Nice Garage Sale Score

G140 some people are good enough to hit their grades spot on but its kind of a risk reward game. You have to see what the potential gain is from getting it graded. Of course you could always just send them in because you want them graded and like it that way better regardless of what they grade, but if youre looking for it to be a wise investment its part risk reward and part how good you are at grading. Youre looking for clean coins with no marks and full deep strikes or mint errors.

Even the best dealers cant nail what will get that perfect 70 every time. You really just have to compare coins to each other look up pictures of the ones in the grade you want and compare. The modern commems are usually pretty pricy so picture comparisons are great, if you were sending in cheaper coins like a proof set you could collect a bunch compare them save the best couple then get another lot of proofs to compare again then just send in the best.

The good news for you is you paid a dollar for this coin so it could be a great test run. If it got the 70 youre looking at a 300 dollar coin. If it got a 68 or 69 your still looking at a 70-90 dollar coin which would be a profit for you with what you paid. Judging from your picture Id be surprised if it got anything lower. But again since you paid a dollar and it will cost about 40 dollars to get it graded youve made money if you want to sell it if it grades higher than a PR 61 which it absolutely will.

After you see enough coins youll be able to ballpark at least and say okay this coin is at least a 68 and has a chance at 70. I wont lie sending them in hoping for 70s is a money losing proposition most of the time. Large dealers make their money by sending in huge lots where as long as 30-40% come back as 70s that gives them a profit and covers the 69s but sometimes its worth the gamble if you feel it has a chance and the gain is large enough if it hits. Sometimes there may be a coin thats impossible to find so youll get some of them and send it in hoping to hit one to complete the collection. Really a lot is just how much youre willing to spend or risk on it.

http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/fmv.shtml

I use that site and completed ebay listings to ballpark figure coin prices

Im a little tired so I probably rambled on some there and may not have worded things the best which I apologize for but hopefully that helps

Thanks basbal, that make sense. Lots to learn in this hobby, but that only makes it more interesting I guess.

Glad that helps. Some of the learning will be trial and error more than likely just always remember to learn from it. Theres so many different ways you can go in the hobby it really is limitless just make sure you enjoy your self otherwise no point in doing it