Sample slab brings $525????

We (the shop) sold a 1921 circulated Morgan in a PCGS 2nd generation for about $65 last week (eBay). The owner didn't even realize that it would bring a premium. He had it in with the other $21 common circulated Morgans.

 

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Your probably a bit low on that estimate. Of the eight bidders five of them were in at the $100 level, and four were still in at $200.

Yes sample slabs, or regular slab collecting is a niche market, but there are a lot of things in numismatics that are niche markets. And if you have a niche market rarity if you don't track down the niche market buyers you will lose your shirt. But that is true with anything. What would a specialist in Dahlonegha gold pay for a set of two cent pieces? Not as much as a lot of dealers because he just doesn't have a market for it. Some niches are a lot bigger than others. Large cent die variety collectors or Capped bust half die variety collectors are large niche markets and it is easy to find collectors. VAMs are a smaller niche market, but still one that is well known. Collectors of colonials by variety is also a small niche, but they are willing to spend a lot for pieces they need (A Vermont RR-37 that was not identified by variety closed on ebay yesterday. it opened at 99 cents and closed at $29,900.) Slab and sample slab collectors are a very small niche today (But has grown noticeably over the last ten year). What it will be ten years from now who knows.

 

I had to dig out a few sample slabs just to see what the fuss was about. There were a couple PCGS 2's (yep, they rattle) and one PCGS 3. It doesn't appear to me that they were all actually graded MS64 but rather were just assigned that grade for purposes of the samples. When's the sample slab registry going up?

 

3 bids were over $100.
The second Over $100 bid was for $203.99 and set the catalyst for the 3rd over $100 bit to inch the high bid up. Kinda like holding a carrot in front of a donkey.
Had that carrot not been dangled, I expect that the final may have been around $150.

While you are correct regarding "niche" markets AND Sample Slabs is definitely a
"niche" market, I have a feeling that this market is very shallow once they try to resell their treasures at a sometimes significant loss.

But, its a free country. We can buy what we want and believe what we want. Unfortunately, like Cabbbage Patch Dolls and Beany Babies, reality can be a fierce taskmaster.

 

nah, I have to disagree.

The sample market has been growing very steadily for several years now.

It isn't going to be the next tulip craze.

 

Well, you answer your own question in a few ways. First, from the other 1000 words that solely focus investment, while only adding a couple caveat lines. So money does seem to be the main collecting focus that you think collectors should focus on; and you express bafflement for other reasons. Second, from assuming that collectors of these things is someone who is "who here" as if this forum is typical of collectors' motives.

As for "who DOESN'T hope their collection will increase in value"? Hm...collectors of beach glass; of flowers to press; of insects to pin, of different sands from around the world, of autographs since they're young and just like to have sportstars they want sign and send things...not to mention collectors who have say, 20,000 pez dispensers not to turn them over at profit but rather because that's their thing.

Finally--If the only collectors of anything existed only to profit they would make no profit, because there would be no pure, non-profit collectors to sell things to above melt value. A little girl fascinated with Lincoln pennies, and spending (OMG ABOVE) copper value to finish an album? She had great emotional value from collecting, and those who sold worthless pennies to her had nice financial gain. Both win. One collects for profit, one collects for interest.

I don't find it strange at all that a collector of coins could also be personally interested (not personally INVESTED as in they have to profit from) in the early case types of graders.

To claim otherwise seems equal to claiming that zero people not even in the general public, but even on this forum, have never overpaid for something they coveted.

 

First off, I shouldn't validate your statement by responding. But, I will say this.... EVERYONE who collects COINS HAS overpaid, at least once, it's called 'tuition'. And this is a COIN forum, so why would you think I would include glass, sand, insects or flowers? I do NOT think coin collecting is wise to be used as an investment vehicle. You ASSUMED I did. If you are talking on a coin forum, you should know my comment was specifically about a COIN collection. If you want to think about glass, insects, flowers and sand, perhaps you should join one of those forums.

As for the 'collection appreciating' comment, we are in a hobby that could very well allow us to see profits, that's why you shouldn't just buy any old coin, you need to do your homework. With glass, sand, insects, and flowers, you don't need the kind of knowledge you must learn to be a smart coin collector.

 

Reading your 3 posts, TychoCelchu, seems you bring nothing to this forum but to be argumentative, and you seem to think you know about everything. When you have something to CONTRIBUTE, do so, but stay on topic. You have talked about cards, comics, sand, glass, insects, but as far as coins, you mention, and I quote, 'an MS70 vs Ms69 Hawaii quarter'. If you had any knowledge, you'd know how to come to a 'reasonable conclusion' that there are none graded MS69 OR MS70, whether it be a Statehood quarter, or the original 1883 Hawaiian quarter. I came to that conclusion by looking it up. The only thing about coins you've talked about is 'a '16-D Merc, and 'an MS70 vs MS69 Hawaii quarter'. Do you know the relative value of a '16-D in VF30???? I doubt it. You go on and on about everything that can be collected, but add no value to the discussion (except 'big words' like 'sagacity')

Contribute to the discussion, or if you have nothing constructive to add, don't. This forum doesn't need posters like you. You are the one who thinks collecting is an investment vehicle, and not just coins. I hope the reason you have no cell phone is because you lost your shirt on Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo's.