I don't know if it is a midlife crisis, or maybe I am maturing as a collector. Either way, as of late I have been looking at my collection and sort of asking, "Why do I have this?" 5963 random wheat cents, yep, they went to a local coin club auction. Dateless buffaloes, yep, they went to the club auction too. However, as I was working on my collection my gaze diverted to the boxes of silver proof sets. I know I haven't gazed upon each set in many years. I know I am not going to shell out the $130+ for the recent issues from the mint to keep the series current. So, why am I keeping them? These, I knew wouldn't do well at the coin club auction, so I brought them to a dealer. I was more than anxious about the process. I was worried about seller's remorse. You hear all the time of individuals getting the raw end of the deal, but I think most of these cases, the consumer was not educated. So, I looked into what silver content I had in each, paired it with grey sheet bid for each item. From my math, I was expecting, hopefully around $850 for all the sets. Drove one hour and twenty minutes to my closest dealer, calling prior to make sure they would take them. I set them on the counter and he replied, "Quite the collective set you have. Feel free to browse around while I make up an offer." I thought this was a good idea. No sense looking over his shoulder and being anxious over every number he jotted down. Saw some nice stuff, but nothing that would really fit my set I am working on currently. After about 20 minutes he replied said the offer was ready. $775. It was fairly close to my valuation and I thought, "Well, makes sense if they have to make a profit on the items." So, I took it. He then went on to ask if there are any sets I am currently working on. I told him what grade and date/MM combos I was looking for though he had none for me. Overall, I thought the experience was nice and not nearly as stressful as I thought it would have been. I was glad to do it but also glad I did a little homework so as not to be too sorely disappointed in the end. Overall, I just feel like if I wasn't gleaning pleasure at viewing the sets, why are they taking up space? Plus, I can use that money to further my date and mint mark sets as they are more fun for me anyways. Now...on to ebay!
Well done and well thought out. I have a large number of proof and silver proof sets. Many of them I have duplicates of. You put some thinking in my head.
Excellent summary . . . this is part of the growth most long-time collectors go through. The realization that less selectively acquired items deliver less satisfaction and ultimately beg for disposition. Sometimes to raise cash for other collectibles, and other times just to sell off unappreciated items whether the cash is needed or not. Budding collectors often start with more dollars than sense, and flip as their palette matures and what initially looked like bargains eventually looks like poor value. I've done plenty of that over the years, and don't know one collector who hasn't.
From what you have said in your selling these sets to a dealer I feel your drive was worth the effort and time. He sounds like an honest dealer. Only $75 difference and prices could have changed. You may want to try and fill yours holes by buying from him.
Funny you posted this. I had a little medical procedure and took yesterday off to recover and decided that this was the day. Pulled out all the boxes, bags, tupperware and stacks of coins and was going to sort and organize and dispose of all the fluff..... An hour in, I stuffed them all back into the bags, boxes and tupperware and gave up.... Perhaps you have just reinvigorated me.
When I got back into collecting after graduating college I was very much a buy anything and everything person. Now, some 15 years later, most of those have been sold. My current core collection is about 100 coins, down from over 500 around 2015. I've traded quantity for quality! I am also quite picky about new purchases because I am now paying more for better coins. Fewer coins, but ones I love looking through and will likely keep for my lifetime.
Had box of all the state quarter rolls ( wedding present) now trying to figure out about all the dollar commemorative I rat holed for some reason. Probably the grandkids
