You You Guys Believe These Quarters Are Going That Much Or Is This Fake?

In the top grade they can, anything lower won't even be close

To CCF! In very high grades, certain coins can have a high value, especially in slabs. Although, I think some of it is a little bit of hype as well.

Circulated sets in nice classic Whitman for page folders go for less than $25 at the auctions I frequent, that's face value, and a free folder!

First:

You have to understand that there are grading services that people will pay to grade a coin, print a label saying what they thing the grade of the coin is, and then encase the coin in a plastic slab. These are grading services or TPGs (Third Party Graders).

The highest grades on these labels (MS70 or PF70) bring tremendous amounts at auction depending on the coin. Why? B/c people perceive these to be "perfect" coins.

Many humans tend to value the word of an "expert" as a psychological security blanket (nothing wrong with this), so the prices of the coins with the high grades skyrocket.

The TPGs also have very smart marketing departments that have invented a concept to keep better coins at a higher price and keep escalating prices. A collector, through one of these companies, can "register" their set for everyone to see. Hence a competition is created to see who can put together the set of coins with the highest graded pieces. So prices keep going up and up for the best labeled coins. And more people are wiling to pay a TPG at a chance of getting a major profit if their coin comes back with a perfect (or close) grade.

Are the coins really worth this? No. Blunt statement.

But the facts are that grading is subjective enough that a specific coin, if broken out of the slab and resubmitted, is never guaranteed that same grade again!

In fact from one company to another, the experts will disagree as to the grade of the coin. Some people therefore profit from this b/c they know which coins to break out from one company's lsab and which company to submit it to for a higher grade.

The value attached to the label/slab disappears if the coin is removed from the slab. Hence that perceived value is artificial in nature and not actually about JUST the coin.

The TPGs have done well in creating a way to make money from the hobby by providing their services. If TPGs ever decide to get scientific about grading, everything will have to once again be re-graded - making the marketing guys happy once more.

Coins are graded on a 70 point scale called the Sheldon Scale. Uncirculated grades start at 60 and go to 70. A grade of 60 is technically uncirculated but undesireable due to issues with the coin while a 70 is perfection - perfect strike, perfect luster, etc. Very few if any coins end up as 70; a typical uncirculated coin from the mint might be 63-65. A few might be 66, fewer still 67, etc.

There are people who are willing to pay for the higher graded coins but very few coins fall into that category.

Not just any uncirculated ones, just the ones at the very high end of the Uncirculated scale. Drop just one step down the scale and the value can drop from thousands to a dollar or two. For example a MS-70 might be worth $5,000, a MS-69 $100, and a MS-68 not worth what it cost to have it graded. And your typical MS coins you find in rolls only grade MS-63 to 65.

Clarification needed. My blunt statement had nothing to do with liking or disliking slabs.

Concentrate on the explanation of what I called the artificial value.

Coin A sells for 500.00 in an MS70 slab. The price is not paid for the coin itself, but the slab/label/coin "packet."

The owner cracks the coin out and puts it into an album.

The owner finds all of a sudden he needs money and decides to sell. He resubmits the (unchanged) coin and gets an MS69 slab. Now the coin will only sell for 300.00 instead of 500.00

The price did not change b/c the coin changed.

Supply and demand did not cause the drop in value since, again, the coin did not change.

The value dropped b/c the label/plastic part of the "packet" was a subjective opinion of a company, and that part of the packet was not reproduced exactly as before. Two hundred dollars all of a sudden disappeared into thin air...value NOT based on the coin itself - hence the value is an artificial value that has changed while the coin has not.

...and if resubmitted, the 200.00 might all of a sudden reappear!



I totally agree. I did not mean to imply in any way (not sure how it was taken that way) that these people are not aware of what they are doing. And since its their hobby, its an aspect of their hobby that they enjoy, then all the more power to them.

My point was I think the marketing department made a smart business move by creating the registry sets. The ultimate result has been a competition and driving up of prices on their company product.




You perceived a reduction where none was made or intended. As a common courtesy, please ask rather than assume. It makes it more pleasant for all of us who are here to help/learn.