ASE Complete Set Purchase

I've been seeing a lot of "Early Release" and "First Strike" types of listings. I've read a bit about these and it seems like it might be one of those "infomercial" type things, and don't really add anything to the coin itself?

Fox, A ton to absorb, a ton! You guys are certainly steering my attention to the proper places though. Your example is INCREDIBLE to me! I cannot believe it added a nearly $500 premium What would lead a coin owner to getting a coin graded and having that label added? My intentions in this are two fold;

1-Personal collection, I really like the idea of just having proofs and burnished in original packaging with COAs from the mint

2-Make money (pay for a lot of vacations), Fox, what you did intrigues me, I've got some cash on hand and my financial goals for 2016 are pretty much met already in terms of retirement and savings. I'd like to focus some of those hard earned dollars on making them into more dollars via coins. Fox, did you buy 30 sets on ebay and get them graded and sell them or did you get them from another source?

Have a great and happy new year!

Pat

+1

I would suggest learning for a long time before speculating on coins. Most who do lose money. Of course most who do don't take the time to learn what matters to collectors. Sometimes you can buy coins that will almost certainly appreciate in value (like the 2015 reverse proof Presidential dollars directly from the mint). However, most times you're starting off in a hole and it's a 50/50 proposition as to whether they'll go up or down. If you make a mistake when buying a coin, you're really in the hole.

As Foxwoods has pointed out, 3rd party grading labels can definitely make a difference when it comes to selling. However, sometimes it's just plain silly. Take the "Early Release" labels. Each of the Presidential reverse proofs released this year were produced by the mint had their entire mintages struck prior to going on sale. They all promptly sold out. However, only coins submitted for 3rd party grading by the deadline dates could get the early release labels. Reality is that they were all early releases because they were produced at the same time... But, some collectors have to have the early release labels, so they'll pay more.

Just because you do not believe in something does not mean it is not true. I go down to Naples, FL every year and see people driving cars that cost over $200k. Would I ever pay anywhere near that for a car? Absolutely not....but quite a few do.




I agree the labels are a joke BUT they do sell for more so I have accepted that fact. A 70 grade coin sometimes sells for multiples of its seemingly identical 69 counterpart. I accept that because it is a fact not because I believe the coins are any different.

Whenever I get coins graded they WILL have an Early Release or Special Set designation because they WILL sell for more. Logic, beliefs and opinions have nothing to do with reality.

Fair enough.

How do you get these special labels? Say I get a 2016 burnished coin that I want graded. How do you get PCGS to slap one of those on the slab? Does it cost extra? How much does a grading cost, anyhow?

Thanks!

Pat

Correct...."suckers" might be a bit strong but the point is correct.

Obtaining special labels:

Different cost depending on the company.

NGC is the most reasonable with their Modern Special tier at $20 which includes grading AND any appropriate label (ER, FR, "Set" etc.)

PCGS charges $16 for grading moderns but a ridiculous $18 more to add the words "First Strike" to the label. I never could rationalize that.

Large submissions by dealers get significant bulk discounts with both companies.

Edited to add:

WHOA! I just went to the NGC site to get a list of special labels available and it seems they had a major price increase. Now it is just about the same as PCGS with the additional $15 for the label and $16 for grading...so $31 instead of $20....(vs. $34 for PCGS)

Anyway, here is a link to the special labels available from NGC:

https://www.NGCcoin.com/coin-gradin...-labels.aspx

Edited again :

NGC MS 69 special label graded bullion ASE's sell for less than $30 INCLUDING THE COIN....note to self: Don't grade bullion ASE's

Is PCGS more "respected" in their grading practices than NGC? Seems like they're more "strict", so does that make, say, a PCGS MS70 trade at a premium to an NGC MS70?