Crack The Dealer Price Code

So as I cruised the coin show last weekend and asked dealers for prices on certain coins, most tended to refer to their sticker on the back which had a secret price code known only to them. My grandpa put one on the back of each 2x2 flip ro remember the price he paid and the date when he bought it. His was very simple: each letter stood for a number such as A=1, B=2, etc. So he may have EC on one, which meant he paid $53.

There are some crazy codes I have seen out there. I am sure many are unique to each dealer, but what kind of codes have you seen out there. What do you use that works? I personally list a set 6-7 numbers, and put the paid price in the middle. 5417363 would mean I paid $173. Can you crack the dealer codes?

 

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The most common is a ten letter word with no repeated letters. Easy to remember your word and substitute the letters for numbers. Pretty elementary cryptography to study the letter codes and starting with guessing some letters (0,1,2 and 5 should be easy to get) all you need is a good vocabulary to fill in the blanks. You can then read that dealer's letter code,and some words are common among many dealers.

 

Can you give an example? I can't seem to wrap my head around your explanation.

 

One dealer I know uses the word (as a hopeful outcome )

PROFITABLY
1234567890

 

Think of a Town or State with 10 different letters, so the first letter is (1) and the last (0) then any combination = price paid
Still won't make the coins cheaper even if you crack the code.

 

Ok, I get this. You just have to be good at remembering your numbers that match your letters.

 

The phrase "Extra Coins" contains 10 different letters; works for me...sometimes I add a Y or Z just to confuse people.
0 e
1 x
2 t
3 r
4 a

5 c
6 o
7 i
8 n
9 s


aoysc = $46.95

 

I will sometimes throw Greek Delta's ,Theta's & Omega's into my code to throw people off. I use a few different numbers as repeaters too.

 

Sometimes I use egyptian hieroglyphics and Maya script to throw people off

 

Sometimes I just throw people off.

Don't go on a ship with me.

 

To be honest, I really don't care what code a dealer uses. All that matters to me is whether or not his asking price is fair for that particular coin.

Chris

 

In my circle of dealer's that I wholesale with it's kind of an inside joke/task that some of us try to figure out what they or I paid for items. I really don't want them in particular to know & they feel the same way . I don't worry about the public & codes .

 

an interesting way in breaking the code

but I bet that each dealer may have their own method in coding their price(s), I dont know really

 

Cuneiform?

Rob

 

I use this:

 

Elliptic curve algorithm.

 

I use "chamber pot" as my code because it has ten unique letters. C is zero. If I ever sell a coin you will know what I paid for it.

 

Why is there a need for a code?

 

I keep inventory on my tablet and can look it up if need be. I don't like cluttering holders with stickers. I leave that to CAC.

 

If you know what someone paid for something, you have a leg up in negotiating. If the other guy is a good haggler, or just plain obstinate, then it doesn't help.

Rob