They are selling GSA Morgans in a sealed box, and marketing them as original and unsearched. I see the same thing on Ebay all the time. It a shame Great Collections is doing it as well. http://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/161360/Sealed-GSA-CC-Morgan-Dollar-from-Original-Hoard-Unopened
Ian is a marketing guy. If someone is paying him to sell their box with a 1883 CC Morgan in it, he'll sell it however he can.
I wouldnt of thought they would go that route. I guess soon thy will be capping wheat cent rolls with Indian head pennys and stating they came accross a hoard of unsearched cents
If you sell through GC, just be sure you require your own reserve price rather than their's, as they say they like to start the listings out low enough so that bidding activity will create excitement, etc., so the price ends high, not usually very likely.
The boxes are modern packaging. They are not the boxes they originaly came in. They are the same boxes that are on Ebay. The guy on ebay sells about 5 a week.
The boxes are from the '70,s. they're not that old. I just think that starting a thread about a legit company with a title like you worded it, and without any real evidence is a bit slanderish.
My comment was based upon the fact that the GSA auctions were fulfilled stating your order on the packing slip. As such, you'd know if package #1 had an 1878/1885/1890/1891-CC in it or not. As for the comment by Owle, I concur on that. I made the mistake of trusting Ian's judgement on a pair of very rare coins with a very narrow audience. One coin sold for about 80% below book, the other (fortunately), didn't sell. Beyond that, for things with a more common appeal, I've found GC's start pricing to be reasonable. Ian is very professional and helpful.
saying im disapointed and skeptical is not slanderish, and 40 years for white cardboard would start to show a little age.
Most of us here have either personal experience or second hand knowledge of how others have done when selling, in most cases the auction premiums will eat up more than necessary, it may be better to call around for offers with good images in hand so the top buyers can make offers if you have rare certified coins. The advantage with GC is the quick turn around from shipping to getting a check, but I see a lot of material just getting recycled by them searching for the buyer at those price levels, same thing on ebay, which Ian no doubt knows what works there as they do 50X the volume he does in coins, with the raw option which no numismatic auction company permits. On buying there GSAs are relatively easy to figure value on based on auction records, it is rare you will see gem quality in GSA holders and below gem in the usual common dates trade in a pretty tight range. Unless of course you have a better date like the 91cc in a GSA holder, I know a dealer who bought two of those at GS pricing and then was shocked when they both fetched over two grand. So you must do your research about what stuff is worth. Even HA with their long waits from shipping to them to getting a check may not be a winner, especially with small and esoteric coins.
This link explains how the boxes were dated with a stamp http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=13324
Depends on how they are stored. Like any paper product it will tend to stay in good shape if it is stored away in a cool dark place with moderate humidity (Paper likes a higher humidity than coins.) Even newspaper, if kept in the dark and stable temperature can last for decades without yellowing. I've seen newspapers from the 30's that are still like new because they have been kept in the dark the whole time. I have one of the GSA dollars still in its original white box (opened) that has been in a cabinet since 1972 and it is still like new.
I doubt Ian is an authority on whether the boxes are original and truly unopened. It would be extremely easy to get a box, put the coin in it and seal it up. So how does he know when the box was sealed (last week or 4 decades ago)?
is there a mailing label on it, or is it stamped, like these? im trying to figure out what they look like. The guy that posted these in another forum said these were passed down to him. He opened them up and the dates on the box matched the coin.
I know this means little, but in my experience, Great Collections is a first rate company, and I have moved alot of my weekly bidding from HA, DLRC, and elsewhere to GC. Pictures, prices, fees, shipping, etc are all first rate. I doubt that they would do anything shady to damage their reputation.