| Author |
 Replies: 27 / Views: 7,450 |
|
New Member
United States
43 Posts |
Hello, I have been collecting since I was a boy. I still look at these coins through that boy's eyes. The dirtiest, nastiest wheatback penny was a treasure to me. I collect mostly as a hobby (obsession). There is a big part of me that doesn't want to overpay and that wants to know that if ever in a jam, I can liquidate what I've bought and get my money back--or maybe even make a few bucks. I see everywhere in the online Coin World that buying coins on ebay is a fool's errand. I cannot resist. I also like raw coins. I don't want them "protected" in plastic. I want to carefully handle them and put them in books and buy better books and move them ever so carefully, etc. This is part of the love--part of the hobby. This being said I would like to get an idea of how far base I am in the hopes of regaining my money at some future time if necessary. I believe that since other people are bidding for what I am bidding for, that there will be a market. My market is ebay. If I pay around what others are paying or less I figure I can recoup at a later date. I bought pounds of raw silver before precious metal went through the roof and I'm glad I did (should've unloaded long ago though). Still I feel that was a smart move as I can get double my money for any of those coins still. Lincoln pennies are my weakness. I suddenly want them shinier and I know this is one of the more dangerous games in town: Buying shiny Lincoln pennies off bad ebay pics. The pics below are something that caught my eye and I thought I would post them in hopes of getting others opinions regarding what they would pay. Or firstly: Would you buy them at all? If so, what would you pay? All you have to go on is these pics and the fact that the seller has 3500 positive feedbacks and no negative. Also, please make one assumption: That the reverses look more or less like the front. If they looked drastically different I would immediately return. Feel free to hammer me hard on this. I am sure there will be a lot of "only a fool would buy that" and the like. I can handle it. Thanks in advance and thanks so much for sharing all your wisdom free of charge. Jason    |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Edited by John1
09/28/2017 08:22 am
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
First, of your Lincoln set, the 1919 and 20 look full red or close to it. I'd definitely have those, and some of the other BU out of that Whitman. In fact, if they were mine and probably 65 Red, or better, they'd be going in my next NGC submission. I know you like raw. One of the reasons many collectors avoid encapsulation is because they, like you, prefer to handle their coins. Another reason is that slabs are harder to enjoy in an album. I have single books (I collect by date, rather than series), that use 20 pocket pages for 1/2 cent to 50 cents, 12 pocket pages for large dollars, and 9 pocket pages for my $200+ TPG coins. So I can still page through my sets and enjoy them as a whole, even with the different holders. Anyone who is not an absolutely certain buyer of the keys and semi-keys should ALWAYS purchase NGC or PCGS. Buying 1909-S VDB, 1914-D, and 1922 that aren't in those slabs risk fakes, added mint marks, and cleaning as possible problems. Finally, if your better coins are $200+ (my own threshold), and you need to sell them, Great Collections, as an example will sell your coins for less than the ebay charges and have your money in your pocket in under a month. Raw coins? Who knows how much they will sell for on ebay. Plus write the description, have good photos, answer questions, hope it sells, send the invoice, await the payment, remind non-payers, wrap the package, go to the PO, pay the postage, hope the package gets there, await possible returns, live in fear of stupid feedback. Yech! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
You'll never know how good (or bad) those cents are until you remove them from that album.
Those type of albums are noted for causing serious damage on the reverses.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
It would be a gamble, but if you can get them cheap I would go for it. Looks like there's more than a few unc. coins in there, with some of them being earlier dates.
However, keep in mind that there's no way of telling if the reverses are as nice.
|
|
New Member
 United States
43 Posts |
Thanks guys. Really appreciate your consideration. This is the kind of stuff I was hoping to hear.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I think It's time you took those Lincoln's out of that folder and into albums which are more safer than folders .  |
|
New Member
United States
43 Posts |
These pics are from the actual auction. They are what I had to go on in my decision to purchase. Really just an example of the sort of thing that catches my eye and wondering what others would do/think if they came across. Would they buy? If so, what would they pay? I figured Id get a bunch of: I would never buy under those circumstances--or I would only pay $10 for that--or that kind of thing.
I havent received them yet. That is part of the fun I guess. What if something awesome arrives? What if those coins that look good ARE actually good? Thats exciting. I guess its a version of people buying "unsearched" rolls...I just have a bit more to go on. So many people are scared to buy this way that it really can allow for some good deals. Of course you get messed up sometimes too. Hopefully the wins outweigh the losses.
This is my thinking. Is it faulty? I am open to that. Maybe I came here for a good lashing. Time goes by and I spend more and more this way.
I'll definitely transfer any good ones from this partial set to my Dansco. Trying to get a complete "shiny" set :)
Thanks again!
Jason
|
|
Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
None of the coins look cleaned but hope the reverses are as good as the obverses. Seeing we don't know what you paid for them then can't really tell if good deal or not.
|
|
New Member
United States
43 Posts |
That's part of the fun. I want to know if people would even buy this in the first place. And if so, I want to know what others would pay. That's how Id like to try and decide if I am paying too much, etc. Maybe a response I was hoping would be:
"I would never buy those because the pics arent good enough..."
or
"I would only be willing to risk $10"
or
"Looks like theres some decent ones there. I would pay x..."
But the stuff I'm receiving is good too ;)
Thanks!
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I see 9 or 10 with obvious problems that I wouldn't want to own personally. None are expensive in much better condition.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
911 Posts |
I would not spend more than $20. Hopefully the nicer coins have not been cleaned or lightly dipped to make them shiny.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
79 Posts |
I think one of your distant ancestors might have been a riverboat gambler. As fun as that sounds, my age, personality, DNA or whatever label I would put on "me", I'm to much of a "black and white", "there's no such thing as a gimme" kind of guy. Deep down I think I envy you a little bit.  Have fun and share your thrills and spills with us. |
|
New Member
United States
43 Posts |
|
|
Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Yea, I may have bid on something like that. I do a lot of auction bidding other than ebay. For a partial book 1, with those coins showing I may have gone to $11.50, 15-17% buyers fee, $7 shipping total right at $25. And that for just those pre 34's, the AU53's: 19, 20, 29 & 30...the others arent that expensive other ways. All the others are a crapshoot anyway, may be some nice XF's under the dinge. I've seen layouts like that where the seller puts a few "teaser" coins like those just to unload some really nasty ones, including some key in the mix with some garbage! |
|
New Member
United States
43 Posts |
Thanks so much for taking a look! Was thinking a couple of these made it into low MS grade: What do you think of this one? It kind of reminds me of the ones I purchased. Do you think this cent is in much better shape? If so, why? I am trying to understand this stuff better and this cent looks like it could've been in the same batch...Its a little finger-print-y, etc:   Thanks to all who have weighed in! Jason |
| |
Replies: 27 / Views: 7,450 |
Posted 09/28/2017 08:43 am
