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 Replies: 6 / Views: 1,401 |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Chances are we all have fish stories of coins we looked at, decided not to acquire, and have been  about ever since. I'll start: A couple years ago, Executive Coin in Ohio had this amazing Standing Liberty quarter. It was a strong AU, the kind of coin you know was MS65 or better before it circulated. FH, nary a mark to be found, slightly dark but from good honest exposure to commerce, a prototypical high-end AU55. $200-ish would have been appropriate for grade; they wanted $310 if I recall. I just_couldn't_rationalize a low-end MS price for it. I dashed them an email offering $200; they politely declined. I agonized over it for a couple days, and decided to give them their price. It was gone by then. My regret is a vast gulf of misery. I haven't seen anything like it since, and I've been looking. So, what stories have you, of the one which never arrived? |
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Moderator
United States
188110 Posts |
I have mentioned this one at least three times ( here, here, and here). The United Stated Twenty Cent Piece is my white whale. I found the perfect one at a show about three years ago. It was circulated, with excellent and even wear and tone. The price was right for a raw coin in its grade. It was from a trusted dealer. I declined because this was a lot of money for me (it would have required the use of the ATM). Even today it would be the most expensive coin I have ever purchased. The grade was a little more than I wanted for my 7070, but not enough to make the rest of my classics look bad. I hated myself for the next few months. I decided I was going for it, but at the next show she was gone.  I regret it to this day and always will until that hole is filled with something better. Yes, I have unfortunately set the bar very high for that one hole. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
About two years ago I passed on a PCGS MS 67 Antietam commemorative that was the perfect blast white example to be the flag ship of my classic commemorative collection. It was one of those coins you could see the luster from across the room and looked like the mint just struck it yesterday. The price was a little higher than I really wanted to pay and like Dave made them an offer which they declined. After about a week I was ready to pull the trigger on it but it was gone.
Since they time I've continued to look but havent been able to find one that matches that example. Some have come close, but that only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades. That spot is still empty to this day
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
I saw a 1873 CC "with Arrows" Seated Liberty half dollar and an 1873 CC "No Arrows" Half Dollar listed by the same dealer, at the same time, both nice AU. I could only get one. I went with the " with Arrows" Half. I haven't seen a nice AU 1873 CC "No Arrows" since, for anywhere near the price of the first one. Now? I toss and turn every night, filled with regret and self-loathing. Edited by Moe145
10/30/2013 7:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
There was a lot of 100 roman coins...GOOD roman coins. They sold for £28. This had big ptolemies, medallions, greeks and all sorts of rare stuff. But there was one big coin(ish thing) which I wanted - as luck would have it, the guy who bought the lot sold it privately and the buyer whacked it on ebay some months later. I knew when I saw it what it was but I was sniped...probably shouldve bid more than £20. What was it? It looked to be persian, it was very large (35-40mm) and it was coated with gold - a thick plating, couldve been half a gram or more on there, thinking about it. Never seen anything like it since - not online, not in pictures, or catalogues. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
I had a shot a an nice raw 1815 capped bust half from a dealer I knew well. It had great eye appeal but had likely been cleaned and toned to an original looking tone. He was asking full retail, but I didn't agree with the grade. He had it at VF-20 and I had it at 15. I couldn't justify it at the time. This was several years ago. Now, full VF price is much cheaper than a comparable F-15. Not much discrepancy on grade but it moved the price almost $500 north of what I thought I should pay. I wish I owned her today. My date set would be complete!!
I also missed a 1795 flowing hair half PCGS F-12 for half of what they go for now. Would have had to go to the ATM which would have blown my cover and my wife would have found out. Sometimes I'm angry and she doesn't know why. These are a few of the reasons! I blame her. : )
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
I was at a small auction one time. It was an estate auction, mostly junk. They had a small variety of coins. At the time, I used to make oak , mahogony and maple display boxes in my garage. I used to like to make sets. One of my favorites was 100 year sets, I gad a bunch of 1986 Eagles and I would match them up with Gem 1886 Morgans and sell or give the boxed sets as gifts.
Early in the auction I got an MS63 1886 Morgan for $31. I had money in my pocket to buy one more coin. There was a 1989 Chinese Panda and a 1896 O Morgan that was at least an MS 61 could have been as high as an MS63. I really wanted both , but being a series collector of Pandas and only a casual collector of Morgans I spent the rest of my money on the Panda, which turned out to be a counterfeit. The 1896 O Morgan end up going late in the auction for $35. Kicked myself for a while over that one.
Edited by denco7
10/30/2013 11:51 pm
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Replies: 6 / Views: 1,401 |
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Posted 10/30/2013 6:01 pm
