Auctions

It's easy. Just look at hundreds of auctions. I mean it. And know exactly what a "deal" is.

I'm a fan of 1921 Morgans. Occasionally I get good deals on them at ebay. There are currently on average 3,000 1921 Morgans listed on ebay, and I look at every one. Every single new one listed, every day, 7 days a week.

That's how you get these deals, unless you're very, very lucky. I'm not trying to discourage you - not at all - anyone can acquire the knowledge to play this game. But you need knowledge, and commitment.

Oh, I meant live auctions but thanks for the ebay advice too :)

I've never attended a live auction. The chances are far too small that I'd end up with anything one could describe as a "bargain."

Joe can I send you a roll of steel cents to auction for me ill give you a cut lol

I have been a regular subscriber to two different postal auctions for around 30 years. They each have typically 5,000 lots twice a year, so that's around 12,000 lots I get to choose from annually. The other 8,000 lots are in areas of numismatics that don't interest me, such as banknotes, tokens and NCLT.

I collect all coins ancient to modern all cultures, all centuries, so long as it actually has been in circulation for use as money.
When it comes to auctions, virtually every lot is up for my consideration, but even then, I only bid on four or five lots, to keep within budget.

I then do quite a lot of research on the lots I am interested in before submitting a bid. An extensive numismatic library to know the lots, and research on several websites for comparative pricing helps. Even then I attend the view days if I can to inspect the lots, then submit written bids only, I never attend the auctions.

That puts me in a very good position to pick out the best value for money lots, for which I usually submit single low bids, not expecting to win anything.

I get lucky when I actually DO win! If I don't win, I get to keep my money, for me, that is a win / win situation.


I take full advantage of my wide numismatic interests to acquire interesting and varied numismatic items. That is how I can get good value for money, without having to use ebay, or going near a coin shop.

Nevertheless, I have a strong numismatic relationship with several coin shops, because I look for good value for money, regularly, in this area as well.

I just checked his past auctions and his last coin auction was on March 10th, below are the results from that auction...


http://jenack.com/viewauction.aspx?a=369

Use their keyword search, it makes it easy to find them.

I try to attend every local auction that offers coins. You pretty much have to be there to inspect the lots. Auctionzip is a valuable resource for locating live public sales, but the photos that auction houses put up *invariably* leave a whole lot to be desired. Auctioneers seem to feel the same effort they put into photographing furniture also works with coins. Hah!



To this I offer: https://goccf.com/t/108515

You need to apply the same tenacity to public sales as you do to an ebay daily coin search. Especially with those mixed lots and 'mystery bags' that are never adequately photographed. I have found that the best auctions to find good deals are not the all-coin sales, but the estate sales with small batches of coins, typically not delineated at all, with only the word 'coins' includes along with the other stuff deemed 'collectible'. Auctions are fun and boring and exciting and frustrating all at the same time. But it's a wonderful feeling when your diligence pays off!