SAH (Shop @ Home) "Coin Vault"

[spy88]

Late last night, I was channel surfing and have seen the listing for the "Coin Vault" before but they always seemed to be selling over-priced items. But I watched for awhile anyway. Just then, they had what I thought IMHO was a great deal. 30 years of proof coin sets from the US Mint---years 1961 thru 1990---for less then $550.00, less then $20. per set! Showed alot of the various packages, and seemed to be some VERY nice cam and dcam coins! I think I would be hard-pressed to get the same items from eBay for under that price!

 

Anybody got good/bad stories of purchases from them?

 

David

[gmarguli]

The 1960-64 sets are around $10 each. The 1968, 69, 71, 72, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85 & 87sets are only a couple of dollars each.

 

I don't have my sheets with me, but I looked at the way overinflated PCGS price misguide and those sets run a total of $382. Considering that price misguide is about 1/3 overpriced, that would mean that retail these sets are about $255. If that is an accurate number, you could buy them from a dealer you have a good relationship with for around $230.

 

It's run more if you included the 1956-67 SMS set, the 1976 silver, and the T-2 79 & 81 sets. Still, with those sets $550 would still be high.

[TomB]

That price was way too high. Stay away. Also, the CAM and DCAM coins you were noticing were from the more modern sets where nearly every coin is a CAM or DCAM. Much too high a price on a bulk lot like that.

[shadroch]

I bought one of their 10 lb. bags of silver about 18 months ago. Was very unhappy with it. They had no problems with me returning it but cost me a pretty penny on two way shipping.Was tempted to keep a few of the nicer pieces and substitute some [!@#%^&^] for them but thats just not my style.

BTW-In Hofstra law school the students are compelled to watch these shows as an exercise in rhetoric.It is truly amazing what you can induce peope to think they hear while you dance around a subject.

An example-they advertise 30 years or proofs 1961-1990. They don't say you will get 30 proof sets anywhere. Some years didn't have proof sets so you will recieve less than you expected,yet exactly what they advertised.

[gmarguli]

They outright lie many times. I've heard them refer to silver dollars (Morgan & Peace) as being 1 ounce of pure silver. The problem is that even if the coin were 100% pure silver (it's 90% silver, 10% copper) it still wouldn't come close to being an ounce in weight.

[jom]

Shop @ Home =

 

jom

[sanmary]

"The Coin Vault" should be viewed as entertainment only.

[SilverEagleCoins]

That Julie Tello is kinda nice to look at standing next to the coins.

[291fifth]

Don't you wish you could have a list of all the people who buy coins from these shows!

[JakeBlues2-migration]

I happened to flip past last night. You would not believe what they were selling. I get frustrated enough at real collectibles with outrageous prices. But what really upsets me is the junk that they display as "amazing collectibles":

 

First, was the "precious metals" version of the US state quarters. Yes, you get 80 quarters--each state and mint. 40 of them are plated with gold, and 40 with platinum, and they ARE ALL GEM! Yes--that's right! Gem! Now the bulk of these are placed right into circulation and you can't get 'em this nice anymore! Not at all--but waaaaay back in 1999 we knew this day would come. We took the nicest ones we could find, preserved them in gold and platinum, and placed them into these airtights so we can sell you this whole set for just $350!

 

(By the way, you can also get "yearly updates" until 2008 for $50 a year)

 

After, they were selling a set of 16 NY quarters with the NY Yankees painted on them for $100. Yes.... these are gem quality coins which have the NY Yankees printed on them.....

 

So there were some real coins to collect..... but they were all overpriced...

 

And then they sold 5 Binion collection morgans. After bantering on and on for 10 minutes about the Binon collection and the murder and all, they showed the coins. First, they said each were uncirculated, and even the coins they showed were obviously circulated, or at best AU. The price tag? I think it was about $200 for that as well.

 

Last thing I saw was an amazingly low quality 1924 St Gaudens $20 that was being sold for $800.

 

Needless to say, I really hope grannies out there aren't blowing hundreds of dollars on state quarters ruined by electroplating or any of this junk....

[JadeRareCoin]

 

I too watch HSN out of curiosity now and then. Really nauseating stuff sometimes.

 

I have seen them manipulate the pop reports in an attempt to get grandma and grandpa to spend their social security check on their junk. For example, I saw the greasy guy doing the talking state that "only 5 of these have EVER been graded PF-70 by NGC". I can't remember the specifics, but it was some modern coin or bullion thing that was just minted. The pop reports probably did not even reflect the other 5000 coins of the same date that were being graded. Nor did the guy mention that PCGS, ICG and ANACS also certify the same type of coins and they have population reports independent of NGC. He made it sound like this was a really rare coin that will "climb in value". Yes, they sure know how to dance with words. I wonder if they look in the mirror when they shave in the morning.

