My swap with NEN: 2 of my coins + some cash for their 1 coin

I just agreed to a deal with NEN (Northeast Numismatics) to swap for a coin that I saw on their website. I really wanted it. They had it priced at $875, but after the FUN show, I found myself with only $500 in ready cash. So I knew I was going to have to do some selling or swapping to acquire this piece. And NEN has been easy to trade with in the past.

I offered them several options. In the end, Brian at NEN said he'd take two of my coins plus $125 for their coin. I have sent an email accepting the deal. Hopefully it's not poor etiquette for me to share the details here and now, with the ink not even dry on the agreement and with the coins having not yet physically changed hands. But I'm excited about the pending new acquisition.

This is the coin I'll be getting. It is an 1888 USA nickel 3-cent piece, PCGS PR66 CAM (CAC).




Here's what I'll be giving for it on my end of the swap.

My 1844 USA dime, PCGS F15 (CAC)...




... and my 1880-SO Chilean peso, NGC MS61...



... plus $125.

I had $500 in the 1844 dime, and $185 in the Chilean peso.

So $500 + $185 + $125 means I will have a total of $810 (plus maybe shipping) invested in the 1888 3cN from them, when all is said and done. Not only does that work out a little better than their original $875 ask price, but the 3cN also has a PCGS trend value of $1,100. So I'm pleased.

The 1844 dime I'll be parting with is a better date, but since I'm a Type collector, I decided I'd be better off getting a more common date later, in higher grade. F15 was not the ideal grade for a type set, when I could afford something of the same type in higher grade for the same price. So I've created a hole in my collection where my Seated dime used to be, but filled the gap for the 3cN.

This new 1888 3cN is one grade point higher than my previous best example of the type, which was also an 1888, in PCGS PR65 CAM (no CAC).

 

Thanks for their blog link.

 

Yep. Having been perennially cash-broke in bygone days, I learned to barter and negotiate. You have to be able to judge the opportunity and make sure the other party is receptive before you approach 'em about it, but I've done very well in the past, and developed some good relationships with friendly barter (or semi-barter) transactions. And this was not the first trade I've done with NEN, so I knew they might be receptive.

Of course it goes without saying that you also have to have the sort of swapstock coins that the other party might want.

I've frequently been coin-rich but cash-broke. Still happens to me from time to time, as with this situation. I had some of the necessary cash available, but not all. And in the end, after my two trade-ins, I only had to use $125 of the $500 ready cash I had on hand.