Maybe someone can explain why so many PCGS slabbed 5 Oz. ATB's, with the Mercanti Label do not show as such, when checked in cert. lookup: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-P-HAWA...99?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item51c7784d6b ============ Cert Verification #: 26427486 PCGS Coin #: 510277 Date, mintmark: 2012-P Denomination: 25C Variety: Hawaii Volcanoes NP 5 oz Silver-First Strike Country: The United States of America Grade: SP69 PCGS Price GuideSM Value: $750 Holder Type: Standard Population: 163 ================== PCGS has a UNIQUE Coin number for TRUE Mercanti inserts...for this coin, it should read: 520247..This coin is # 510277, which is plopped into the First Strike Pop...strangely, the price is LOWER for a SP 69 FS-Merc($265), Vs. a regular First Strike SP69($750) Usually, TRUE Mercanti insert coins are $50-100 more, on their price guide. 2010-P GRAND CANYON SP70 First Strike: -----------$950 2010-P GRAND CANYON FIRST STRIKE MECANTI-----$975 ====================== Here's a 2013 issue: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-P-Firs...81?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item339a6d5525 ============== Cert Verification #: 27997550 PCGS Coin #: 518173 Date, mintmark: 2013-P Denomination: 25C Variety: White Mountain NP 5 oz Silver- First Strike Country: The United States of America Grade: SP70 PCGS Price GuideSM Value: $425 Holder Type: Standard Population: 283 ==================== It should read THIS: Cert Verification #: 27873061 PCGS Coin #: 526211 Date, mintmark: 2013-P Denomination: 25C Variety: White Mountain NP 5 oz Silver- First Strike Mercanti Signature Country: The United States of America Grade: SP70 PCGS Price GuideSM Value: $500 Holder Type: Standard Population: 141 ======================= The Proper coin number should be 526211, with a value of $500..this coin shows coin# 518173, and, has a value of $425, because it's plopped into the generic First Strike Label Pop, showing NO mercanti..so, a buyer thinking he has a TRUE Mercanti insert/value is in for a very rude awakening...ebay is filled with MANY more examples just like this. ======================= The whole Catalog(Pop Numbers, Coin Numbers, Mercanti Inserts), is a mind-blowing mess of lack of information, misleading labels, lack of transparency, and insanity that makes for a sloppy business model. Please, save the "Buy the Coin, not the label" rants here...this is NOT about collecting..this is about business...many invest in these PURELY for Bullion reasons, as well as High Grade, Limited POP reasons, and, profits are not hard to make...if you bought a Ford F-150 XLT for 25k, and, went to resell it, and, the dealer offered only 10k, and, you asked WHY?, and, the dealers said your VIN # showed it's NOT an XLT, wouldn't you be a bit pissed off? Same thing here..Clerical errors, or, something else? On a personal note: I have had PCGS resolve my 7 coins with these issues, after numerous emails, long waits...5 were solved on their end..2 had to be sent in(free of charges, BTW), for new labels. As a seller, I don't like selling something that isn't what it says it is. Other dealers, when questioned about why the Merc. not showing, say the usual.."It's not my fault..call PCGS", and play dumb...KNOWING they are asking higher prices for coins that, in fact, have lesser values. All I can say is...IF you collect these...ALWAYS check cert# in PCGS lookup before buying, or, your in for some expensive mistakes. Calvin
