Another Gut-Wrenching, Disappointing Loss...

Joe2007, think it all depends if you've not made wise choices in your purchases, whether those be current or past. When resale is much less or very little is gained, some prefer to whine. Think someone pointed this out previously, if you're in this for profit, its a business, not a hobby.
I sorta enjoy my hobby, even with a lot of mistakes, have some good times too!

ebay is a buyers market. The prices realized reflect what the market actually is. An internet auction, has a possibility of hundreds of viewers to each item listed. This is reality. The price guides are like a weathervane. Not necessarily true, but somewhat close to reality. Remember the RedBook is printed almost 8 months before the current edition becomes available.

Lots of good advice above, and for the most part your coins achieved about what I would have guessed. Don't know why you expected any more than $60 for that 20c, for example - it was in very rough shape and the 75-s is ubiquitous. I mean there are simply zillions of them. I picked up three of them, all much nicer than yours, at a coin show last year for $45 a pop. I sold one of them at $78 on ebay.

But since you asked, a couple of other points:

* Consider the timing of your auctions. Ending an auction on a Monday afternoon is hardly ideal. Weekday evenings can be good, as can be Sunday evening.

* There's always the chance of a good price using buy-it-now. You may have to leave the listing up for a long time, but if you wanted $80 for the beat-up 20c piece, you'll get it if someone finds your listing at the right time and they want it immediately.

* Exclamation points alienate experienced buyers. (So too do little gimmicks like "L@@K!"). The market for Trade dollars and 20-cent pieces does not consist of novice and impulse buyers.

* Don't confuse price listings with the prevailing prices. Your 32-s quarter could have done a little better on ebay with a stronger selling reputation, but not that much -- maybe $150 tops.

I disagree with the poster who suggested you start out with expensive sales. Much better to build up numbers quickly with low-risk numismatics --- eg, 1964 Washington quarter lots or something. Buyers will find it odd, too, that you don't have much of a buyer profile, either. Give it time, be regular. Eventually you'll get returning customers.

I don't see what the problem is. He has 4100 feedback, is running an auction for a certified coin and it appears to be correctly described.

No, I'm not in this for profit and I haven't been, but with the money I get from the coins I sell, I put it right back into the collection. Most of these coins were purchased 5 or 6 years ago when I had no idea that they were problem coins in the first place. I'm learning a little more now on how to pick up on unnatural surfaces, problem coins, etc, largely thanks to you all and this forum. I appreciate all your help on this thread.

If you want to be in coins for profit you need to be a dealer. They don't even think like collectors think because they need to turn over coins every month in order to pay the bills. The owner of my LCS was once a serious collector. Now as a dealer he makes his money when he buys coins from survivors of elderly collectors or from old collectors themselves that are cashing out in their twilight years. If would be nice if the coins could at least keep their value. Perhaps they will? The coins I like are works of art as well as of silver or gold. When you see a two hundred year old American dollar it is awesome. The coins may have hit their peak just 100 years ago.

I see my error. This coin showed up when I did a search for 1864 L and explicitly excluded results with "no" in the title. This one still popped up, so I assumed it was an 1864 L.

Thank you for pointing out my error.

The hobby has gone through many cycles of boom and bust. People who began collecting or investing since the decline in 1989-1998 have for the most part only known rising prices. This is a new but unpleasant experience if you began within the last 20 years or so. That is one of reasons why you will hear those who have been collecting for decades advise purchasing for pleasure first and profit second.