Every lot I place bid go very high these days

[toyonakataro]

I wonder if someone is stalking me

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, it's getting harder to enjoy this hobby within my budget.

Just a thought after Stack's and ANR sale.....

[cpm9ball]

Stacks & ANR? Consider yourself lucky! I can only afford the auctions that are held in barns and you sit on bales of hay.

 

All joking aside, it seems that every time I change direction in my collecting habits the winning bids get higher and higher. When I turned to So Called Dollars, I was able to win quite a few on eBay for reasonable prices. Then, winning bids gradually increased to the point that a decent SCD cost $250+++. So, I turned to collecting French & Belgian medals. When I started last summer, I could win really nice ones for $20-35, but the bids gradually inched above $50. Now, most of the nice ones are $75-150, and the really nice ones are $150+++.

 

I'm still able to get an occasional good deal from one of the European sellers, but now I'm once again redirecting my efforts back to Morgan $'s. It's a seesaw game but, fortunately, I have a variety of interests that allow me to switch back and forth while some of them cool off.

 

Chris

[James_OldeTowne]

Maybe you are collecting coins in too high a grade. Those who know their budgetary limits get just as much enjoyment out of coins as those with deep enough pockets to chase imaginary rarities (in other words "pop tops" and stratospheric grades).

 

I would rather that my budget allows me to buy TWENTY "nice" coins than ONE "bragging rights" coin.

 

The advice to "buy the best coin" is one of the most abused ideas in numismatics today, and humongous coin companies are happy to take advantage of that (while taking your money, of course).

 

James

[toyonakataro]

All joking aside, it seems that every time I change direction in my collecting habits the winning bids get higher and higher. When I turned to So Called Dollars, I was able to win quite a few on eBay for reasonable prices. Then, winning bids gradually increased to the point that a decent SCD cost $250+++. So, I turned to collecting French & Belgian medals. When I started last summer, I could win really nice ones for $20-35, but the bids gradually inched above $50. Now, most of the nice ones are $75-150, and the really nice ones are $150+++.

Chris

 

 

Chris-I think you are being stalked by someone, too

[toyonakataro]

James

You have a good point.

I have to admit that I've been chasing my series in higher grade lately, but I'm not chasing "pop top"

And there's a reason.

I recently conuted how much I own my series(seated half dimes) and I was surprised to know that I already own 93 of them....most of them are low MS but I do have a few gems and those gems looks much nicer than low MSs. Yes, some are pretty in low MS, but they are just pretty and not stunning.........no match for the real gems and so I've decided to focus on higer grades.

The market has been hot during the past few years but the prices for seated half dimes, except for key dates and top pops had remained stable until recently....I'm afraid they aren't any more.

[jtryka]

I feel your pain...

[HaydenTubbs]

but now I'm once again redirecting my efforts back to Morgan $'s.

 

Chris

 

 

[cpm9ball]

Hayden, you'd be amazed at what I've been getting for $40-$65 each!

 

Chris

[HaydenTubbs]

Hayden, you'd be amazed at what I've been getting for $40-$65 each!

 

Chris

 

 

Anything toned?

[cpm9ball]

Hayden, you'd be amazed at what I've been getting for $40-$65 each!

 

Chris

 

 

Anything toned?

 

The '82S I posted on another thread cost me $38.

[midwest]

Hayden, you'd be amazed at what I've been getting for $40-$65 each!

 

Chris

 

Anything with a reserve on it?

[cpm9ball]

All joking aside, it seems that every time I change direction in my collecting habits the winning bids get higher and higher. When I turned to So Called Dollars, I was able to win quite a few on eBay for reasonable prices. Then, winning bids gradually increased to the point that a decent SCD cost $250+++. So, I turned to collecting French & Belgian medals. When I started last summer, I could win really nice ones for $20-35, but the bids gradually inched above $50. Now, most of the nice ones are $75-150, and the really nice ones are $150+++.

Chris

 

 

Chris-I think you are being stalked by someone, too

 

Toyo, I think it is more likely the result of someone doing their homework. On many occasions I've competed with other bidders who I recognize from other auctions. I like to study their habits and limitations, if any. It helps me to determine how much to bid. The ones who are hard to compete against are those who use a bidding service. You won't know they are even there until the auction is over. If I should lose an auction, I will not only look to see who won, but I will review the bidding history to see if any others were "key players" at the end. Understanding your potential opposition and their preferences can help greatly.

 

Chris

[cpm9ball]

Hayden, you'd be amazed at what I've been getting for $40-$65 each!

 

Chris

 

Anything with a reserve on it?

