Looking for help! Are most coins on EBay cleaned, treaded, or just dirty?

I need some help here! My background in finding coins to purchase is being challenged by my inexperience! Ive just put together an album with S mint proof Jefferson nickels and a few special and D mint nickels when S mint coins can’t be had. To this point, the coins I’ve purchased have been an easy task. What I am trying to do now is purchase some choice buffalo, Liberty head, and shield nickels to put in the front of the collection to add a little pop. I’m not looking for graded coins but would like to buy coins that look normal, not cleaned, and a little better than an everyday pocket sliders. Everything coming up on eBay looks either dipped, cleaned, or messed with? Is my observation accurate?

 

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With eBay basically only buy low value graded coins. Why not look at something in a slab and crack it out for the album?

 

yes! That has crossed my mind. At least with a graded coin, if it’s cleaned or damaged, it would be printed on the slab. Good idea!

 

Why would you buy a slab just to crack it open?

 

lots of members here do it. It’s kinda the ultimate expression of buy the coin, not the slab.

in Dan’s case he can’t find what he wants raw on eBay. Going that route gets him the coin he wants and in the format he wants.

Also, on eBay you’re usually paying for the coin and not the slab for the most part too. The slab is more or less a freebie at that point.

 

joe, I think what he’s saying is look at lower graded coins that didn’t score high and use those. Some of those lower graded coins will never be worth much to a collector putting together a killer collection but a collection like my collection would do fine with a few lower graded coins. I’d never crack anything with a better grade.

 

Now I understand that. I also found fakes on ebeg also. I've been had there not again with a coin.

 

Definitely buyer beware

 

What @cwart said. If you want POP!!!

 

I WOULD!!!!!

 

I understand why and how now!

 

I know the feeling Joe! Shouldn’t be allowed!

 

Here are some examples of coins I’ve been looking at recently. How many of these look cleaned or dipped? This is just to help me and other the importance of knowing what to look for!