http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120036661623&fromMakeTrack=true pretty cool... I will say one thing, even if i HAD the money to just buy a complete set i wouldn't. its the HUNT that i love more than anything...
I would have to say that that is quite the collection of commems, but I do have to point out that most of the coins are of low grade. 6 of the coins are in 66, maybe 15-20 in 65, and many more in the 61-63 range. Certainly not worth the $52,000+ estimated value. Another point is that Anthony's Rare coins is selling the item, and knowing them, the reserve is set around $120,000-THAT'S NO JOKE. It's not much of a quality set. There's atleast one cleaned coin in there and many of the coins are not PCGS/NGC certified which adds to the chance that coins are overgraded. If this collection was no reserve, then Anthony's could sell this set on Ebay, but my guess is that it wont be sold after the first 3 tries. Bidders will try to test the waters and see where their idea of a deal comes into reality as the reserve gets closer to being met.
Interesting to window shop, anyway. Some of the other lots the seller has are also interesting to look at. I liked seeing a set of British gold although I'm not exactly in the market for it right now.
WHOA!!! That is just too scary! On another board about an hour before you posted this one here, I made a comment: "Part of the fun in this hobby, for me, is the thrill of the hunt." Way too coincidental! Makes one wonder how many thrive on this hobby just by the excitement of hunting down what appeals to you as opposed to making money, increasing calue, and "getting a good deal".
Based on what has been said so far, there's a significant markup in the reserve or starting price to cover those costs. There could also be some "reuse"-- the coins may have been photographed for another purpose and then recycled into the listing. Based on my own personal experience, getting the images (and getting them right) is the most time consuming part of creating both eBay listings and web pages.
"the thrill of the hunt" ... Thats one of the reasons that i am so drawn to the commem series, not only are the coins interesting and have history behind them, they are dificult... to paraphrase Kennedy "we choose to collect commems not because it is easy, but because it is hard" Also the same reason i collect world coin sets. I am assembling type sets for countries and giving myself strict requirements. I think that the thrill of the hunt is a big part of the hobby. It also helps explain the people that want MS70 and PR70 coins, because they can be difficult to find... I am rambling (something i am want to do) but my main reasons for coin collecting are (in no order): 1. the thrill of the hunt 2. pride of ownership 3. history 4. investment
