I bought a JFK 100 coin half dollar bag. In order to add to my collection of 2009 coins, I opened the bag and took out a couple of coins. I quickly realized I have just greatly lowered the value of the bag of coins. Of what use is a 98 coin Kennedy half-dollar bag other than face value???
I guess you should ask yourself whether the 100-coin bag was ever really worth more than face value?? If you sold the 98 remaining one at a time to other collectors who need them for their sets, they may be worth a little more than face value, but you'd likely have to spend more in transaction costs than any premium you'd receive for the coins. But those folks who need the coins might be pretty happy you made them available vs. dumping them off at a bank or just spending them.
I assume you bought the bag to get nice coins for you collection. If you're interested in selling the 98 you have left you have some options, all of them laborious. The real value is for the bag intact, preferably still sealed in its original Mint box. I like to cherry pick rolls and bags. I don't know where in NY you are, but I'm in Manhattan and maybe we could work out a deal, email me if you're interested in discussing.
If they are 2009 Kennedys, they are very sellable at a premium. You won't get rich, but there are plenty of people who just want a coin from each mint, and not a roll from each. I personally buy a roll from each mint every year, because I like them.
Being in a bag does nothing for the value (if anything, having them loose in the bag is likely to cause them to scratch each other and lower the value). You only lowered the value of the bag by a dollar by taking two of them out (or whatever the going rate for 2 2009 half dollars is). Be hard to sell 98 of them to one person but if you can find enough sellers you should get enough for the other 98. Probably as much if not more than you paid for the bag anyway.
TopCatCoin, QuarterTapper and Troodon, thanks for your comments -- those are excellent suggestions! I'm glad I asked.
Next time ask first before buying but hindsight is 20/20. I avoid bags ..high premium and soooo many bag marks. I buy rolls instead. Still no guaranty for clean coins but considering loose coins in a bag with all the movement during shipping..the odds are more in favor of the rolls.
Don't get me wrong, I do not regret purchasing the bag. I regret that I opened it and now have to sell it off in pieces.
Completely agreed. I just don't have the heart to even open the rolls I purchase every year. Maybe I should buy two of those 98 baggers just to fill a couple holes!:smile
I cherry pick my opened rolls an save the keepers, then I run out to the Michael's craft store and buy some small round magnets. I glue the magnets to the reverse of the ones I don't want and make a refrigerator magnet out of it. At the flea market (the first Saturday of the month) I sell them for $2.50 each...hahahahaah the things people spend money on.
Oh dear. Can't let the wife see this post. She's a Michaels, AC Moore, Jo ANN, craft nut. You'll give her more crafting Ideas James. My eyes glaze over everytime I walk into one of those stores with her.....
It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. The local Sheriff bought 3 in December for stocking stuffers.
2010s just went on sale today on the US Mint website. Maybe you can get those fleamarket folks to start collecting refrigerator magnet halves annually.