 

No! Personally, I tend to stay away from any item that has a reserve requirement, especially if it is hidden from view. It leaves me with the impression that the seller is a whiner who "wants the cake and eat it too." Why doesn't the seller just post the damn price and see if it moves. If it doesn't, it just proves that he is a pie-in-the-sky, greedy SOB who could care less about coin collecting.

 

Chris

[MikeKing]

. . . Those who know their budgetary limits . . .

James

 

[jom]

Toyo, I think it is more likely the result of someone doing their homework.

 

It is equally likely that it is the result of someone who is an insufficiently_thoughtful_person that bids too high.

 

jom

[TJ'S Coins]

Auction bidding can get crazy. I've had the best success doing homework on a coin before the auction begins, determing a fair price - including buyers premium - and then making what is a comfortable maximum bid for me. You win some, you lose some but I don't exceed what I am comfortable paying for a coin. I've also learned the earlier I place my maximum bid before the auction starts the greater success that I've had with the coins I really want. While the big companies offer great rarities, there will also be stiff competition. If you want to play at the premium level, be prepared to pay the cost of admission.

[Morgannut]

Auction bidding can get crazy it's true. As an extreem example there were 2 interesting but NOT rare Morgans at Baltimore--one @ ANR one @ B & M. Both had sheets arond $1700. With an interesting provenance both bid to the $4000 area among different deals who saw them. In ANR case the phone bidders took the bids to $6,300. In another it was two phones above $2500 for 4 minutes all the way to $12,500!!!!. These millionaires just seem to not care once they decide they'll own the coin---Money means nothing, although I think they look like fools. The internet buying is going to lead to some surprised buyers if they think they were bidding against anyone with a clue--but they can't tell from a computer or telephone-

[cpm9ball]

It doesn't matter whether they are millionaires or not. At least they know what they want and are willing to pay for it. I doubt there is any serious collector who can absolutely state that they have never paid more than the fair market value for a coin when they wanted it very, very badly. The fact that it may be $50, $500 or $5000 is all relative.

 

Chris

[rexcat]

It doesn't matter whether they are millionaires or not. At least they know what they want and are willing to pay for it. I doubt there is any serious collector who can absolutely state that they have never paid more than the fair market value for a coin when they wanted it very, very badly. The fact that it may be $50, $500 or $5000 is all relative.

 

Chris

 

Yeah, been there...

[CTcollector]

I wonder if someone is stalking me

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, it's getting harder to enjoy this hobby within my budget.

Just a thought after Stack's and ANR sale.....

 

Its not you. Those were 2 great auctions with plenty of fresh original material to chose from. I got one old friend back from ANR, but that was about it. The craziness can't last. It goes in cycles - patience is the key. There is alot of levered money and discretionary income being thrown around these days. We can't have cheap credit and low taxes forever !

[Morgannut]

It doesn't matter whether they are millionaires or not. At least they know what they want and are willing to pay for it. I doubt there is any serious collector who can absolutely state that they have never paid more than the fair market value for a coin when they wanted it very, very badly. The fact that it may be $50, $500 or $5000 is all relative.

 

Chris

 

As some who has recently bid and paid 5X and 30X (the Battle Creek sale) sheet-- perhaps I wasn't clear Chris. I've seen many coins I just want and am "willing to pay for it". What I was saying is that these PHONE bidders seem NOT to have examined the coins themselves-- or used a knowlegeable expert to look/bid... The images--even at ANR--can be very misleading. A good number of people can and will bid several hundred or several thousand "too much", especially while bidding against knowledgable dealers and collectors in the room-- who have all seen how beautiful a coin might be. But throwing piles of 1000 dollar bills around, just "to buy it now" seems foolish, if other nice examples come up fairly frequently.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first response--I like millionaires--I'd like to be one!!

[Stanley]

As some who has recently bid and paid 5X and 30X (the Battle Creek sale) sheet-- perhaps I wasn't clear Chris. I've seen many coins I just want and am "willing to pay for it". What I was saying is that these PHONE bidders seem NOT to have examined the coins themselves-- or used a knowlegeable expert to look/bid... The images--even at ANR--can be very misleading. A good number of people can and will bid several hundred or several thousand "too much", especially while bidding against knowledgable dealers and collectors in the room-- who have all seen how beautiful a coin might be. But throwing piles of 1000 dollar bills around, just "to buy it now" seems foolish, if other nice examples come up fairly frequently.

 

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first response--I like millionaires--I'd like to be one!!

 

 

I always feel bidding on ebay can be the same way. Of course that is good for the sellers