Advice on a seated liberty dollar

trey as I've said a thousand times before, it's so simple it's pathetic. And it has nothing to do with plastic. Only buy from trusted and respected sellers and you'll never have anything to worry about - never.

Ask yourself, all of you, ask yourselves. What's more important to you - never having to worry ? Or gambling ?

Now no matter which way you answer that question, there's only one thing to do. Now ask yourself if you understand that means.

 

Doug, I believe you don't think too highly of people who overly depend on NGC & PCGS, and have no idea how to grade most series on their own, yet still spend money on coins. I respect you for that and a lot of other reasons; but I am one of those people. I don't trust myself to grade raw coins via photographs except maybe Morgan dollars, and if you ask MorganDude, I can't even do that.

I have NOT established a robust relationship with a trusted dealer which you insists eliminates most coin buying problems, however, I agree your method is an ideal way to buy coins.

Lately I'm mostly buying coins that are PCGS or NGC graded, with the additional stamp of approval from CAC. Now, this is not the cheapest way to buy coins (no gambling for me), but all the coins I have purchased this way tend to be within their normal price range for the coin in question based on recent past completed auctions. I assume there are many people like me who don't spend enough time or money with any single online/local dealer to establish a trusted relationship, or prefer to cast a wider net to consider coins from hundreds of dealers.

I have a question for you: Does a PCGS + CAC or NGC + CAC not constitute a similar safety net, minus the relationship part? I can't necessarily return a coin in all cases, but I am benefitting from a trusted TPG name, years of experience, and two independent opinions on the grade, an opinion on eye appeal, etc. I believe this also in a safe way to avoid fake and harshly cleaned coins. It also make the coins more liquid should I choose to sell, much the same way a coin dealer may buy back a coin a few years down the road.

What are your thoughts?

 

Your method works, but it could still be improved upon by establishing relationships with dealers. And improved upon significantly. And it's not hard to do nor does it take a long time. All you have to do is pick 2, 3, or a half dozen, trusted & respected dealers and tell them what it is you want to do. And they will be all to happy to accommodate you.

The are several advantages to doing that. First of all, especially with slabbed coins, it is far easier for a dealer to locate an example you want than it is for you to locate one by yourself. Quite often they can do it in a matter of hours, whereas you may spend days, weeks, or even months looking for a particular coin. And since most dealers know the market better than most collectors they can pick and choose not only for best quality for the grade, but best quality for the price as well. And for their regular customers, they will usually give you a discount. This can save you a good bit of cash.

Another advantage is that the dealers all act as your eyes & ears, they do after all work for you. With all the shows they go to & all the auctions they attend in person, they get to see the coins in hand while all you generally get see is a picture. And I think we all know what the dangers of pictures are.

Just about any way you look at it using trusted and respected dealers is a win win proposition, for both you and them. Not taking advantage of such a system seems to defy all logic to me.

 

spock - there are thousands of collectors who do exactly what I described. I myself used to be one of them.

I am afraid you are the one in for a rude awakening.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have purchased from a few online dealers and a few people here on CT, getting what I consider to be great coins and honest service. (Everything else was bought on eBay). So perhaps it's the start of some long term relationships.

 

Believe what ya want spock, won't change the truth.