Have you ever swapped on either of these sites? How do people decide on equivalents? Is it just coin to coin or based on the respective sites assigned value? I've just wondered how do you achieve a fair trade?
In a "fair" trade, the items are hardly ever going to be the same value. Seems to me that within 10% or so, the person's desire for the coin would rule.
You ask for what you want, the other person offers what they have, if you agree on the swap, the deal is fair.
I have made deals on Numista. On a couple I just bought the coin from the individual. On the others, it was how @Burton Strauss III said. I wanted a coin, it was very difficult to find, they wanted something I had, we came to an agreement on what we both felt was fair. Exchange took awhile because it was from Europe, but it worked out well.
I've swapped several times on Numista. Most like trading silver coins for other silver coins. If it's non precious medal coins, you have a little bit of leeway. I've done swaps where I sent five and received one. Plus the other. Some insist on trading the same number of coins. It all depends on the person. You have to take in to consideration though that shipping is quite expensive if it's an international swap. If it's two or three small coins you could probably send them with a global stamp and envelope, which is under $2 I think. But, if it requires a padded envelope or something, your starting price for shipping is almost $17. I've only had one bad experience in swapping and have shipped to Canada, France, Spain, North Macedonia & New Zealand. Plus several from the US. Sometimes people initiate swaps and they just don't have anything in looking for, so I use it as an opportunity to acquire some countries I don't have it more uncommon coins. When they arrive, I simply add them to my swap list for variety.
