Colonial Acres Auction

This has been an interesting discussion so far. If I am understanding correctly, it sounds like there are two distinct primary markets for Canadian Coins, Canada at ~50% of trends and the United States at a higher level. Pacific has found a good niche market and is realizing good prices, though I would assume an established business and client base is very helpful, while in Canada sellers are either not getting the same volume, due to higher prices or selling for lower to make up the volume. Which I guess is the trade-off you have to make or find other markets to sell your products.

It would be interesting to hear more from some more of the long time dealers on how long inventory sits on shelf and what is the reasonable expectation. It is easy to sell a high value coin for a low price really fast, but selling a high value coin for a high % of trends takes time, as you need the Type 4 collector (using Pacific's classification). Not everyone is able or willing to make that kind of investment. And once you sell a coin to someone, they don't consume or need another next month, which makes the coin market really interesting for pricing.

As my collection moves from accumulating mass to refinement and filling the holes with higher grade coins, I would be curious on some of these time frames, as I have cleared out most of the low grade surplus and will now be looking to upgrade and sell some of the higher value stuff that I want to upgrade. Ideally I would like the collection to self finance, but I think, I would want to focus on higher grade coins, as it is too much work to sell high volumes of lower grade and receive a decent return.

I personally thought the CA auction was priced too high (and using unsold seems to be a good indicator of that), but it could have been due to low attendance or not reaching the right audience. From my observations and purchases, trends is set way too high and is not reflective of the average current market price, which is fine, as long as you know this going in. Either that or I am getting really good deals on what I am buying, only wish I could turn around and sell for trends price. Trends reminds me of the stores that show "suggested retail" and then offer at X% off that price, not as a sale, but as a permanent markdown.

Re SPP

Quote:
" The market is simple - good quality coins, with strong eye appeal, fetch good prices. I often sell ICCS graded coins on ebay, to a number of repeat customers, who usually offer 75% or better of Trends value. "[/size=2]

[size=3]It would be so nice if it really was that simple. Yes "good quality coins" (let's take that to mean rarer dates, varieties, and exceptional grades) that have strong eye appeal do still bring a reasonable price (75% or better of Trends).

However, that doesn't change the ultimate REALITY that current market value for anything not rare or high grade is 50% or less than Trends value.

No dealer wants to admit this, and even most collectors unless they're some of the few that are buying, wish to acknowledge this either.

Value of coins has ALWAYS been about supply and demand, and rarity / quality - there's currently a glut of supply out there readily obtained and low demand in comparison - result is the value of most coins has dropped rather dramatically.

As more and more of us oldtimers start to keel over and our lifetime collections hit ebay this will only exacerbate the matter further - and as well young people are not that interested in collecting shiny little pieces of metal anymore like we did when we were kids.

So, we can continue to stick our heads in the sand and pretend we can't see the writing on the wall - or be accepting of the fact that what once was is no more - let's all have a big group hug for our coming losses

Gilles

Of course not. I was specifically referring to coins of superb eye-appeal and grade. I don't collect stuff that is common and lower grade... as a coin dealer I heavily discount it - simply to get rid of it. I don't see that as a problem - I see that is how the collecting market has evolved over time.

It is a buyers market out there now, and with auctions all over North America now available at your fingertips, collectors are becoming better and better at selecting coins that are "not rare or high grade". In terms of my own collection, I am patient with my money, and I wait for the coin I want to appear on the market. Plus, I am young, and have lots of time on my side...

skip79....there's no such thing as a 'true' auction in the coin business.

Even if you're aware of this practice, you then have to deal with huge competition for a coin, 50% trends start price, buyer's fee and then HST!!

Why would anyone even consider wasting their time?

I purchase so much better at coin shows, coin dealers and ebay....much, much better.

AgCoin, I could see that point, if the bidder was using iCollector. In this case, the bidder was bidding live on the floor, as was among a small handful of other floor bidders. I would think the auctioneer would restrict any prospective bidding registrant who also happened to be a consignor...which comes back to my point open closing loop holes.

I was offline all weekend (due to being at the Toronto Coin Expo), but I am back and am watching this thread closely. I should remind everyone to tread carefully here - one can be held accountable (legally) for comments made online...