Help me buy coins!

Thank you so much everyone for the wealth of information. I'll probably see about going to the georgia show and also getting a few more of the books recommended. I think I'll print out the greysheet when I go to the coin show. That way I don't look like a Newbie with the redbook , but still have a approx idea of the coins values.

More questions. Where is a good place to find out about estate sales ? Newspapers ?

Also when the coin shows offer grading services is this just their opinions or are the major grading companies present and willing to grade and slab onsite ?

 

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Both! They can do on-site-grading/slabbing, if you will pay for it (expensive), or better yet...take a raw coin to the likes of ANACS, ICG, PCGS, or NGC and ask them for their quick, on-site opinion! You may hear:
"Dipped coin that is retoning"
"Whizzed...you can see it especially in this area."
"A solid 63, could go as a 64, but to me as it stands RIGHT now, a solid 63"
"This one is a added mint mark...hey Randy, check this out...yup, a added mint mark"

They will also take on-site submissions (you save on S&H) that they will take back with them and grade according to what service you want (business, economy, etc.)

When I purchased raw coins that I had some question about, I took advantage of these guys who were right at the show.

Get on I-95, head south to I-4, head to Disney and the Orlando Convention Center is right there, right off of I-4 where the FUN show is held every January. Not only did I get better deals, but I also saved myself from buying coins that I really thought were the real deal, but they were not!

Get your fet wet at the Georgia show, then head to the big one (F.U.N.) where you will find anything and EVERYTHING under one roof!

 

Will do. If you see some poor soul fumbling through the greysheet and spending too much time looking at the same coin. Just say "Hey! I know you"

 

Remember also...NEVER buy the fist coin you see at a show. Make a note of the seller's name and location and write it down. Walk the show first and make notes of those sellers you want to come back to. I zig-zag the show from corner to corner carefully looking at each seller's goods. If you go to the FUN show, allocate at least 2 to 3 hours for this excercise alone. Your neck will be sore from constantly looking down at the tables.

Many sellers (if they are not busy) will not give you the "time of day". Many will just grunt at you. I always felt these people need to take a "people course" as we all like doing business with people we like...right? if they give me so of their time, that's points in my book. I watched one seller treat a young collector like dirt, only to watch that same collector drop $5,000 at another table...next to him. I still can picture the first seller's face when he pulled out his wad of cash!

Take your greysheet, Coin Values, Realized auction prices, etc., and make up a nice sheet with your target coins, high/low pricing, and other notes. Actually, when a seller sees me take out my sheet, he knows I am serious and you will most likely get the " time of day".

 

sore!!

And if your back is anything like mine, you will leave the show hunched over with severe back pain!! Oh the joys of our hobby!

 

The best advice I could give you jimij is stop by on your way to the show and take Midas with you.:hug:

 

that sounds like good advice to me!

 

I agree Plus...

Look (with a grader if possible) at the off-brand TPGs like SGS or PCI. Their prices are already deflated due to persistent overgrading but sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough. I got an 1861 quarter (MS61) for about 2/3 of what you'd pay with a PCGS or NGC slab. Also picked up a nice 1859 MS63 cent (graded MS64). The discount was so low it was still only 2/3 the cost of a PCGS coin. Besides, chances are the slabbed coin you are viewing has been graded & regraded as is the custom