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Ebay Auction Question

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New Member
rick42's Avatar
United States
5 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  11:03 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add rick42 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Being my first post, joining a few days ago, I find this site to be very informative. Just trying to find the appropriate forums for info.

I have never used ebay for buying coins (or anything else), and since I have moved from MN to TX I do not have the friendly coin dealer I was just getting to know. I have always been a novice collector, but now I have some time and 'some' money to collect Morgans and dollar coins as I did years ago with my Dad.
My question is...After linking to ebay and finding some nice looking coins and some at good prices, looking at comments, shipping cost, and reading comments in this forum, and other heads up info or what material would be handy to have watching these auctions?

Thank you
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Metalman's Avatar
United States
7123 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  11:17 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Metalman to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi Rick

It does not hurt to have a list of the coins your looking for along with ended auction prices ,from ebay,Heritage and or teletrade.

a good handle on grading coins from pictures (most of which are less than Ideal on ebay)

When looking at Morgan dollars some knowledge of Vams is also helpful.

Always check the sellers feedback and return policy,, and ask questions here if there is any doubt .

Welcome to the forum !

Metalman
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Scottishmoney's Avatar
United States
597 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  11:35 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Scottishmoney to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Also recommend checking sellers feedback on www.toolhaus.org to see what if any negatories they have. Stick to buying from sellers with 99%+ feedback, and no recent negs. Just because a seller has a few negs in the past doesn't mean a lot when you consider there are customers from Hades out there too.
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pattiewhack's Avatar
Canada
1152 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  11:48 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add pattiewhack to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
True. I stick to 99%+ POS Feedback but I can go to 98% POS if it was only 1 NEG in the past that brought their feedback down. Also, STAY AWAY from coins graded by companies like SGS, GGC, and almost any other 3 Letter combination you can think of. The safest companies are PCGS, ANACS, NGC, and a few others. Many people out there put huge grades on regular coins and stick them into a homemade slab to make them look authentically graded. The coins are almost always real, but they are grossly overgraded so you are enticed into bidding $100.00 for a "$3000.00 coin" which is really only worth $85.00, or it is a coin you would not wish to buy ordinarily, just the felling that you are making big savings pushes you to bidding. There are safe companies and fraudulent ones out there- If you are unsure let us know before bidding!
New Member
rick42's Avatar
United States
5 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  11:56 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add rick42 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Metalman - Thank you - What is VAMs? Seen the term used. Where can I dig more info about the term. Appreciate you all for the feedback.
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Metalman's Avatar
United States
7123 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  12:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Metalman to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Extensive research on the variations in the dies used to strike silver dollars was published by Leroy C. Van Allen and A. George Mallis. The term VAM comes from their initials.


The book that these guys published is called the VAM book ,, but there are literally hundreds of sites on VAM's as well as some very good info here on our own forum from collectors who have alot of experiance with them .

some of these VAM's (die Varieties) can increase the value of an otherwise common Morgan dollar by many multiples.

Metalman



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tights24's Avatar
United States
2254 Posts
 Posted 08/10/2007  5:27 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add tights24 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
rick, first, welcome to the forum.

Not sure if you're starting from scratch, or what date Morgans or grade you are looking for, but everyone has given some great advice. If you're new to ebay in general, once you log on, do an "advanced search". In the advanced search option you can select completed listings. This will give you a good starting point. Completed auctions on Heritage is good info. Teletrade will list prices realized also if you select the coin you are looking for.

You can always save a picture from ebay onto your desktop and post it here in the coin grading section as well to get our thoughts and give everyone practice. I wouldn't recommend posting 50 pictures looking for help, but sometimes you just need a sanity check.

Watch out for the basement slabbers as well. They are everywhere. If you buy slabs, stick with the top four TPG's. If you want to buy raw, remember you can always ask the seller questions. Is this coin cleaned, can you send me closer photos, etc...
New Member
rick42's Avatar
United States
5 Posts
 Posted 08/12/2007  12:22 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add rick42 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for your feedback all -
tights24 I have started my collection and would like to fill as much as I can with most dates and have them in the best condition I can afford. The info given has been very helpful. What are a few differences in buying slab or raw?
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