Comments on: Interview with Q. David Bowers on Internet Coin Buying

By: Michael Bugeja

Michael Bugeja — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:05:44 +0000

Hi, Rhett–

I don’t have that in my library. If you live near a large public or a university library, or have access to one, the issue might be digitized and you may be able to procure it online.

If I come across one in my travels, I’ll let you know via Coin Update.

Kind regards,
Michael

By: Rhett Butler

Rhett Butler — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:55:38 +0000

trying to locate a copy of Rare Coin Review #126, November/December 1998, “Christian Gobrecht: American coin die engraver extraordinaire,” by Q. David Bowers

any suggestions?

have a rare doorknob with sulfide inclusion identified with c. gobrecht f., looking to do background

thank you.

By: Michael Bugeja

Michael Bugeja — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:34:17 +0000

You have invested in a learning experience, and alas sometimes that costs money, Eric. I did the same thing through the same processes as you when just starting out with online bidding. I think the key to winning on Proxibid is to stake out the auctioneers you can trust, bid at Greysheet, bid only on items you need for your collection or want for investment, and rest assured that those items will come up again somewhere someplace. I bid usually no higher than $130 for a common GSA Carson City dollar (1882-84) and lose 99 times out of 100. But when I win on Proxibid, it is an occasion, and my investment well spent.

By: Eric Draper

Eric Draper — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:37:11 +0000

The advise regarding a 60% bid sounds reasonable but I tend to agree more with James Donovan. I am a fairly new collector (less than one year) and I was bidding on items at the Red Book prices and then the Blue Book prices and now the Greysheet prices. I am not sure what retail is exactly but if it is Red Book prices I found that I was clearly overpaying for items. (A learning experience.) The same with Blue Book. When I discoverd the Greysheet I began bidding no more than 90% of the asked price and have gotten items from ebay sellers at even less. I consider them bargins since my local dealer sells at Greysheet ask prices and purchases coins from sellers at about 15-20% of Greysheet. Proxibid is another matter. I can never find any items less than retail there and I was going there often for a while. I gave up after everything that I bid on ended being sold for more than retail. I would love to be informed which auctions on Proibid I can purchase items on a bargain prices.

By: Michael Bugeja

Michael Bugeja — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:42:06 +0000

Thanks for your comment.

The final two paragraphs are mine. Bowers is not quoted in the advice on bidding 60% retail. That’s my advice.I seldom bid higher than that level, and I win repeatedly on eBay and Proxibid. The trick is bidding on dozens of coins at that level, and if you win more than your budget allows, you can sell the coins for a profit.

By: James Donovan

James Donovan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:21:38 +0000

Although Bower’s advice to “bid no higher than 60% of retail to cover any buyer’s fees, shipping and handling” sounds good on paper, in real life, it has been my experience that if you want to win an auction (on eBay, for example) for a coin that’s PQ for the grade, original-skinned, etc., you will almost always have to bid substantially ABOVE retail, notwithstanding the S&H fees.