My 6-Month Journey with Impulse Coin Bidding: How Alcohol Fueled My Best (and Worst) Auction Wins

I’ve spent the last six months navigating the wild world of impulse coin bidding—often with a drink in hand. Here’s my real story, along with what I wish I’d known before that first tipsy click.

The Night It All Began

It was a Friday night. I had a cold beer next to me and my laptop open to a Stacks auction. Feeling bold, I threw in what I thought was a low offer on a rare Seated Liberty coin. That buzz of confidence? It led to a six-month journey full of surprises, mistakes, and some truly unexpected wins.

The First “Oops” Moment

The next morning, I woke up with a fuzzy memory and a knot in my stomach. There it was—an email confirming I’d bought an 1851-O half dime for $750. Panic set in at first. But that coin? It’s now one of my absolute favorites. Mint condition and a total keeper.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

I repeated this pattern more times than I’d like to admit. Sometimes it was IPAs, sometimes stouts. Other times, just the thrill of the auction. But each slip-up taught me something real.

Lesson 1: Alcohol Amplifies Irrationality

A few drinks turned my careful bids into full-blown sprees. One night, after one too many coffee stouts, I won three coins back-to-back. Waking up full of regret was rough. But two of those coins have actually gone up in value since.

Lesson 2: The “Placeholder Bid” Trap

How many times did I throw in a “just watching” bid, only to win it hours later? Too many. Alcohol made me lose track of time. My advice? If you’re drinking, skip placeholder bids completely.

Lesson 3: Not All Impulse Buys Are Bad

Surprisingly, about 60% of my buzzed bids turned out great. Once, I won a gold coin that seemed overpriced. Turns out it was super rare—only 29 were minted. It’s the star of my collection now.

Long-Term Perspective: The 6-Month Review

After half a year, I sat down and reviewed all my bids—sober and not. The results really made me think.

Financial Impact

I spent around $12,000 on impulse bids. About $4,500 of that was after a few drinks. But today, those coins are worth nearly $14,000. A $2,000 gain on paper—but way riskier than my clear-headed buys.

Emotional Toll

Not remembering what I bid on? Waking up anxious? It wore on me. I started skipping weekend auctions altogether for a while. It helped me focus on quality, not just quick wins.

Actionable Takeaways for Fellow Collectors

If you’re like me and love late-night bidding, here’s what worked for me:

• Set a sober watchlist: Pick your lots before you start drinking. Stick to that list.
• Use bid limits: Set your max bids when you’re totally sober. No exceptions.
• Avoid auctions after 9 PM if drinking: This simple rule saved me from big regrets.
• Keep a bidding journal: Jot down what you bid on and why. Read it the next day.

Real Results: The Good, The Bad, and The Golden

Here’s a quick look at my most memorable buzzed buys:

• The Win: An 1875-CC Seated Dollar I got for $1,200. Now it’s worth $1,800.
• The Loss: A common Morgan Dollar I overpaid for by $300. Still holding it.
• The Surprise: A rare British coin I didn’t even remember bidding on. Total steal.

Conclusion

My six months of tipsy bidding taught me a lot—about coins, and about myself. Sure, there were regrets. But there were also some amazing finds I’d have missed sober. Balance is everything. Set rules, enjoy the ride, and maybe trade that third beer for coffee when the auctions go live.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• I Tested Every Coin Show Strategy for Dealers – Here’s What Actually Sells (And What Doesn’t) – I Tested Every Coin Show Strategy for Dealers – Here’s What Actually Sells (And What Doesn’t) After setting up at seven …
• Montana Coin Shows vs. Alternative Solutions: A Collector’s Hands-On Comparison – I Tested Every Montana Coin Collecting Option – Here’s What Actually Works As a Montana coin collector who&#…
• My $500 Coin Collecting Mistake: How I Learned to Spot Fakes the Hard Way – I’ve Been Fooled by Counterfeit Coins – Here’s What I Learned Let me tell you about the day my collect…