How nuclear would you go to complete a set?

I need just two more pieces in specific grades to complete my set. Neither is rare, but neither is truly common, especially in that grade. Because they aren't all that expensive, few are certified. So I either buy raw or hunt the three or four in the pop reports.

But one of each is up for auctions ending next weekend - the first time for either in a long time...

 

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This is a tough decision. If you're that close and can't wait another day, spend more on the coins. Otherwise, patience usually pays off and I bet if you listed a "want to buy" here, you'd have a member or two who could help you acquire what you're looking for. In fact, here's a link to a member/dealer who can look for coins for you: http://lifeatthecoinshop.com/want-lists/

 

buy them now.

 

Buy them now at a premium if you have too. It would likely cost you much more to buy the coin raw and submit them (perhaps multiple times) to get the grade that you are looking for. What is the series anyway? I tried to do an all PCGS PR-65 liberty nickel set a while back and it ended up taking years to complete.

 

Coinstar baby lol ... In all seriousness, I am interested in what the series is.

In my experience I'd never go too nuclear. But then again, time is money. What are the opportunity costs lost by having to wait AGAIN for them to come around for sale? Quite a subjective question methinks. I know I've probably made you bid 2x your original max with that thought.

Either way, good luck!

 

It would help to know what set you want to complete.

Chris

 

, Kirkuleez and Miebde7:

So you can look around at all the auction sites and bid against me? Nope... maybe after the auction or auctions close...

Seattlite - I know most of the dealers in this set, I've worked with them on building it so far. Basically the amount of material is just that thin, especially in XF. According to Heritage's archive, for clean pieces (there are another 7 problem coin sales):

Sold 2014 1
Sold 2011 2
Sold 2009 1
Sold 2006 1
Sold 2003 1
Sold 2002 1

And only 1 of those MIGHT be a resale.

The other coin

Sold 2014 2
Sold 2012 4
Sold 2011 1
Sold 2010 1
Sold 2009 2
Sold 2007 1
Sold 2005 1
Sold 2003 1
Sold 2001 1
Sold 2000 1

A couple of which could be crackouts from ANACS/ICG appearing in PCGS/NGC slabs (another 11 are problem coin sales)

 

If you're worried about someone bidding against you, then why in the heck did you start this thread in the first place.

You left out one other option in your poll........Who cares!

Chris

 

It depends on the coin and the set. Yes, there are a select few coins that my approach would be to continue bidding until everyone else stops. And for these select pieces, I could careless about resale, I want the pieces and my estate will likely be the one liquidating them (not me). I would only use this option for pieces that I consider irreplaceable.

 

It depends so much on what it is and why you do it! Rare contemporaries - who cares. Rare historical coins in high collector grades - better get em' while you can - if you've got the money and you have five to ten years to hold em' you might make a lot of money on them. Or not!

 

If this is a coin that is barely worth the price of the slab, I either already have one or don't really want one. It won't be me bidding against you.

 

I only needed to do something like this once. I had a dealer who was helping me find a certain piece to complete my collection. He found someone selling their entire collection and within it was the coin I wanted. I guaranteed him xxxx amount before he made the offer on the whole collection. He kept the others and sold me my piece for the agreed price. Intern he sold the pieces separately in his shop. I found out later he had several of the other coins pre-sold as well. He didn't tie up much in inventory that way. I know none of us would have made this happen on our own. When everything is within grasp, never pass up a winning opportunity. I'll bet the next time it will be more costly as well. As you get older, even time is against you.

 

If the piece what your looking for (matches and its something you would buy normally) money is not and object. If its a piece that doesn't fit or just to complete it, I'd wait

 

Pay what you feel comfortable paying knowing it might be awhile before another one comes around.

 

I think it depends. When I had my first complete Morgan set, I had all the coins, except, obviously 1893s. I ran out, and spent $7500 for an EF 40. This was in 1994, so imagine that in today's dollars.

 

I don't do sets so I didn't vote but I am really curious what you're looking for. Please post after your auction ends and how it all shakes out.

 

Really I was sitting there at lunch, reading the thread about the Half Dime auction that went nuclear, looking at the Devil's Pit BBQ sauce. So I realized if I sold my soul I could afford to guarantee I won the auctions.

And then I wondered what my coin friends would think of the concept...

 

It depends on the specific coins themselves, and how long "a long time" is. If these are pieces that come on auction once a year, I wouldn't worry as much about it as if it's a once in 10 years occasion. Depending how often they come on auction, your best course of action could conceivably be to go full nuclear, buy both and forget about the cost because otherwise you might never see the other again if you only bought one; buy one and wait a few years for the other; or just bide time some more because in another 5 years, you'll see them both again.

Your post makes me think you're talking about something like VF/XF Barber halves, where even the slabbed pieces tend to show some signs of cleaning, and problem-free, raw pieces are nigh impossible to find.

 

I did once for a registry set, never again