important to specialize in coins you collect and buy the coin not the holder

[michael]

for example

 

you are at a large major coin show and see

 

two of the same date ngc pf65 brown indian cents

 

the date is 1883 not a rare proof date and in fact one of the most certified examples in red brown of the maior grading services!! and i am sure there are many more brown coins not even certified as it is not worth the trouble as the coin is worth as much in or out of the holder

 

one coin is priced at $150 the other at $750

 

which coin do you buy??

 

the $150 coin is the usual drab brown color with light to medium mirrors and at best average eye appeal but a solid proof 65 in terms of technical merits something you see everyday either certified or raw of course the coin has little to no spots or stains or streakiness or wipe marks nicks so again a solid proof 65

 

the $650 coin is a totally deeply mirrored solid blue both sides an original envelope toned proof that is solid for the proof65 grade with little to no spots or stains or streakiness or wipe marks nicks so again a solid pf65 and slightly cameoed with the devices contrasting with the deeply mirrored fields and the eye appeal is well MONSTER

 

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

you buy the $650 coin as you know you can sell the coin on the floor to a major indian cent dealer for $950-$1200 as the coin is actully underpriced based on the overall "LOOK" of the coin and you are able to see this

 

the dealer knows he can get easily $1500 for the coin from a retail buyer and in auction similar coins recently went for $2500 which is a crazy price to you and this dealer but such is the coin game

 

the $150 coin if you buy it is a coin you can maybe and a big maybe at that

 

sell the coin to a dealer for $125 to $150 hopefully? or maybe you can place the coin with an inexperienced buyer that is buying the holder not the coin

 

i hope he does not see you in six months looking to sell it back to you looking for an offer

 

the point being there is more to the holder then the grade on the holder and if you seek out with an experienced eye there is much treasure to be found on the bourse or anywhere coins are bought and sold!

 

michael

 

 

[Leothelion]

This is the most beautiful thing about certified coins, raw coins reign not only with 95% of the collectors but also with the majority of dealers as well. 99% of the collectable coins never see the inside of a plastic holder. Dealers will tell you that they plan on certifying that very desireable coin you want but they seldom do because they want you to pay those trumped up, inflated and isolated registry prices for their raw coins! Did someone say, "shyster?"

 

Triumphantly, most collectors aren't buying it!

 

Leo

[TomB]

Buy eye appeal.

[sanmary]

Yes, eye appeal would be the key here. An attractive coin will almost be an easy sell regardless of grade compared to an unattractive coin in the same given grade. Sure there are plastic chasers but how many coins do you look at until you find "the one"? They are a lot harder to procure than to sell.

[michael]

it is much MUCH harder to procure such a coin but they are out there

 

but this is what collecting is all about

 

for me eye appeal is most important but if you think about it eye appeal combined with great technical merits is the ultimate

 

michael