The Secret Strategies Behind Building and Selling Rare Coin Collections Like a Pro

There are aspects of rare coin collecting that most people miss. Let me share what I’ve learned from the trenches.

Over coffee with veteran collectors, I’ve seen too many beginners make costly mistakes. They buy the wrong coins, overpay at auctions, and leave money on the table. But here’s the truth: the pros operate differently.

Today, I’m revealing what really happens behind closed doors in rare coin circles. These are the same strategies Robert W. Shippee used when writing his cult classic Pleasure & Profit – techniques I’ve tested myself through twenty years of buying and selling.

The Hidden Buying Strategies Most Collectors Never Learn

1. The 70% Rule of Acquisition

Seasoned collectors live by this: never pay more than 70% of a coin’s certified value. I’ll never forget when my mentor grabbed a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent priced at $1,000 for just $700. By holding it until the right buyer came along? That $700 investment turned into $1,400.

2. Auction Timing Secrets

Want to outbid the competition without breaking the bank? Here’s when the real deals happen:

• When big coin shows distract serious buyers
• Mid-April (tax season forces cash-strapped sellers to liquidate)
• Holiday weekends when casual bidders are barbecuing, not bidding

The Forgotten Art of Strategic Selling

Creating the “Collection Premium” Effect

This changed everything for me. Grouping coins by theme – say, all Carson City Morgan dollars – can boost your profit by 15-20%. Why? Because collectors pay extra for stories. A complete set whispers “legacy collection” rather than “random coins.”

The 3-Year Appreciation Window

Through trial and error, I found the sweet spot: hold coins 3-5 years. Any shorter, and the market remembers your purchase price. Any longer, and inflation nibbles away at gains.

“Give the market time to forget, but not so much time it forgets why it cared” – Advice from my first coin mentor

Advanced Considerations Most Books Won’t Tell You

Grading Service Arbitrage

Here’s how the pros play the system: A coin graded MS-65 by NGC might get MS-66 at PCGS. I’ve seen friends:

1. Buy “soft graded” coins from lenient services
2. Resubmit to stricter graders
3. Pocket the 25-50% value jump

The Dealer Whisper Network

The rarest coins never hit auctions. They move through what we call “the velvet rope” crowd. Want in? You’ll need to:

• Build real relationships with 3+ dealers (not just transactions)
• Pay invoices before they’re due – your reputation is currency
• Become known as the collector who doesn’t quibble over minor details

Key Takeaways From the Rare Coin Underground

After decades in this world, here’s what actually matters:

• Patience beats passion – The biggest scores go to those who wait, not those who impulse-buy
• Paperwork is profit – Your documentation determines resale value as much as the coin itself
• Liquidity matters – Always keep some “easy exit” coins for unexpected opportunities

While Shippee’s book remains elusive (I finally found mine at a regional coin show after two years of searching), these insider tactics deliver the same advantage. They’re what the dealers don’t tell you – but wish they’d known sooner.

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