I have about 7-8 of the Silver eagles now from various years - looking to add to fill in the missing years. All the ones I have are in the original mint packaging with the certificates of authenticity. Is there a good site that would have a ballpark number on how much these should run? All the sites I can find only have pricing for graded specimens or just the bullion examples, and neither type are what I'm looking to fill out my collection with. Don't want to overpay. Thanks in advance....
Those prices seem really high compared to what the exact same things sell for on eBay (and since this is OGP packaging we're talking about here, I can't imagine there would be much of a quality difference to justify Apmex's higher prices). Proof ASEs in original packaging I see range from about $50 to $85, depending on the date. Older/lower mintage ones seem to be on the higher end of the range. (Keep in mind there was no proof ASEs minted in 2009.)
I was thinking along those line too untill I did a completed sales search. I couldn't find any OGP ones that sold the last couple of days for less than $70. These seem to have jumped up in price just recently for some reason, and it isn't because silver has increased in price.
I've seen some very recent ones (like 2005 to present) sell for around $50 or a little over as recently as a month ago but lately even they have been going up in price. I'm guessing people are either speculating on the price of silver going up soon, or they're trying to get some of these as Christmas gifts. People that aren't die-hard coin collectors actually seem to prefer the OGP proofs to raw or graded ones, and especially to the uncirculated bullion issues. The packaging has always been nice and it's the one proof coin I refused to break out of its packaging to get graded despite the fact I think I might have a PF-69 or PF-70 (2006-W I received as a birthday gift from my brothers). These days I think $70 to $85 is even realistic; they seem to be in hot demand right now. The mint has sold out of the 2012 ASEs and even they're going for around $70 now it seems.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170937795250 Talk about genius wording/marketing. Artificially tone an ASE; get PCGS to certify it as "genuine" in a holder; sell said ASE + holder as "genuine toned" ASE. Get $100 premium for doctored coin. Edit: It would be nice if the TPGs would identify the issues with the coins that get them "genuine" slabs similar to how they do for "details" slabs. Re-Edit: I mean in actual words, rather than burying "91" in the serial number.
Although he's attributed "There's a sucker born every minute," according to ringling.com, there's no proof that he actually said it.
All 3 of the big TPGs (don't know what ICG's policy is on this) have three options you can choose, should the coin be a problem coin: 1. Don't slab it. (aka "bodybagging" it; it used to be this was PCGS and NGC's only option for problem coins.) 2. Slab it and only verify it as "genuine." (Technically you can ask them to do this for non-problem coins too, but can't see why you'd want them to.) 3. Slab it, give a net grade opinion on the details, (UNC details, AU details, etc.) and note the problem (this is what they'll do by default unless you specifically ask for option 1 or 2). Obviously #2 is desired by people intentionally selling a problem coin, like artificial toning/altered surfaces, but a buyer of a "genuine" coin should be suspicious of why the slab has no grading opinion. Coveat emptor; know what you are buying. About the only reason anyone would ask only for authentication and not grading is if they know it's a problem coin, so any "genuine" coin is almost guaranteed to be a problem coin, especially if it's suspiciously toned. Keep in mind that any coin slabbed as "genuine" the TPG is only stating that in their opinion, the coin is authentic; they are stating no opinion about the grade or any problems it may have (such as artificial toning).
Ironically the fact so many people attribute this quote to him reinforces the point of the quote lol...
there's a WTB listing right here at coin talk for $65 for proof ASEs so some one thinks they go for that much or more.
I disagree with this part of what you wrote. Obviously, PCGS does state an opinion of the problems that place the coin into a "genuine" holder, since the serial number includes "91" in the space where you'd usually have a grade. A 91 code for PCGS = questionable/artificial toning. I'm saying they should be more obvious about the reason for the genuine status, rather than burying the result in a numeric code that seems asinine, at best, and encouraging fraud, at it's most devious.
