Gold coin people, where do you acquire your pieces?

[nwcs]

Do you get them mostly through dealers, ebay, shows, somewhere else?

[Klectorkid]

Shops and Shows.

[CarlWohlforth]

I bought my nicest gold coins from Mike Bobb at a few different shows.

 

1907 Lib Obverse

 

Reverse

 

 

[jtryka]

I buy gold all over! For raw, I must see it in person, so that is usually only shops and shows. For certified, I will buy on a photo or scan, but the return policy must be good. I've bought a lot from Heritage, both from auction and inventory. I buy on eBay, but there are certain spots that are better there. For example, with a lot of common date pieces, uninformed buyers quickly bid up the price, making them no bargain compared with other channels. The real bargains I've found on eBay have been the better date pieces, I bought both my 09-D and 13-S on eBay this year, at prices about 20% below what Heritage had realized at auction recently. For better dates, more sophisticated buyers seem to flock around the big sales/auctions, driving up the better date prices there. But when the less informed eBay buyers see priced over $1000, they seem to lose interest and go right back to the overpriced 1920s P-mints! The one place I make every effort to avoid it the "Coin Vault"

[EVillageProwler]

I buy 'em from CoinVault, QVC and ValueVision.

 

 

EVP

 

[Dermott]

So far it's been at shops or shows... anywhere where I can see them in person before I buy them.

 

Mostly it's been from the shop back home in Nashville as the owner is very trustworthy and honestly marks the coins he sells (as he gets them from people who sell their collections).

[Beijim]

I buy 'em from CoinVault, QVC and ValueVision.

 

 

EVP

 

Heh heh. What about those cool ads in the inflight magazines?

 

Beijim

 

[keithdagen]

At this point in my collecting, I prefer to buy ALL coins in person, but when I can't do that, there are several larger dealers that I will still trust to purchase coins from, because I am familiar with their photography and they have solid return policies.

[EVillageProwler]

QVC, ValueVision, etc., all have solid return policies! (Or, so they say!)

 

EVP

 

[nwcs]

And what would you all say your buy ratio is? Do you look at an awful lot before you buy and only buy on rare occassions? Or do you find yourself finding pieces worthy of your collection more often?

[keithdagen]

And what would you all say your buy ratio is? Do you look at an awful lot before you buy and only buy on rare occassions? Or do you find yourself finding pieces worthy of your collection more often?

 

It took me about four months of looking, including two major auctions, before I found the last coin I purchased. And I was not looking for it (Flowing Hair Half) -- I was looking for any Type coin that would fit in my set.

[EVillageProwler]

Good things come to those who wait.

 

Actually, in the coin biz, that saying doesn't totally apply. You need to be aggressive with the good coins; patience can be a mixed blessing there.

 

EVP

 

[jtryka]

I tend to agree with EVP (though lately he's been a little strange in his replies, have you been taking your pills?). For common coins, I will wait until I find one I really like, but for the scarcer dates, I jump when I get the chance since they come up so infrequently.

[EVillageProwler]

A little strange? Them's fighting words, partner. Let's step outside... Try VERY STRANGE!!!

 

 

EVP

 

[EVillageProwler]

BTW, have you noticed that I wholeheartedly subscribe to the notion that a picture (or, emoticon) is worth a thousand words?

 

 

EVP

 

[jtryka]

OK, now I'm getting worried! Perhaps we need to have an intervention for EVP!

[keithdagen]

Yes, EVP is acting very strange today. Maybe he finally got a hold of TDN's Seated Dollars and did the Demi with them.

[DirtyGoldMan]

I buy 90% of my coins from Doug Winter.

 

[DirtyGoldMan]

Anyone care to tell me how to embed a pic within a post?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

RYK

[jom]

I steal them from the

 

Actually, I've bought from a bunch of different sources, usually at shows. Although, I've bought from David Lawrence once Online (which turned out to be a GREAT coin) and, I think, one or two off Ebay.

 

I do NOT buy without a return policy so buying from Ebay or Online can be a problem sometimes.

 

Who I've bought from: Gary Adkins, Mike Bobb, Harry Laibstain and a bunch more.

 

jom

[DaveG]

I focus on no-motto Coronet half eagles and eagles and buy them exclusively at shows, where I can examine them personally.

 

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about these coins, so I always look at every no-motto half eagle and eagle that I can, in order to sharpen my grading skills and my eye for original surfaces.

 

I'd say that I look at 20-30 coins for every coin I buy.

[Oldtrader3]

EVP: I am sure that you got good value!!!

[Oldtrader3]

I have bought Gold from Legend Coin, David Lawrence, Bowers and Merena (both on-line and auctions) and Heritage Auctions. Also at shows. NEVER on EBay! Most of my more expensive Saints came from more noted collections at auctions. Better date Saints are tough, but many lower grade MS coins look AU because of poor strike or dinged surfaces.

 

I like AU58 coins for better dates as well (see attached 1925-S).