eBay Coin and Currency Dealer Newsletter - April 2012 potx

eBay Coin and Currency Dealer Newsletter - April 2012
By Doug West
Copyright 2012 Doug West
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This Newsletter provides insight into the eBay sales of coins, currency, and precious
metals. The goal of the Newsletter to give the reader a snap shot of what is happening on
eBay and give tips that can help the seller of coins and currency. Most of the data and
observations come from two eBay Powersellers (eBay IDs: dwest61506 and jdwest07).
The newsletter covers U.S. and World coins and currency sold during April 2012. The
method of sale was by auction, which nearly always started at 99 cents and carried a zero
reserve price, or through sales of Buy-It-Now items. The Newsletter also provides an
"Overall Market Rating" for each area of coins and currency. This rating gives the reader
some insight into which areas of the eBay market are changing or are stable.
U.S. Collector Coins – (Lincoln Cents, Indian Head Cents, Buffalo Nickels, Mercury
Dimes, Barber Coins, Walking Liberty Half Dollars, Franklin Half Dollars, Morgan
Silver Dollars, Peace Dollars,…). This area of the market showed little change from
previous months. As usual, coins that were priced right and that were of good quality for
the grade sold better than coins that had minor problems or were overpriced. Some of the
better dates in the Lincoln and Indian head cents went for less than expected in the
auctions. During the month of April, the price of silver was steady to slightly down and
this didn’t “push” any of the silver related items to higher prices or increase their
demand. This caused prices for items such as circulated half and silver dollars to show
little change from past months. Buy-It-Now example sales from April: 1924-D VG
Lincoln Cent $40 and a roll of Good or better Indian Head Cents $54. Overall market
rating: Stable.
U.S. Type Coins – (Half Cents, Large Cents, Two and Three Cent pieces, Seated Liberty

coins, Bust type coins, 20 Cent pieces, Trade Dollars,…). Similar to the U.S. Collector
Coins discussed above there weren’t any new trends emerging from this group of coins.
Collectors were looking for that right coin to fill the hole in their collection. Overall
market rating: Stable.
Bullion – Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium – (90% silver or “Junk” silver, world
bullion coins, US gold – circulated pre-1933, and modern Silver and Gold Eagles). The
month of April was not kind to precious metals. All four of the metals showed a drop
during the course of the month. For example, silver opened April with a spot price of
$32.42 and ended the month at $31.20. Gold showed a similar drop from $1677.50 to
$1651.25. These aren’t large percent changes, however, a quiet and slightly down market
in precious metals does tend to lessen demand for bullion related items. Common silver
U.S. silver coins minted before 1965 or “Junk” silver coins sold in auction for an average
of eight percent over their melt value. This was only slightly down from the previous
month. One ounce silver Art bars sold in auction for around 15 to 25 percent over melt.
More interesting designs or bars from Engelhard or Johnson Matthey commanded the
premium prices at the top end of this range. The premium showed a decrease in modern
world bullion related coins, such as, Canadian Maple Leafs, Mexican Onzas, and the
more common one ounce Australian silver coins. U.S. Gold coins minted before 1933
showed little change in the premium over their melt value in an auction format.
Typically, these coins in circulated grades sell for a three to ten percent premium over
their melt value. eBay auction result from April: A-Mark brand silver bar sold for $37.
Overall market rating: Weak to Stable.
U.S. Proof and Mint Sets 1950 to 2011 – This area of the market has been showing some
improvement in the past few months and April was no exception. Over the last couple of
years the prices of proof and mint sets has shown a marked decline. Now the prices seem
to be stable and starting to move up in a very controlled manner. The sets that are tied to
the precious metals prices, such as the 1960 to 1964 proof sets and the recent silver sets
tended to move down slightly with the decrease in the price of silver. The clad sets from
the 1970’s and 1980’s have become so cheap that collectors are starting to stock up on
them while the prices are down. Auction examples: 1999-S original Silver Proof Set sold

for $120 and 1956 original Proof Set $47. Overall market rating: Stable to Strong.
U.S. Currency – (Regular issue U.S. Currency from 1880’s forward, Colonial, and
Confederate States of America, Military Payment Certificates, Fractional Currency,
Depression Scrip, Obsoletes,…) This area of the market has started to rebound in the last
few months. Sales are brisk for properly graded and reasonably priced currency, of all
types. Buy-It-Now examples from April: 1907 $5 “Wood Chopper” VG United States
Note for $80, 1929 National Bank Note $10 Vinita, Oklahoma (CH#4704) Fine condition
for $199. Overall market rating: Stable to Strong.
World Collector Coins – (Regular issue coins of the World (non-U.S.)), most in
circulated grades and priced below $200) – This area of the market is business as usual.
Collectors are still looking for that “right” coin to add to their collection. Setting the right
price for World coins is always a problem. The Krause Standard World Coin price guide
are very helpful, however, on certain countries the catalog prices aren’t realistic. For
example, I have found the Krause prices are too high in general for Australia, New
Zealand, and some German coins and too cheap for Chinese coins. I nearly always price
Buy-It-Now coins well below Krause Standard Catalog prices to get a reasonably quick
sell. Buy-It-Now example from April: 1904 Canada Fine 10 Cents $19. Overall market
rating: Stable.
Exonumia - Tokens and Medals - ( Trade tokens, Hard Times tokens, Civil War tokens,
Transportation tokens, "Good For" Tokens, Space related medals, presidential medals,
state centennial medals, California Fractional Gold …). The area is stable with little
change recently. Collectors are still looking for that token or medal that fits in with their
collecting theme. Due to their specialized nature most tokens and medals are sold in the
Buy-It-Now format. Buy-It-Now examples from April: TAMS 9th Convention Medal
$10.00 and a Kansas City International Airport Dedication Medal sold for $10.00. Unless
they are clearly rare, most tokens and medals on eBay sell for under $20.00. Overall
market rating: Stable.
Market Ratings Definitions:
Weak – noticeable decrease in activity and prices
Weak to Stable – small decrease in activity in prices

Stable – activity and prices are basically unchanged from the last few months
Stable to Strong – small increase in activity and prices
Strong – noticeable increase in activity and prices
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About the author:
Doug West is the senior numismatist at the family owned business C&D Coins and
Currency in Derby, Kansas. Doug has over four decades of experience as a coin collector
and dealer. Doug is President of Wichita Coin Club, member of the American
Numismatic Association, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Kansas Numismatic Association.
He is author of several of several coin related articles and maintains the educational web
site www.canddcoins.com.