dumbest thing you've ever done

Well I bought a bunch of silver Qing Dragons from Red China, before I knew better. End result I was out $175. Traci

 

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my mistake was only lately i even posted a thread on it
my lesson
$460 for a two and a half gold indian head
it cost me but i hope it wont happen again
dave

 

I have learned that people that want to help you, sometimes that's when you start to let you guard down. So, over time you learn. -O)

 

Paid over $600 for a nice looking uncertified 1908-S IHC that the dealer told me was an MS64RD (A certified example should cost $1200-$1500). Several months later after showing it to some dealers who know the series, they told me the coin had been messed with and that it was artificial color. Still thinking they could be wrong (for some reason), I submitted the coin to PCGS and it came back in a bodybag for artificial color.



I now have the coin in a PCGS Genuine holder in my 1908-S grading set to hopefully help others and to remind myself of the importance of knowing what you're doing before dropping $600 on a coin, espeically one that is uncertified. It is also a reminder that when a deal seems too good to be true, it most likely is (not easy to buy a $1200-$1500 coin for $600).

 

illini - maybe that coin will brown up a little and make a RB holder later on. I have a 1909 that reminds me of that color that came back body bagged.

My mistakes are:
(1) Buying a coin on ebay using paypal without credit card. I won 1819 large cent where the question was asked "Any scratches or hairlines?". The answer was No. The picture was nice and big - no scratches. When I received the coin I was ready to return it - deep scratches all across the coin. Paypal found for the seller - so now all raw coins (and most slabbed coins) go on a credit card. I plan on the next dispute(if I have one-I buy so little on ebay anymore) putting in the description - Paypal has until my credit card statement comes in to find in my favor or I will dispute it with them. I am to the point where I would pay a trusted online dealer more to get the coin I want - I still use ebay, but win very few auctions.
(2) Over paying for a large cent - bottom line I was too impressed with the details of a coin. So far the only coin bought for my collection to be disposed of at about $200 loss. What did I do wrong - I did not learn enough to know better.

 

Yeah, that's what some of the experts suggested. Leave it raw in my window with the sun blasting on it for awhile and it should tone up/darken. I decided just to slab it as is in a Genuine holder though since I still sort of like the coin, even though it's maybe worth half what I paid as it is.


Another somewhat dumb thing I've done was buy $1700 or so worth of junk silver off of someone on the Collector's Universe Buy Sell Trade forum from a new member with very few posts. It was a good deal, but not so good to where I thought it was a scam. Apparently the same person accepted offers from several people on the same lot and never shipped any silver to anyone. Luckily, I and most of the others used credit cards via PayPal so we got our money back from our credit card companies. PayPal found in our favor too, but by that time the seller had taken all of the money out of paypal and PayPal wouldn't pay a dime to anyone. So if you did PayPal from your existing balance or from your bank account you got screwed. Now, for any coin purchase on the Internet from someone I haven't dealt with before, I'll only use PayPal funded by my credit card to be safe.

 

When i started collecting i mixed silver,copper,steel,and gold in the same bowl full of vinegar and salt.BAD IDEA

 

been there, done that, i felt it for about a week....

 

ever dream of lotto numbers....

 

"dumbest thing you've ever done"

I bought a puttied $10 eagle before I knew how to spot putty.

I will not do that again. How? A black light and more experience.

 

So dumb I can't even say!! Alrighty then!! I'll spill the beans but I won't like it. I once sold a gold piece for spot!! That's was over 35yrs ago and I've been kicking myself twice every time I think of that day.

Never sell gold coins for spot unless it's an absolute emergency!!! You will regret it!!

 

Dumbest thing I've ever done, I can't share with you.

Dumbest numismatic thing I've ever done (that I know of) was....

When I was a kid, I used to frequent a coin shop. The owner had a bunch of PCGS-certified Franklin halves. PCGS was pretty new then, so these were a novelty to me. I was examining them closely, when I noticed doubling on the reverse. Turns out it was the 1961 DDR (proof). To this day, I claim to have discovered that coin, though I don't know if I did. All I know is I didn't know it existed, and I found it. Anyway, like a dumb-bunny, instead of buying the coin and keeping my mouth shut, I told the owner about it. Well, then he wouldn't sell it to me. I never went back. I still see him at shows, but never speak to him, and certainly never even consider purchasing anything from him. I don't know how much he got for the coin, but I can't help but think about how much more money he would've made from me over all these years if he had just let me buy that coin.

I no longer reveal cherrypicks...

 

I don't know....that's a real good looking coin. Wait a few years and re-submit it.....

 

waited until I was 47 to have my first child.

That by far is the dumbest thing I have ever done.


RickieB

 

Not so dumb. There are so many out there who decide that parenthood is not for them. That's their decision. There is nothing more rewarding (and challanging) than raising a child. You've opted for the latter..good for you old friend. :smile