Did I get soaked? $40 for a learning experience or what?

I got this the same time as the 1877 SLH that i posted last night. The PCGS price guide says a F12 is worth $125. Is that right? This has to be better than a F12, atleast a little bit.

 

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I paid $40.....Do price guides vary that much?

 

Price guides bear no resemblance to what coins sell for in the real world. Determine pricing by the prices people are willing to pay for that coin, not by what some "authority" tells you it's worth. Bookmark this page, and consult it first whenever looking at a coin:

http://www.pcgs.com/auctionprices/

Also, use Ebay's archive of completed auctions.You can see what similar coins have sold for, and just as importantly, when you list by Completed Items rather than Sold Items, you can get a feel for how much in demand the coin is. When the majority of listings don't sell, it's a hint that either the prices asked are far too high, or the coin simply isn't in demand at that grade (too common).

I don't consider it possible for someone to be "soaked" on a $40 coin, but you could have done a bit better.

Why are you buying coins without knowing what they're worth?

 

I am trying to acquire knowledge about the Silver bullion Business and this dealer spent an hour informing me so I felt the right thing to do was make a purchase because he is my prospective purchaser of my bullion when it reaches the my price. The $40 would be just a drop in the bucket compared to future business, but is nice to know his honesty level.

 

So I used your link and found coins selling for $100+ that look identical to mine

 

Then there's a lot to learn yet. This is what $100 should buy you for your issue, an 1872-S Seated Half Dime with Mintmark Above (the scarcer of the two types):





The difference between this PCGS AU58 and your coin should be plain, even in these small images.

I don't think you got beat up on your coin, but it wasn't "favorable" either.

 

I only paid $40 for mine, I just acknowledged that an F12 in heritage auctions sold for $98....Is mine atleast an F15?

 

This guide puts that coin at $20-$24 and they lean toward retail. $30 in VF.
F-12 might be accurately graded, if it hasn't been cleaned.
http://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/half-dimes/seated-liberty/

 

I don't see any in that grade range that sold on Heritage...maybe I'm just searching wrong.

That said, I don't think you got soaked. You definitely payed a full price for it...maybe even a little high. But, I don't think you did that bad.

 

In all fairness, this guide lists both varieties as equal priced...and that's not the case. The mint mark above the bow is the more valuable of the two.

 

On eBay perhaps, but I do not think it would grade at all at PCGS or NGC due to porosity that is possible of treated corrosion ( dip ). It is hard to tell as to severity on photos as a loupe would show the depth better. You did not get soaked. If the dealer sold it to you for that, assuming he is experienced, usually one has to assume that he would buy it for less himself. Success as a dealer will be easier if the person is an experienced collector. The more coins looked at in shops or coin shows will sharpen your grading and expectations.

 

IMO, you paid twice the "market" value for that piece. You should probably stick to buying silver bullion rather than throwing your money away. And don't even think your dealer is going to give you a break due to these two purchases when you wish to sell him your bullion. You'll be extremely lucky to get "spot."

Want another quick lesson? Take the half dime to the other dealer in town an try to sell it. If he offers close to $10, cut your loss and run.

PS Coins like this sit in a coin shop stock for years and tie up the dealer's money.

 

Heritage has no examples of 1872-S in their archive in that grade.

https://coins.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?Ne=1897&N=51 790 231 355 1589 4294967042&ic4=Refine-USCoinYear-102615

$100 is AU money for this coin.

 

If you click that heritage auction link you first gave me it is the %th from the bottom "lot #23153" 72S ---F12 for $98....Comparing the 2 mine is a tiny bit better

 

OK, now I'm mystified. At that link, the 5th lot from the bottom is #25721, a PCGS AU55 which hammered at $95.18.

Below is linked all of the Lot 23153's Heritage has ever offered. There are no Half Dimes in the list.

https://coins.ha.com/c/search-resul...53&limitTo=all&ic4=KeywordSearch-A-K-Z-071316

 

I'm surprised no-one mentioned this but Numismedia .com price guide ( better than coin book BTW) has the 1875S half dime MM below bow in > F12 -$20 VF20- $23 and a XF40 - $43 ...... Yes you paid double what that coin is worth, you could get a slabbed VF35 or XF40 for around the price you paid with enough searching.... I'm wondering if the dealer made an honest mistake and looked at the sheet wrong (that happens all the time)

 

My MM is above BTW, please tell me it adds a few $ to it.

 

Oops, yes but it only adds $1 to the posted prices above, except in XF it's $46 which is $3 more

 

I will be mentioning it to him next time in a nice way of course.....If I had a Wife to answer to then I would agree w/ your above comment, there is another gentlemen who is receiving his punishment, mine ended way back!

 

Your mm is above the wreath and is also a repunched not that I can find a listing for a repunched S however your's is ,and the coin is a Valentine #2
$40 is a tad bit steep but considering the repunched and the rarer of the two mm placements you did ok.I believe that the repunched mm is going to save the bacon here.