http://www.nationalcollectorsmint.com/product2.jsp?path=-1|1702&id=1496 The above link is to an offer from Nation Collectors Mint. Their very high profile, and market towards the general public as opposed to the knolwedgable coin expert. I think I brought a couple of Morgan's not long ago and they were actually decent. but obviously the grading standard of "BU" 1878 S is not a real sufficticated grading. That being said, the $89 dollar price is a real question mark. An AU 1878 S is booked at $22 at PSCG http://www.pcgs.com/prices/frame.chtml?type=date&filename=morgan_regular What do you guys think? Is this a complete waste of time and overpriced? I saw a 199 Proof set of $198 as well which I above the PCSG book as well. Ruben
I would avoid companies like that. They buy AU coins and dip them and sell them as BU. National Collectors Mint was recently fined a lot of money because of some false advertising they did. Also try to avoid companies like Paul Sims, and J P Sarosi. They have big adds in Coin World, But they sell dipped AU stuff as "Premium Quality Brilliant Uncirculated." Charlie
BU is Brillant <sp?> Uncirculated....most of the time people put that when its UNC but I think when it came out it was ment to be used for coins from MS63-4 and Gem UNC was used for MS65-up and just plain old UNC was used for MS60-62 I don't know where I read that but for some reason I remember that....it could be totaly wrong. BTW--I wouldn't buy from the National Mint for anything.... And something else....PCGS price guide is NOT good to use....it is hyped up. Speedy
I'll agree with one exception - only buy from the National Collector's Mint if you are absolutely sure you know what you are getting and are willing to accept that. I bought two things from them - their "51st Silver State Quarter", which was a clad SQ copy with a Washington, DC design on the back with an extremely thin layer of silver over top of the clad, and the Freedom Tower 9/11 commem. that's been under all the controversy for false advertising, with the same composition. I understood that what I was getting was not pure silver and was what it is, and I have therefore recused myself from the concurrent lawsuit. I just like the designs. So, that's the long way to say that if you want to base your purchase from the NCM off of what you like design-wise and realize that many of the things they sell are not meant for resale to increase in value, then go ahead. But let the buyer beware. Do your research. ~AJ
BTW - Everything involving the World Trade Center is embroilled in law suites. The hypersensitve maniacs have taken over all discussion and development, which is why 5 years later nothing is rebuilt yet. Ruben
PCGS has an interest in the prices of coins remaining high. Of course they're going to overestimate values, as does just about everyone (Greysheet excepting) who publishes price lists. IMO the only true guide to the value of a coin is what knowledgeable people are willing to pay for it; therefore, the only realistic estimates of coin value are to be found in records of actual sales through venues where the real collectors purchase. Of course, there's also the expression "I only trust you and me, and I have my doubts about you." I personally base all of my decisions as to what I'm willing to pay on Greysheet values, but I'm too stingy to pay the going retail rate for anything.
