Roman Tam does not use eBay as a means to sell his coins any more than Proof Positive Coins does. It is a cheap means to advertise the coins. Roman sells his coins privately or collectors request Roman to bring them to coin shows, to see them in hand first. Roman is affiliated with Dave Hunt, who together can be seen at all major coin shows known as 'Coin Mart'.
I have purchased coins from Roman several times, and I know several collectors who are also his clients. Roman has a very good eye for grading and is highly efficient at cherry picking BU rolls for modern gem strikes. I just bought a 2012 (old composition and design) loon dollar, ICCS MS-66 from Roman. The 2012 'original' Loon mint rolls are darn expensive, and I figure my time is more valuable than his. Like all coin dealers, there is wiggle room for negotiation of prices.
However, Coin Mart is one of the biggest customers of ICCS, and there is ongoing debate at the pubs of coin shows whether high volume customers of ICCS get better grades, and could be a factor in the "grading creep" we have seen with ICCS since 2006. The debate rages on, and the old adage applies - buy the coin, not the holder. But from experience, Roman will refund your money if you are not happy with the coin.
"Research is what I am doing, when I don't know what I am doing" --Wernher von Braun
Edited by SPP-Ottawa
06/19/2012 10:05 am