Which has a greater benefit?

Hello everyone, I have been buying many commemorative coins in the last few years. My question is whether it would be a greater benefit to buy from the mint so all the papers and packing come with it, or whether I should buy the coin pcgs graded without papers and packing. Helpful answers would be greatly appreciated.

 

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If your happy with PF68 or PF69 coins your best value will come from buying through the mint, especially at their introductory price. They do release lower graded coins than these but you have a reasonable chance of the grades just mentioned at their fixed price. If you want PF70 coins, they are only available graded by the TPG's. Even coins every collector you know says are PF70, could be slabbed lower. The only absolute way of obtaining that grade is to buy it already slabbed. Then be prepared to pay that premium. Which grades do you want to own? That will tell you where your best buy is.

 

Those PF-70 coins slabbed by PCGS and NCG originally came from the Mint. Many were purchased by individuals who submitted the coins for grading.

Buy the coin, not the slab.

 

You may obtain that grade, but it could be wrong, as the TPG's are only stating opinions.

 

Welcome to CT! :welcome: I would buy the new commemorative issues directly from the US Mint and keep them in their original government packaging. Almost all would grade 69 or 70 anyway, and you will save some money for other purchases. TC

 

Buy from the Mint.
Then you aren't paying the dealer's overhead.
And you aren't paying the cost of slabbing.
Plus selling with the original packaging gets you higher prices.

Later if you want to get them slabbed you can do it yourself.

 

I prefer the packaging myself but not all may feel that way.

 

Buy direct from the Mint.

Either that or cherrypick high end top-pop minus 1 coins -- but that takes lots of skill and experience which you may or may not have.

Buying slabbed top-pop coins is a fools game fraught with long term risk.

IMO of course.

 

I would get them from the mint. The price is lower than the slabs, and there is a chance it is a PR70 if you decide to submit it.

 

True, but they aren't 70's until they come back from the TPG.

 

So you're telling me the only people that can grade coins are TPG's? Thats why the younger collectors never really learn the hobby well.
Guy

 

They are the only ones who can anoint a coin with the Holy 70. Without their blessing no one will accept a coin as being a 70.

Do I think that only TPG's can grade coin? No, with time and effort most anyone can, and I think they should learn to. I also don't believe that the TPG's, or anyone else, can consistently grade MS coins to eleven points of Uncirculated, let alone the 21 grades they now have with the plus grades or the 101 MS grades they use in house.

 

I agree, Condor. I was being sarcastic more than anything. Though I have to admit, I could never grade a coin at MS70 myself.

 

I certainly can't distinguish between an MS/PR 69 and 70. So why would I pay a premium for a coin that someone tells me is better than the other?
Grading/selling coins that have never been circulated is making someone rich, but it's not the guy who buys them.

Hence, I buy them from the mint in original packaging.

 

While I do agree with your advice about buying the coin and not the slab...I don't think it completely applies to this situation. The reason is...you have no way to pick out the coin from the mint. With a dealer, you can look at their coins and select the specimen you want in your collection. When ordering from the mint...it's all luck of the draw. Now, I personally have never been able to tell a graded 69 from a 70...but IMHO, I don't think that statement applies to purchases from the mint.

 

When you can't tell the difference between a 69 coin from a 70, then you should just keep the coins you get from the US Mint and be happy with them. Last year, I sent in to, NGC, 5 2006 Reverse Proof ASE coins that never left their holders. I studied them, and, I could not discern ANY difference between them. I was really curious. Well, after all the expense, I got 3 Rev Proof 70's and 2 Rev. Proof 69's. Or visa versa.
Now, the only factor is what I can sell them for. But I don't really want to sell them now. I, still, cannot tell why any of these coins differ from the rest.

I buy from the US Mint, and keep them in the OGP, except when they go to the bank safe deposit box. I've got a large bag of OPG's that sit in a closet.

The ASE reverse proofs were the only coins I've ever sent in for a grade, rather than for an authentication of the coin, or a variety designation.

I agree with TopcatCoin's #5 post. If you collect moderns, then you need to have the OGP. Then grade what you feel you need to.