Raw Valuable Coins On Ebay

I always like examining any coin in hand before making a decision to buy; always better than just comparing pictures on screen.
Nevertheless one of my favorite tactics is to go to Google Images and search for similar coins for comparison.
In addition with ancients, it is possible to not only compare similar coins, but also to get a reasonable idea of current market prices for similar coins all in one search. It is part of doing 'due diligence' before closely examining valuable coins in hand.

With ebay, just make sure that the seller has an unquestioned return option.

None of the coins in my collection are slabbed, and a few of them are valued in the $thousands, but vast majority of them would be valued at less than $25. Slabbing just doesn't fit the way I buy coins or display them.
But that is just me.

I agree that buying a slabbed coin then breaking it out after purchase can be a legitimate way to go. If you do this, you get to check the weight, and closely examine it in hand. Unfortunately, if you are unsatisfied with what is in the slab you may be stuck with it.
That is one of the aspects of buying slabbed coins on ebay that can cause problems, and may deter some buyers - there is no way of proving to the seller that what you have received is a dud. You have just broken his slab.
That is why it is best to buy from sellers who have an unquestioned reputation, but makes it harder for honest sellers who are just starting into the market.

I'll chime in with support for buying from a dealer you know and trust, but if you're dead-set on buying from ebay, there's nothing wrong with cracking a coin out of a slab.

By from a dealer you trust. Don't buy on ebay unless you can tell the difference or its slabbed.

I would never buy from someone on ebay. Just way to much of a chance of a fake. And also, a chance that a return doesn't work.

The guy selling the coin in your original post is a member here. I see it went for almost 2 grand.

Adding to the "buy slabbed" discussion, this is the way I go as well on coins over $150 or known to be counterfeit. Especially key and semi-key dates. Since I collect mid-grade circulated, I find it easy to acquire coins in details grade like scratched or cleaned. While these scare off most people, if good photos are supplied more often than not those details are barely noticeable. Which is a win for me as I've bought many at a fraction of the straight grade specimen.

The vast majority of coins on ebay are genuine. The more common issue is whether they have been cleaned or are otherwise detail coins that would affect value. But I would be a bit more leery about getting a raw key date or a coin that is commonly counterfeited (like classic gold). The option of getting a quick $5 authenticity opinion from NGC would seem to be the least you should do if you are not an expert and want to go for a high value raw coin.

I have purchased a large number of coins on ebay and other online dealer sites, and thus far not one issue as to authenticity. All of my coins dated 1942 and later are not slabbed, and I did purchase many of the coins from two local coin shops. The vast majority of sellers are legitimate, so why tarnish them with some rotten apples. The cutoff date for ungraded coins is arbitrary on my part, though I do go with the idea of $200 value give or take being the cutoff point to go slabbed. I collect United States coin by year and mint mark and so 1942 as a set seemed a good cutoff point.