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 Replies: 6 / Views: 1,414 |
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Valued Member
United States
235 Posts |
I received an unsolicited catalog in the mail- "Collectible Coins from the New York Mint." The company pushes coins at ridiculously inflated prices. For example, a Spanish bust dollar and a gold escudo were being sold in an elaborate holder (and, of course, a certificate of authenticity) for a mere $750. Just think, so goes the sales pitch, these coins might have jingled in the pockets of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. The Spanish dollar in EF is worth, at most $80, and the gold escudo $200. A recently acquired two beauties for $60 (1786 Spanish dollar) and $170 (1787 escudo) in EF on ebay. But suckers are born every minute, and we are a country where plenty of people have more money than brains. |
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
It is to battle propoganda such as the ad you received that this forum is in existence. So many people are taken in by the hype. It is our hope here to help prevent people from being taken advantage of. Thanks for posting about this. That's the first step in making other collectors aware.  |
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Valued Member
United States
214 Posts |
The TV shopping networks are another problem. I see sellers on ebay trying to get their money back out of the coins they bought on coin vault. They even put a copy of the receipt. |
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Valued Member
United States
150 Posts |
And I got sucked in by CSN! Coin Shopping Network. Stupid Late Night TV programming. I'll never do that again.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I guess that is why someone invented ebay. A place to get rid of the stuff that someone sold you that is just junk, useless or overpriced. When buying anything valuable, always study what you are buying first. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
It isn't the hype that they get me with as much as the idea that I'm going to get a deal. A few years ago a dealer asked me "What do you want?", in a pointed way, as I grazed randomly over his coins. I thought about that for a long time afterward, and I ask myself that question again and again to get focused. I may still get suckered, but at least I walk into a deal with my eyes open, and I walk out with something I want. I'm always willing to adjust to what a dealer has in stock. If it's a well-struck 1923 Peace dollar instead of the 1923-S walker in VF I was hoping for (fairly priced with original toning and no rim dents - I have yet to find this coin....), I'm willing to make accomodations so as not to leave empthy handed. I enjoy drooling over the solicited catalogs (Katharine Bullowa's has always been a stunner). The others hit the recycle bin faster than a speeding bullet. "Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1203 Posts |
"we are a country where plenty of people have more money than brains."
Yes we do, and that is what makes it so interesting, don't you think?
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Replies: 6 / Views: 1,414 |
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Posted 05/12/2007 5:11 pm
