/05. I was accepted into the "Circle of Trust" on 3/9/09.
  • unclebobunclebob Posts: 433 ✭✭✭
    My Avatar... a PCGS holdered, unattributed, poor image, WAG. About a dozen graded in MS, and the last sold a month ago for $1500. Mine is a point grade better. Another was a close AM Lincoln pulled from a gifted set and flipped for about $300. A toned dime set I picked up last week keeps revealing it treasures... A couple RPM's. Should be a good for a double if I decide to sell it off
  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,411 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bought a few gold coins for near melt overseas... Pan Pac $2.5 in an P64 OGH and a 1915-S $10 which went 62. Gains for $4k and $10k.
  • jtlee321jtlee321 Posts: 2,365 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mine was an EF 1919 DDO Mercury Dime unattributed for $7.00 at a local show. I sent it to ANACS for grading and attribution, it came back EF-40. I sold it for $5250.00 a few months later.
  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: jtlee321
    Mine was an EF 1919 DDO Mercury Dime unattributed for $7.00 at a local show. I sent it to ANACS for grading and attribution, it came back EF-40. I sold it for $5250.00 a few months later.


    wow, still searching for mine
    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I picked up a nicely toned 1892-O Barber Quarter PCGS MS64 which appeared to be a DDO (unattributed) from the sellers images;



    image



    I just need to find the right buyer for this Top Pop example
    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • TreashuntTreashunt Posts: 6,747 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Back in '96 I picked up a nice Fine '09 S.



    Now in an NGC 09 S VDB slab, F-12.
    Frank

    BHNC #203

  • csdotcsdot Posts: 707 ✭✭✭✭
    I have three, from the local jewelry store that dabbles in coins.



    My first score was when silver was still $5/ounce, and was a near complete set of Peace Dollars in the bullion box (bullion + $1). These were VG, and included all of the dates, except unfortunately the 1928P. The high relief 1921 alone was worth about what I paid.



    The second score was when I noticed they had 25 PCGS slabbed MS64 and 65 Morgans of various (relatively common) dates and mintmarks. This was in 2009 or 2010 when silver was climbing quickly from $5 to $50/ounce. The Morgans were priced at $35 per coin, which may have been appropriate at $5/oz silver, but low at $50/oz silver. There was a slight premium for the 1882-1884 CCs. I picked out all of the different dates/mintmarks they had and started my Morgan set. The sales girl had just rung me up when I noticed the manager come over. He must have realized what was going on because he grabbed the remaining 5 (the duplicate dates I didn't need) and took them with him to the back of the shop. I stopped by a week later and those duplicates were now $80 each.



    My third score was a MS64 PCGS graded $20 Motto 1908 Saint. The price was $2,000, which was basically bullion, plus a reasonable numismatic premium at the time. Even though the gold price has nearly halved since then, this is still a $5,000 coin. ??
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I answered eBay because eBay allowed me to build a business from absolutely nothing using only my time, my eye and my photo skills.
  • PRIZ430PRIZ430 Posts: 306 ✭✭✭
    Lets see, there were quite a few....off the top of my head...

    2 1916-D Mercury Dimes for melt

    several 1932d & s Wash for melt

    A true OBW roll of 1939 Half Dollars just above melt (150.00)

    1908s & 1909-s Indians for 10.00 as part of a collection

    Dateless 1916 Standing Quarter for melt

    1928 Peace Dollar ex fine for 32.00

    1964 type "c" wash Quarter for 6.00...ended up PCGS MS63

    1903-O morgan circulated for 18.00

    1942/41 dime for melt

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,634 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Many mint products have been good to me, but in 2011 I was able to turn 2 cases of ASE anniversary sets purchased for $3,000 into a $8100 cashier's check right before Christmas.

    Told the wife I spent $3k on coins, and she got up and left the room. I swear she went for a weapon! I quickly told her that they were already sold, and I went from zero to hero.

    That was a great memory, it paid for all of my holiday expenses, and it really showed my spouse that there was money to be made on this "stupid little hobby" of mine.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • sadysta1sadysta1 Posts: 1,316 ✭✭✭
    Slab - Accugrade photo sample slab bought for $5 and sold it for $240 on eBay which was a record for staple slab at the time.



    Raw coin - free to $$$: my uncle gave me his piggy bank that he was putting Pennines in in the 80s. I broke it and after a search I have submitted 1983 penny that graded MS68RD. Sold it for over $700.
  • In 2008, ending up with 120 Silver Eagles from the mint...08/07'simage

    The largest I know of on the boards was Eric (Sumorada's) Hoard of NEL Washingtons back in 07 IIRC est. at or around 3million. I miss that guyimage, may he rest in peace
  • ctf_error_coinsctf_error_coins Posts: 15,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: DCW it really showed my spouse that there was money to be made on this "stupid little hobby" of mine.


    This is so important as after awhile they don't care what you buy image
  • au58au58 Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭
    I bought a roll of 1929-D Mercury Dimes from Stacks (before Stacks adopted the Full Split Bands designation, but the FSB designation was gaining popularity).

    Every one was full bands.

  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 23,281 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I posted this to this thread back in 2007:





    "1993-P Proof (ASE), Bought from the Mint in 1993 for $23. Certified in 2007. PCGS Pop of 16, Current PCGS Price Guide $5,250."





    I ended up selling the coin on ebay for $4,900 shortly thereafter. I had to pay tax on that!
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • winkywinky Posts: 1,671
    I found out that I did make an extremely small profit after 47years. In 1968 I found a 1913D penny in change and sent it to PCGS and now it is a beautiful brown XF40 and they list it at $48. WOW what a bargain.

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