Are You A Collecting Purist?

I collect in two ways. First I am a classic proof collector and do my best to do a full date set of the series, and when possible, I also try to get an example or two of the pattern pieces. My early proof sets average about PR-64. Since, I am at about my budgetary limit for collecting early proofs for a while, I am also a Dansco (including proofs) collector. Meaning that I consider the key varieties that Dansco has openings for part of the collection; really, I just hate having empty holes in an otherwise complete collection. I try to build matching sets as much as possible as far as condition and color is concerned. i recently completed a stunning collection of toned Jefferson nickles in MS-65 (my grades) or higher. I started with a partial collection that I bought form ouur friend Greg (Gbroke). That became an interesting and challenging set to complete. Not that the coins are overly expensive, but just finding toned coins that matched the set well became pretty difficult as the coins became more modern. To me this was much more interesting than the set would have been had I just bought up a bunch of white coins and plugged the holes.

 

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Well said

 

I wonder how many Au - MS sets there are in collections?

 

Probably not many if anyone has been able to do a full MS set for Seated Dimes. Even Elisaberg and Gerry Fortin's award winning set registry isn't 100 percent MS. There's some show stoppers with both price and rarity at that level

 

Yeah, there are those that are known.
What, about those collections with gems, that are sold to our dealers every day,

 

MS coins raw are hard to come by.

 

There's probably some out there somewhere especially the later dates, maybe even a big one here or there stashed away but any dealer worth their salt would be sending the big ones in immediately if they got their hands on one.

 

Yeah, and I have also seen them hang around the cases, never to be sold.
I am sure that the dealer, wished he would have sold it raw.

 

With Moderns when I collect(Example would be my Sacagawea's) I have to be a purest so I get the highest grade raw coins I can get and also like @green18 I get the special finishes like the satin finishes and special releases like the American $1 Coin and Currency Set's. It's a different story with older coins, I usually buy raw and buy graded but I'm not a perfectionist with older coins because I think they look nicer little torn up and showing it's age but I'm more of a modern collector and shipwreck coin collector.

 

I doubt it, raw coins sell for pennies on the dollar now a days when you are talking about those prices.

 

Not, to a respectable buyer.

 

The market has shown it time and time again. If the buyer would pay the same price for it slabbed or raw it wouldn't matter whether or not the dealer had it slabbed so selling it raw would make no difference other than it being much harder to sell raw

 

No, But a dealer would be able to cut some losses, if he would have sold the coin he bought for 2500, and not have it sit on his shelf for 6. It's a win, lose market.

 

Implying selling it cheaper as a raw coin which would be it selling for pennies on the dollar. It certainly wouldn't sell faster raw at the same price as graded

 

I am a Carpenter, I take jobs just to stay busy, and I take Jobs to make money,
Theres a big difference between the two.

 

I don't have a preference either way if it's slabbed or raw, but I feel comfortable doing this and have a great relationship with a few great dealers. Not everyone has that luxury and prefer to be safe about their purchases. I think it really has more to do with liquidity than selling price when it comes to higher end pieces.

 

Now I just keep up with my Lincoln set, Proof and Uncirculate silver eagles.
I'm buying some gold, maybe do a type set.
I've sold off a lot, but show me a railroad related coin I'm all in.
As Far as grades, all my better date Lincolns are slabbed, the rest raw as are my silver eagles. I do have some other silver sets that are raw and in albums.
The gold is all PCGS.