Purchasing From The Net

Here in the UK coin shops are few and far between. There aren't even many active coin clubs or societies near me, so all my collecting has been done on the internet.

Initially, like most, I used ebay. I found some rarities, got over-enthusiastic (like most beginners) and paid way over the odds for some coins and made a couple of contacts through purchases.

Over the years I've increasingly used online dealers and auctions as my wants have become more specific and I've become more demanding about condition.

So IMHO, the internet is wonderful! However, as with anything (even buying face to face with a dealer) knowing your coins is essential.

Increasingly not only fake coins, but fake slabs, are coming on the market so if you're aiming to spend some serious money I think it's always worth getting a second opinion from somewhere like this. There are those here who have been collecting for decades and have a wealth of experience. And as far as I can tell, are happy to help newcomers.

In the end we all make mistakes (it's part of learning about the hobby) whether it's paying more than a coin is worth or thinking it's rarer than it is. So long as you only spend money you can afford on the hobby and only do it while it is fun, you'll be fine. If you tire or find yourself overspending, take a break. The coins and the hobby will still be here when/if you feel like a return. As will those prepared to offer advice, just from the love of the hobby.

Thanks for the advice guys!

Thanks pilot.

For the OP: why only certified coins?

I've had mixed results with ebay. I'd say stay away from low quality, low resolution photos, but that eliminates 80%-90% of what is on ebay! hahah

Peek at this thread (not to put any more fear in you than you already have)

https://goccf.com/t/157580

Ive actually gotten the bulk of my coins from ebay. There are fakes there and some scammers but its kind of over blown in my opinion. Most of the coins are what they say they are and just staying away from things too good to be true or Chinese sellers can eliminate a good amount of fakes. Theres 100s of thousands of coins on there and its a pretty huge market now. Everyone will point out fakes but generally never mentions the good stuff since they dont want to create competition for themselves.

Ive also found its generally hard to find better prices than ebay if youre patient or in the summer when not as many people are looking. The other good thing about ebay though is if its fake you get your money back.

That said, know what youre buying. Use the completed listings and numismedia for general price ranges. If its a new series to you scan over all the graded listings and as you see more and more you can pick up on what to look for. Theres a lot of reputable sellers on there including some huge names in coins. Its hard to question the reputation of a David Lawrence and they sell on ebay (sometimes you can get better prices on their site though).

Im very pro ebay and online buying from good sources. It greatly expands whats available to you that your local store may or may not have and gives you a lot of different options. I like local stores as well if theyre a good one, not everyone is but only a national coin store and compete with the selection available online.

Another thing you can do is make a test purchase or ask about a seller. Generally though with ebay being very buyer friendly at worst youll be out the shipping charges.

Best of luck with with your searches Anthony. If you ever have any questions about anything or anyone feel free to ask. The Auctions forum has some good stuff in there that mainly focuses on ebay as well