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October 23, 2026
The Cutting Edge of Numismatics: Understanding the CCAC Oct 2026 Meeting Recap
As an online coin dealer who has spent years watching the numismatic landscape evolve, I can tell you that few events generate as much anticipation as the updates from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). Following the sixteenth installment of my updates, Kellen Hoard’s recap of the October 2026 meeting was a masterclass in how modern design approvals translate into tangible collectible assets.
During this pivotal meeting, the CCAC recommended several new reverse designs for the American Innovation $1 coin series, alongside proposals for Aquaman, Batgirl, and The Flash comic art medals. These aren’t just abstract design choices; they are historically significant milestones representing American ingenuity. Consider the Nebraska design featuring Center Pivot Irrigation—a monumental leap in agricultural efficiency. Or look at the Colorado reverse, which depicts the Pueblo Chile, a crop that revolutionized farming in the Rocky Mountain region. These designs carry profound historical weight, making them highly desirable to serious collectors and investors alike.
When these newly approved coins and medals hit the market, the question every collector faces is simple: Where should I sell them? The venue you choose can drastically affect your net profit. Let’s compare the modern digital market to traditional dealer bourse floors to determine the optimal strategy for realizing the value of these fresh designs.
eBay Fees: The Silent Profit Eaters
The True Cost of an Online Listing
In my experience grading and selling coins, eBay’s fee structure is notoriously unforgiving to the seller’s bottom line. For high-value numismatic items like the newly approved Innovation $1 coins, the math is brutal. If you list an uncirculated coin—ideally kept in mint condition with exceptional strike and eye appeal—for a “fair” starting price of $150, eBay’s insertion fee ($1.50) is negligible. However, the Final Value Fee (FVF) is typically 15% of the total sale price. This means you would only receive $127.50 after eBay takes its cut. For a coin that might command a premium of $200 or more over its numismatic value, that 15% commission erodes a significant portion of your potential profit.
Beyond the FVF, payment processing fees further diminish your return. When you factor in PayPal or Stripe transaction fees (typically 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction), the actual net you receive can easily drop by another 3% to 4%.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Always calculate your exact post-eBay net profit before listing. A coin sold for $200 might only yield $155-$160 in your pocket after all platform fees are deducted.
- Consider using third-party payment processors like Stripe or PayPal, but be aware they charge additional flat fees that further cut into numismatic premiums.
- If the coin has strong demand, consider setting a “Buy It Now” price rather than an auction format to secure the full sale amount quickly, bypassing eBay’s highest insertion fees.
Coin Show Etiquette: The Traditional Bourse Floor Advantage
Haggling and Immediate Liquidity
Walking into a coin show is a completely different sensory experience compared to scrolling through eBay listings. The atmosphere is electric, filled with the clinking of trays, the sound of haggling, and the immediate realization of a deal. Coin shows have a long-standing culture of dealer-buyer relationships built on trust and shared numismatic knowledge. You see the true eye appeal of a coin up close—its luster, its strike, its subtle patina—before you ever negotiate a price.
At a show, you do not pay a percentage-based fee. You walk up to a booth, present your coin, and negotiate directly with the dealer. This is where the concept of dealer buy prices comes into sharp focus. Dealers are constantly buying inventory, and they know exactly what the market will bear for newly released Innovation $1 coins. They often offer a “bid” price that reflects their wholesale cost, which can sometimes be higher than what you’d get on eBay due to the lack of intermediary platform fees.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Attend local coin shows and bring your newly approved CCAC designs. Dealers are actively buying these series as they become available.
- Know the current wholesale buy prices for the specific state Innovation $1 coins you possess. Dealers often buy at a discount to retail, so having a firm understanding of retail values helps you negotiate effectively.
- Master the art of the trade. Coin show etiquette requires confidence and assertiveness. Do not be timid; the dealer’s asking price is often inflated due to the overhead of their booth.
Dealer Buy Prices vs. Online Pricing Dynamics
Wholesale Reality vs. Retail Markup
Understanding the discrepancy between what a dealer will pay you and what you can list an item for online is crucial. As an online dealer myself, I’ve seen collectors leave significant money on the table on eBay simply because they didn’t understand the dealer’s buy-in structure. Take the example of a rare variety like the Batgirl medal: if a dealer buys it at a “buy price” of $80 (reflecting acquisition costs, strike quality, mint premium, and grading labor), they will mark it up to resell at a retail price of $120 or more. If you list that same coin on eBay for $120, you are competing against the dealer’s own storefront markup, but you also pay eBay’s 15% fee. Meanwhile, at a coin show, the dealer might have bought it from you for $85, paying you a premium for the convenience and immediate liquidity.
Furthermore, liquidity is vastly different. On eBay, an item may sit in limbo for weeks or months waiting for the right buyer, especially for highly specific designs
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