It is amazing the amount of $$$ these outfits pay in advertising with Coin World, Coin Age, and other glossy numismatic publications. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be a writer for them. Kind of like being a grader for NNC or Numistrust. Lots of imagination, no scruples, just chutzpah and laughing all the way to the bank.
I only bought one (1) coin from Skyline, but it was nice. I collect the First Spouse series and decided to collect the associated bronze medals, also. I started too late to get one of the Abigail/Louisa Adams mules from the Mint...and I couldn't find any available anywhere. Finally, Skyline had one for sale @ $299. I know that was way too much money...but I had to have it for my collection, so I bought it. As I said, it was nice. Now if I can only remember what I did with it!! :grandpa:
The heavy advertisers like Skyline are mixed bags. Many of them have loss leaders designed to bring in new customers, or other offerings where their profits are not substantial. But then you see over-graded raw coins that have altered surfaces which preclude numerical grades. I have never seen companies like Skyline, Coast to Coast or Paul Sims represented at coin shows. I have seen numerous dealers, however, at coin shows who operate like them with "super-slider" coins that "should" grade MS64 if submitted. Such dealers who specialize in doctored, over-graded, problem rarities seem to operate with impunity, they are frankly liars. Many of them have lost their submission privileges at NGC and PCGS, some have been disfellowshipped by the ANA. People need to be more careful than ever and do their due diligence and exercise their legal rights with reasonable inspection periods so that they will get a second or third opinion on any given coin purchase.
I'd like to add Owle, that when a company has membership in a fine organization such as the ANA (which I am a member of), does not guarantee you are going to get honest service. Everyone here needs to do the hobby, and your friends here a favor and report anyone in violations of ANA standards. These companies do not deserve to display a logo of any organization that stands for honesty and creadability in any hobby.
Not so green. What you describe will only be so if the coin has been over-dipped. A coin that has been dipped properly, you can look at it and think it's almost perfect. In fact I would go so far as to say that almost every collector there is owns quite a few coins that have been dipped. And most don't even know it. The answer to your question benne is pretty simple really. If a coin is say older than 25 years and it shows no signs of toning of any kind, then it is almost a certainty that it has been dipped. But there is nothing wrong with a coin being dipped. There is only something wrong when a coin has been over-dipped. And green's response is how you can tell that.
No one wants to report unethical conduct, if you do you should have proof. But I have seen a few dealers offering expensive proof $20 Liberties for example that are impaired and will never grade for $30K or so, also numerous other somewhat rare gold coins at shows. You have no return privilege with them if you buy at the show unless the coin or note is counterfeit. If you shell out that kind of money for a coin that is probably worth under Proof 60 money, you are out of luck, pal! No one to report it to very likely. Probably the original dealer will make you an offer, but oh, the market in those particular coins has suddenly gone down, or he would buy it back less a 20-30% restocking fee. I can honestly say I have never ripped off another collector or investor.
