Respectable Online Dealers

Thanks for the advice basebal21. Being new to collecting classic coins with limited availability I certainly have lots to learn. My goal has been, in my opinion a practical one but I will keep an open mind.

The collections I am attempting to complete are those started by my father sixty to seventy years ago. His Liberty/Morgan dollar "folders" were less than 50% complete with some worn coins and some obviously cleaned or polished. I've replaced the worn coins and intend to complete the collection with respectable or better coins. I've also upgraded his deteriorating folders with the newer Whitman albums, I don't want a new problem of storing and displaying the graded coin containers.

I think this makes it clear that I'm not collecting to accumulate a valuable collection of my own. I'm a retired old fart so investment or resale is not my intent. I surely will add some attractive graded coins if they best fill the void.

I appreciate your advice about coin shows. My thought is that, as suggested here, coins are available to see up close and also collectors might be selling coins to other collectors at fair prices, prices above what a dealer would pay and below what I would pay for the same coin from that dealer. Markup can be significant!! I would be just as careful about any show purchase as I would about the same online purchase. I've been around long enough to know that even good people are quick to deceive for the sake of making a buck. Additionally, a show is an opportunity to get out and speak with lots of folks more knowledgeable than I am.

Thanks basebal21

Fun is what it's about for me too. I am beginning to come around on the Graded coin issue. Per your advice I will save the labels and attach them to the album, not ideal but at least it will serve as a reference.

Best of success with your collections.

Thank you for your input.

Okay, I've been reading, listening and looking at the ebay listings. Competition is a strong factor in keeping costs in line. I concede the point about ebay prices.



Bill

P.S. I'm on my way to ebay to buy a key date graded CC!

Thanks for prioritising the grading companies, I'll read up on them.

If I purchase a reasonably good graded coin and do not break it open, I suppose a relatively inexpensive stand-in could fill the gap in the album. For me it might be practical for one or two coins only.

Crazy!!?

Great idea! Since starting this project, my standards have gone up a bit too high & too quickly. Unfortunately the lower rated key date coins are also expensive.

Thanks!

Yes. They are the ones paying for the show with their table fees and if some random person is costing them business or interfering with their sales and the dealers start to complain they will be removed from the show.

Now collectors can buy a table, but if you haven't bought a table you're not supposed to be buying or selling with the public. So if you are expecting to go and see people trying to help other collectors with cheaply priced coins, that isn't what a coin show is at all

The people behind the tables at a coin show are ALL there with a profit motive whether they are a business or a collector who bought a table.

There's not going to be anyone there giving out gifts, everyone selling there is there to make money.