Ok i will kick this off in 1990 as a student i used to go to a auction as i liveed just couple streets away. normaly i would buy a box of pots/pans or bric a brac or something for the house for like 2 pound a go or something.I bought one of these boxes of "junk" had in it allsorts plates/forks /knifes/books/beads ect also had couple old brass watch chains and bits and bobs. This box had been rifled through by everyone that had viewed the sale as they do to maybe find something of worth in it. It turned out one of the brass chains was infact an unstamped victorian double albert 18k watch chain cant remember the exact weight but was heavy as heck.I got enough money from it to pay my rent for a year The thing was this box i paid 2 pounds for and every dealer in the area had had his hands in it being aged and no assay mark it looked very much like brass chain which are very common and worth very little.I had it for a few months myself before finding out it was indeed gold myself as i took a few rings to sell to a antique/jewellery shop i though i might get couple of pound.Being the poor student i near died on the spot when the guy checked it and offered 1500 pounds for this highly collectable victorian albert watch chain.
Ebay......... One guy sold me a platinum eagle just below spot....... even better was it was a 1999 w proof pcgs 69dcam if memory serves Only an oz.......but better than paying the premuim........ i waited till the price hit 938oz and made a $100 off the one coin.
The best deals I've ever found are still in my possession - and don't plan on selling them. Found an unusal variety of an 1769-Mexico 4 reale on ebay one day - there are 4 known to exist. Cost me about $300. And just last week - picked up an off metal strike Hieronymous ducat from a dealer friend of mine. This coin is so rare it's not even listed in the books. It can be traced through auction catalogs over the past few decades and it is absolutely genuine and in Proof Like conditon. Cost me $125 The trick to getting really good deals - is to know one when you see it
