Buy the holder---not the coin???

[spy88]

Lets say you want to add the 1995-W PR ASE $1 to your set as it is THE key coin to the series. Right now on eBay, there are 3 of them up for auction as well as one original 1995 American Eagle 10th Anniversary Set w/the gold coins.

 

Here is the set presently @ $3625. with 15 bidders.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2225835289&category=41112&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&dr=1

 

Here is a NGC PR69UCam with no bids on it and a "Buy It Now" for $2400.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2225968943&category=39488&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&dr=1

 

And here is a PCGS PR69DCam with 43 bids and @ $2505.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2225440127&category=39488&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

 

The third ASE is also a PCGS PR69DCam but with a BIN price of $2600. with no bidding offered so is not part of this question.

 

If you were one of the 43 bidders for the PCGS coin, is the slab more important then the coin? Why not buy the NGC for the $2400., get the same coin and save time, money and hassle of waiting out the bidding process on the PCGS one?

 

There is one valid possibility for NOT doing so---need the PCGS for a PCGS ASE set. But if that is not the case, are these people buying the slab and not the coin as indicated by the bidding? Personally, I would rather spend the extra money for the complete set.

 

Your thoughts?

 

David

 

[TomB]

I looked at the PCGS auction that you linked and while there are 43 bids, there are only 17 bidders. This is due to several low feedback bidders who bid multiple, consecutive times either as a shill or, more likely, to try to become the high bidder for as little as possible. So, there may only be two people who really value this coin at over the NGC priced piece.

 

If it were my money, and I had to have this coin, I would go for the raw, complete set with gold. Of course, I don't collect this series so my answer is likely different from others.

[braddick]

Many collectors also use key words in their eBay search. PCGS is a popular one and possibly more so than, "NGC".

 

You're right though- if you're going after one of these in near flawless condition your best bet is the NGC coin (outside of the raw set).

 

I recently picked up a Specimen 1998-S Kennedy. I wanted one of these and found the SMS69 NGC coin at about 30% cheaper than its PCGS twin (in the same grade).

The NGC coin appears flawless and the white holder sets the coin off better anyway.

[braddick]

David, One other area we've neglected to mention is the NGC Eagle is featured ONLY under the "Bullion" catagory while the PCGS version is ALSO listed under "Commemoratives". What this means is if you type in "NGC" under "U.S. Coins" you will NOT ever see the NGC Eagle whereas if you type in "PCGS" you WILL see the Eagle there as bullion catagories do NOT show up under the "U.S. Coins" section.

 

The PCGS Eagle is just getting a ton more hits, plain and simple.

[EVillageProwler]

What this means is if you type in "NGC" under "U.S. Coins" you will NOT ever see the NGC Eagle whereas if you type in "PCGS" you WILL see the Eagle there as bullion catagories do NOT show up under the "U.S. Coins" section.

 

I never realized this... Not that I'd ever imagine myself branching into that segment of the market. And, if I did, it'd likely be a one-time thing and I can probably find someone to just get a really nice one as a favor and I'll give him the money.

 

EVP