[SilverEagleCoins]

I saw some of that Coin Vault stuff last night. My Julie was not on Anyway I saw the Binion collection sale and listened to the story. However something didn't make sense. If Binion was going through his casino take to sort out silver coins, how can they be uncirculated?

[Dermott]

Not all the Binion dollars are Uncirculated... several of them I have seen are worn almost completely smooth. However I also checked one of the Binion history sites and it stated that he also went out of his way to acquire silver dollars often straight from the bank (if he got the choice between paper and silver, he always took silver).

[spy88]

Yea, and he was murdered for all that silver he had buried!

Was big news here in Vegas.

[JakeBlues2-migration]

Brings up an interesting question.....

 

Why aren't collectors as outraged by the Binion collection silver as they are by the WTC Death coins being sold on eBay? Aren't both profitting from murder?

[gmarguli]

Brings up an interesting question.....

 

Why aren't collectors as outraged by the Binion collection silver as they are by the WTC Death coins being sold on eBay? Aren't both profitting from murder?

 

Perhaps, just perhaps, it's the scale of the event.

[TomB]

Possibly also because many people might not know the history of the coins, aside from their being in a single hoard.

[Dermott]

I'd say a bit of both...

 

Scale and lack of knowledge. Also, the history of the casino and WSoP is more the focal point of the Binion collection compared to WTC 9/11 which focuses on a mass-murderous act.

[Beijim]

Why aren't collectors as outraged by the Binion collection silver as they are by the WTC Death coins being sold on eBay? Aren't both profitting from murder?

 

Possibly also because it's apples and oranges.

 

There was no "World Trade Center Collection," just a sad coincidence in that the WTC happened to host vaults in which large numbers of coins were stored. On the other hand, Ted Binion was an amateur numismatist and intentionally assembled his horde. Regardless of how he died, there would still have been a Binion horde (if not a Binion collection) assuming he hadn't sold the lot prior to departing.

 

Beijim

 

[proofs03-migration]

This is apples and oranges folks. First, not either case has anything to do with the other, but sadly there was death, but then so did Lincoln, Kennedy, and so on. The shopping networks are just another method to purchase coins and paper, and even stamps. So what. Turn the channel. Some people, including myself cannot walk anymore, and I am in my 40's, I lost my leg. I watch the shows as a way to better educate myself on what is UNC, and what is MS70, and so forth. Sometimes Chambers even offers triva tips on coinage that is good to know. Julie is just there to make someone forget the coins and reach for the wallet, but she is trying.

 

The WTC was about as tragic as anything in our history. This includes the plane in Pennsilvania, and the Pentagon. They will never be forgotton. Coinage is just about history as it always has been.

 

Hey the shows are just entertainment. You don'thave to buy from them, and you don't even have to watch them. Just some people doing their jobs. I see prices and the same other material in Coin World, Coin Values, and EBay along with all sorts of website dealers selling the exact same thing, and even higher prices. People have been making money after others tragidy (Attorney's) since day one, and it will always be that way.

 

I don't mean to offend anyone, but I speak the truth here. Try viewing the shows in a different light and they won't seem as bad anymore. Just people doing their job by another delivery method. They did not make the events.

 

Take care,

 

Steve

[Beijim]

I enjoy tuning in Coin Vault from time to time for exactly the reason you mention - Robert Chambers isn't always exactly right about everything, but he does seem to have a genuine interest in history and sometimes provides interesting background that not everyone knows. As long as you keep the chastity belt firmly locked onto your wallet, Coin Vault is great background entertainment when you're in the kitchen or paying the bills.

 

Beijim

[spy88]

Thanks everyone for adding your worth to this post. As I originally stated, I still think that the proof sets , while not a BARGAIN, was worth saving a person a lot of time to try to duplicate. Granted, they focused on the later sets that had cams and dcams, but all in all, not bad.

 

HSN Coin Vault has been on for a long time (not sure just HOW long), and whether you think they sell junk, premium stuff, something in-between or lots of both, they make MONEY doing it. That is the whole reason for the show! People out there are buying up the good, the bad and the fugly that keeps this show on the airways! We, as collectors, may dismiss them out-of-hand, but the public at large doesn't, and that is all that matters.

 

David

[Beijim]

For what it's worth, Coin Vault is not on Home Shopping Network but rather on the Shop At Home network.

 

Beijim

 

[7557rb-migration]

Hello Spy. Well I also watch the coin vault. I don't buy anything there because I KNOW their prices are too high. I remember watching the show when the 2001 silver eagles were just being released. $200 a roll!!! And their prices have gone up since. But I do like the bits of history that Chambers

thows in. Especially on the old notes. I do think he misrepresents some of the coins he sells but he is a salesman. But overall I look at the show as a form of entertainment.

[spy88]

For what it's worth, Coin Vault is not on Home Shopping Network but rather on the Shop At Home network.

 

Beijim

 

JakeBlues2 changed the "title" somehow from my original post. Yes, it is Shop @ Home that has the Coin Vault.

 

David