Ancient Coin Society Coins (Silver)

...and now a fair question: If something is "worth $75" but no one is willing actually to pay $75 what is it worth? Dealers have to consider how much time they will be willing to tie up their cash while waiting for someone to pay for a coin they are considering buying. Collectors have to consider whether a coin has a place in their collection either permanently or until they can upgrade. I suppose it is inappropriate here to ask who would be willing to pay $75 for the lesser set so I'll only ask that we each ask ourselves at what price we would want to add those coins to our collection. If I were a dealer I would not want to make an offer of $10 for something "worth $75" for fear of offending what might be a potential future customer so I would not make any offer unless it could be 'fair' to both parties. I stand by my estimate of $30 but I would not want them at that price because they don't fit my collecting needs and I'm not a dealer. Unlike modern US coins, the market for ancients is very much the same as for shoes - not everyone wants designer Italian alligator loafers in size 16 even at half a fair price.

 

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I know you wouldn't want them Doug for $30 Doug, and neither would I, but I agree with the dealer in his estimation of street value to an average consumer. To an average American who wants "really old coins" or an American coin collector who is only buying the coins for their historical value and does not know the types or backgrounds, I would think that $75 is not a horrible price for these with all of the presentation material. You are a more advanced collector Doug, like me, and we do not need all of the frills associated with these sets. Many do, though, and I believe they would view it as adding value. Think of a collector with no coins past 1920's, getting a gift like this to pour over the articles, look at the coins, I think it would be a wonderful gift for $75. I know I paid WAY too much for the first 4 or 5 ancients I bought, yes these are paying too much for the underlying coins, but to a non collector they are worth it.

Just my opinion.

 

The original question was what to expect to be offered at a show. $75 may be a fair retail price to a beginner but would a dealer pay $75 for this package complete with packaging? That is where we differ.

 

I just loaded the set I want to keep , Doug is this the set you were saying you would keep?

 

Yes