Well I've had an interesting day in this regard. I've brought 3 new Morgans today from 2 different dealers in Brooklyn. First, let me tell you that the coin dealers themselves are an interesting lot. I went to three dealers today. One guy had really no coins in the place of business but brought coins and was willing to take a list of coins I might want (PS - I never know what I want). His establishment was in the basement of a storefront building in Brooklyn and you had to access it from the back door inside the deli and walk down the stairs. The second guy I had to actually wake up from a storefront on Avenue U. He was in perhaps his early 60's. He was a friendly sort of fellow who said in the middle of conversation, (to a new potential customer no less ), "I said NO, which part of 'No' didn't you understand?". To which I tunred around to him and said, well, my question is not the meaning of 'no' but what are say 'no' to? The price or the availablity fo the piece?" I brought two pieces from him which I think I got a decent price for. The third fellow was just a couple of blocks away. He is close to blind maybe in his early '80's. I recognized him as having a shop at one time in the late 1970's in Brooklyn near the juction. He had a decent selection available in the very old shop. I'm sure I over paid for a Morgan which I'll describe in a second. So let me tell you what I brought. From the second fellow, the one who told me "NO", I got two coins, both Morgans.. One is a raw 1884 Morgan, reflective luster but not mirror like with a few small lines in it, but no vissiable wear that I can see. There 'might' be a little wear on the lock of hair abive the ear. He insisted the coin is an AU 58 and sold it to me for 18 dollars. I don't see this coin as less than a MS 62. But what do I know. I sure do like the coin and if it was all I brought today, I'd be happy. The next one he sold me was an NGC slab of a 1896 Morgan labled MS 63. This coin is mirror like at least 2 inches from the coins face. I see nothing but a few scratch marks from it even under the magnifying glass and no wear. This coin cost me 55 dollars with the NGC slab. The NGC slab says nothing about the proof like reflectivitiy, just MS63. I would have thought this coin at least MS 64. It does seem to have a scratch in the obverse near the nose in the black field. This coin is $60 in the red book. The third coin I brought from the third deal, the old man. I brough this coin mostly because i commited to him yesterday, and felt a little bad for him being in the sotre alone at such an advanced age, barely able to see. It's a real scene out of "Death of a Salesman". This is a 1887 MS 64, again slabbed by NGC. This coin does not have a mirror like reflection, but it is nearly flawless from scratches wich just the lightest in the Neck of liberty and a couple of surface scratches above and below, "In God We Trust" on the reverse. Extremely clean otherwise. I overpaid for this coin, paying $100 when it books for $60. Overall though, its luster is not that of the one I spent $18. OK So three coins all in similar cost ranges I paid from $18 - $100. So My point is, I have no faith in any of this at the moment. My faith in grading claims on line is very skeptical at this time. Even in person, I hve no idea what I'm buying. Forget about on line. That being said I like http://www.harlanjberk.com/unitedst...le=Morgan+Dollar&inventorygroup=us&linenum=36 and http://www.vcoins.com/us/copperpenny/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=15
BTW - for anyone interested. this second guy i went to had some of the most perfect, nicest walking liberty half's I've ever seen. Glisining clean and new. Bay Coin & Stamp Co (718) 627-0340 1404 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY Ruben
Customer service is certainly a dying breed these days. There's too much competition in the coin business for anyone to treat you like this. I would have walked out of his shop and never darkened his door again (right after I told him where he can place his lips). I think you did alright on the coins you bought. The MS-63 Morgan sounds nice.
Customer service never ment, at least to me, being really nice to people. It ment getting people quality products and services for good prices and DELIEVERING. Its when I feel your looking after my interests. Today customer service means being incredibly nice to the customer, stupidly so even in the face of open hostility, but give NO service! I hate it when people are nice to me. It makes me certain they are trying to take advantage of me. So in Brooklyn, I guess, this guys rude manners are an example of male bonding Although the grump old man did take me by suprise for a minute and my mind raced to figure out what I miscalculated. Hey, in the end, he gave me the fairest prices for the best coins. You just had to get past his brain cramp, bad humor and a little misunderstanding. Ruben
I don't mean to beat a dead horse but the Red Book isn't good either for prices. THe ONLY good price guide is completed online auctions and most of the time the Gray Sheet is near what is right. More than likely the reason it didn't get the PL on the NGC slab is that NGC didn't think it was proof like enough.....or one side is not as good as the other... Speedy
National Collector's Mint did come out with one stunningly beautiful item a coule of years back,despite the usual high-priced Morgans and cruddy looking proof 1934 double eagles,not to mention the Freedom Tower fiasco. It was the 1936 proof tribute set and I ended up buying one from a TV ad.Before you start laughing at me,take a look.It was 39.99 and all the coins with the exception of the cent are .900 silver. I couldn't resist.
Ive said it before and say it again, to me a freindly dealer is a bonus and nice, but it all comes down to the coin. I dont care anymore if the guy is a real $^*#@%^*!, if the coin is right!, Ill buy it!. Thats just me.......
