Stupid Numismatics

Another stupid/silly thing: Why the heck is The Cherry Picker's Guide so darn expensive?!

 

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I have seen many beautiful RB and BN coins. I think a high grade RB or BN by definition is going to be nice. But surface preservation is one of the key elements of grade and value. For silver coins, since color is not called out as part of the grade, valuation may be a little simpler. The RD/RB/BN heirarchy basically gives 3 grading tiers, and they are not equal, ie an MS66RD does not equal an MS66RB which does not equal an MS66BN in terms of the factors other than color. I am not sure of the offset, but I've seen many MSBN coins which would grade 1 or more points higher if they were MSRB, and 1 or more points higher still if they were MSRD.

 

I might break even on my collection if I sold it now, according to the Grey Sheet. I would have been way ahead if I had not bought anything in the last 15 years. There was a big drop in the market between the time I bought some things and now.

I have bought some blue chip coins, like an 1848 CAL. $2.50 and the Pan-Pac $50 gold pieces. You don't find those "in the parking lot."

I can grade better than most people, and made a living as a dealer, but I would not want to have my investment portfolio in coins only. Selling coins to dealers is hard, especially if you are member of "John Q. Public." I've learned that since I retired. At the shows with a table I could sell most anything to dealers at a profit. It's not so easy when you taking coins to sell at the shows.

 

Some people have always succeeded by working hard and doing a good job -- but there have always been more who have succeeded by working hard and taking advantage of their fellow man, or doing the same thing without working hard.

I'm not sure scams are more prevalent now than any other time in the last century or two, but they're easier to set up, and easier to find out about.

It seems like every third article I've read about generative AI includes as an example "how can I turn $100 into $XXXXX". The answers mostly boil down to "create something for free and convince people they want it, without letting them learn that they can now create it for free just as easily as you can". It's going to get a LOT worse before it gets better.

 

The mindless obsession with errors. I'll go as far to say it in large part redefined the focus of the hobby.

 

Yes, you have a point. To me, it's all about history and enjoyment. There are people who really get off on errors. I'm not one of them. A die cap is interesting to see, but I won't pay the price for it. The others, like off-center strikes, are pretty boring especially if they don't have dates.







I once had the 1955, 1972 and 1983 doubled die cents in a nice little Capital Plastics holder. I had them certified and sold the '83 for "a price I could not refuse" when I was a dealer. I still have the other two. The 1955 doubled die is a classic and a "keeper."

 

Let's not forget Pareidolia. Combined with the obsession with errors, pareidolia has produced some very entertaining forum threads.

 

True, very true. Some nights the "pareidolia" Coins bring me back to this>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

Just a thought, Jim, The "Senior Error Collector", you may be the perfect candidate for producing that which you've suggested!

JMHO