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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,670 |
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Valued Member
Canada
89 Posts |
Hello, nice to meet you all.
I've acquired a few silver bullions through the years but only recently have I started collecting. So far I've been making purchases online. My most recent additions are two 1 oz silver takus. I purchased these from a reputable dealer (they also have a bricks and mortar store). I was really excited when the package came in the mail. Upon unwrapping the coins I was met with a bit of disappointment. Both coins had rims that look "scratched" (the matte finish has parts that became mirror-like). One of the coins has this film-like substance around the Queen's bust. I don't know if they're the dreaded milk spots. I'll post a picture for you to see though it's not as evident in the photo. My question is, is it normal when ordering bullions online to receive ones with less than desirable quality? I'm not sure if I should contact the store with this issue or if that's not normal practice. That I should accept these as is. It bothers me a little because I am kind of concerned about the numismatic value and also I prefer to not have blemished coins/bullions. Anyway, I would appreciate your input on this matter. Thanks! 
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
The angle of the pics a little hard to see. For online bullion luck plays a part in it. But the same goes for ordering from the mint. Everything doesn't come out perfect and some will look better than others for whatever reason. Its not necessarily the fault of the dealer, the online ones just match your order to whats at the top of their pile so to speak and send it out. They dont go through though and cherry pick what they want to return to the mints like a collector would when ordering from them. Some of the online ones like provident metals if you speak with them and specifically request great looking ones will attempt to give you what you ask for if they have any, others will just treat the order as usual. The only real way though to get what you want is to either order from ebay where the exact coin pictured is the one youll be getting or pick it out in person. But to answer your question its not usual to get the less desirable ones but its not unusual either. They dont however pull the bad looking ones during a minting and specifically send them to online sellers |
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
The Takus that I own have that sort of "uneven" look in the field surrounding the queen that I think I see in your image, but mine don't have anything resembling milk spots. The reverse (Taku) side of mine look much better and seem to be of a higher quality than the obverse.
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Valued Member
 Canada
89 Posts |
Thanks for both your replies. It's surprisingly hard to capture the white stuff. In the pics they don't look as prominent as they do to the eye. I'm not sure what the white stuff is. It looks like permanent moisture marks making the bullion look a bit cloudy. I'll keep the coin.
So is it accurate to say that it's normal to receive coins that have minor scuffs? I don't want to be unreasonably nitpicky. Have you guys ever returned/exchanged bullions/coins because the quality was unacceptable? I'm trying to get a feel of what the norm is :)
SDcrow, mine are like that as well. The quality of the reverse looks much better
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Even directly from the mint for collector coins theres no assurance theyll be perfect hence the large premiums for perfect coins.
Its fairly normal for minor things depending on the quality of the series, people have returned stuff or exchanged it before. Just keep in mind youll be paying for shipping to do so and you could still get one back with minor issues.
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
It depends what you're getting. Common bullion like eagles and maples may have a few dings as they are sent out in rolls of 20 or 25 all together. If you get into collecting higher premium coins like things from the Perth Mint (Lunar, Koala, Kookaburra), Pandas, Britannias, etc. that are shipped out individually sealed, I wouldn't expect to have those kinds of issues. Having said that though, I have plenty of common bullion that looks great as well. I have only ever made two returns, and they were both recent ebay purchases. The first was a counterfeit silver coin and the other was a listing with a photo of a different coin than I received. My online purchases with dealers have all gone well with no major issues worth returning. |
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Valued Member
United States
386 Posts |
You're not being picky. You HAVE TO BE HAPPY with your coins. Early on, I was ordering online; I felt the coin shop was intimidating. But I got over that feeling--which was totally unfounded--when I started receiving silver coins from online merchants that looked pretty bad. Even the slabbed, greaded coins were the bottom of the grade. Coins I would never purchase if I had them in hand first. As stated above, you have to take your chances with orders from the Mints. I've made some returns to the U.S. Mint, but usually you can be happy with those orders. However, I like to get everything else in hand first, unless there's a hard to find item that has to be purchased online.
Don't doubt your feelings about your coins. That's your best guide as you learn what you're doing. That's how it's going for me, though I should say that the learning goes on all the time, and the members here teach you a lot.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
For a small purchase under $100 I doubt it would be worth the shipping to send them back, unless they will pay it.That is if they have even have a return policy. Some online billion dealers don't guarantee any numismatic value. That is the difference between billion and coin collecting.
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Valued Member
Canada
89 Posts |
Thanks for everyone's advice. I didn't consider the individually packaged vs rolls factor.
Come to think of it, weren't all maple leafs individually packaged at some point in time? Guess now they come in rolls.
I have yet to work up the courage to go to an actual store. I'm quite intimidated lol 
Edited by sw3dish ch3f
01/13/2013 12:15 am
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I have yet to work up the courage to go to an actual store. I'm quite intimidated lol No reason to be, either youll like it and keep going or youll realize a jerk owns it and know to stay away. If your worried about being gouged you can bring price sheets with you or write them down, or use an ebay app on your phone and see what things are selling for. Can always just write their prices down to come home check the internet and decide what you want to go back and buy Life is to short to be intimidated Edited by basebal21
01/13/2013 12:23 am
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
I hope you go check out a few places if you can. A majority of the people that I have dealt with are more than happy to answer any questions and do their best to earn your business. You can learn a lot in a hurry from these types of people.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,670 |
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Posted 01/09/2013 12:21 am
