Where to Get the Best Price for Your Mayflower Compact Quarters: Selling on eBay vs. Coin Shows — An Online Dealer’s Deep Dive

The venue you choose to sell your item can drastically affect your net profit. Let’s compare the modern digital market to traditional dealer bourse floors.

As an online coin dealer who has spent over two decades buying, grading, and selling United States commemorative and modern issues, I can tell you that the question of where to sell is just as important as what you’re selling. A recent forum thread caught my eye — a fascinating grading exercise featuring two Mayflower Compact Quarters (the 2006-P Massachusetts State Quarter, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Compact) that were graded by PCGS as MS66 and MS67 respectively. The debate that erupted among collectors over those grades is a perfect springboard for a much larger conversation: if you own one of these quarters — or any modern coin in a high-grade slab — should you sell it on eBay or take it to a coin show? The answer, as you might expect, is nuanced. Let me walk you through every factor I consider when advising clients and making my own selling decisions.

Understanding the Coin: The Mayflower Compact Quarter in Context

Before we talk about selling venues, let’s ground ourselves in the coin at the center of this discussion. The 2006-P Massachusetts State Quarter features a design by U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver Thomas D. Rogers Sr. The obverse depicts the standard George Washington portrait, while the reverse shows a scene inspired by the famous painting “The Signing of the Mayflower Compact” — featuring a man and woman standing before a ship’s sail and rigging. The mint mark “P” and designer initials are tucked into the reverse design, a point of some frustration among collectors who, as one forum poster noted, wished they had been placed somewhere more prominent.

These quarters were struck in the standard clad composition — 75% copper, 25% nickel outer layers bonded to a pure copper core — at the Philadelphia Mint. Millions were produced, which means that in circulated grades, they carry essentially face value. However, in top Mint State grades — particularly MS66, MS67, and the elusive MS68 — they can command meaningful premiums. This is precisely the territory where your selling venue matters most.

The forum grading test revealed something important: even experienced collectors disagreed on the grades. Coin A was ultimately revealed as PCGS MS67, and Coin B as MS66. Many forum members thought both were MS66, and some — like the poster who identified himself as a 20+ year modern coin submitter — would have graded them as low as MS64 or MS65. This disagreement is not a flaw; it’s a feature of the market. It means that perception of grade directly impacts what a buyer is willing to pay, and different venues attract buyers with different levels of expertise and different willingness to pay.

eBay Fees: The Hidden Cost That Eats Your Margin

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. When you list a coin on eBay, you are not simply putting a price tag on it and waiting for the money to roll in. eBay’s fee structure is layered, and if you’re not accounting for every line item, you may be selling at a loss without realizing it.

The Fee Breakdown

As of my most recent experience, here is what a seller typically pays on eBay:

• Insertion fees: eBay allows a certain number of free insertions per month (typically 250 for sellers with a Basic or above store subscription). Beyond that, each listing costs roughly $0.30 to $0.35. For a single coin listing, this is negligible, but it adds up for high-volume sellers.
• Final value fees: This is the big one. eBay charges a percentage of the total sale amount (including shipping). For most coins, this falls under the “Coins & Paper Money” category, which currently carries a final value fee of approximately 13.25% on the first $2,500 of the sale price and 2.35% on the portion above $2,500. PayPal or managed payments processing adds another roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
• Promoted listing fees (optional but common): If you want your listing to appear higher in search results — and for a coin like a PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter, competition is real — you may pay an additional 2% to 15% of the sale price as an ad rate.
• Shipping and packaging costs: While not technically an eBay fee, the expectation of free shipping on most coin listings means you’re absorbing First Class or Priority Mail costs, bubble mailers, and protective holders. For a single quarter, this might be $4–$8, but it’s real money.

Let’s run a concrete example. Say you sell a PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter on eBay for $75 — a realistic price based on recent completed listings. Here’s your math:

• Sale price: $75.00
• eBay final value fee (13.25%): ~$9.94
• Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30): ~$2.48
• Shipping and materials: ~$5.00
• Net to you: ~$57.58

That’s a total cost of roughly 23% of your gross sale price before you even account for the cost of the coin itself. Now compare that to selling the same coin at a coin show, where your costs are a table fee (typically $75–$200 for a day or weekend), travel, and perhaps a meal or two. If you sell multiple coins from your table, the per-coin overhead drops dramatically.

Coin Show Etiquette: What Sellers Need to Know

Selling at a coin show is a fundamentally different experience from listing online, and understanding the etiquette can make or break your results.

Setting Up Your Table

First impressions matter. I always advise sellers to display their coins in a clean, organized manner. Use trays with dark velvet or felt liners — black or deep blue — to make the coins pop. Have a good loupe available (at least 10x magnification) and a grading reference guide nearby. Buyers at coin shows are often knowledgeable, and they will want to examine your coins closely. For a PCGS-sladed MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter, make sure the slab is clean and free of fingerprints or smudges. A dirty slab subconsciously signals neglect.

Pricing and Negotiation

Coin show buyers expect to negotiate. If you price your MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter at $80, be prepared to accept $65–$70. The key is knowing your walk-away number before you set up. I always price my coins about 10–15% above my minimum acceptable price to leave room for haggling. This is very different from eBay, where you can set a “Buy It Now” price and a minimum bid and let the market decide.

One critical piece of etiquette: never badmouth other dealers or their coins at a show. The numismatic community is smaller than you think, and word travels fast. If a buyer asks about a coin they saw at another table, be gracious. Say something like, “That’s a nice piece — here’s what I have that’s comparable.” Your reputation is your most valuable asset at a coin show.

Handling Dealer-to-Dealer Transactions

At many shows, dealers buy from each other as much as from the public. If you’re selling a PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter, another dealer may approach you with a buy offer. These offers are typically 60–75% of the coin’s fair market retail value, because the dealer needs to mark it up to make a profit when they resell it. For a coin with a retail value of $75, expect a dealer buy offer in the range of $45–$56. This is fast, liquid, and involves no shipping, no fees, and no waiting — but it’s also the lowest price you’ll receive.

Dealer Buy Prices: The Liquidity Trade-Off

This brings us to one of the most important concepts in selling coins: liquidity versus profit.

When a dealer offers to buy your coin at a show, you are trading maximum profit for immediate liquidity. There’s no shame in this — it’s a legitimate business decision, especially if you need cash quickly or if you’re liquidating a collection. But you should go in with realistic expectations.

Here’s a rough hierarchy of selling venues, from lowest net return to highest:

1. Dealer buy at a coin show: Fastest, easiest, lowest return (typically 60–75% of retail).
2. Selling from your own table at a coin show: Moderate return (you set the price, but you’re competing with every other table), moderate effort (travel, setup, teardown).
3. eBay auction with a low starting bid: Variable return (could be high if bidding wars erupt, could be low if interest is low), moderate effort (photography, listing, shipping).
4. eBay “Buy It Now” with best offer: Good return if priced correctly, higher effort (requires good photos, detailed description, SEO-optimized title).
5. Heritage Auctions or other major auction houses: Potentially highest return for truly rare coins, but involves consignment fees (typically 15–20% seller’s commission), waiting periods (weeks to months), and is generally not worthwhile for coins under $500 in value.

For a PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter — a coin that might retail for $50–$100 depending on eye appeal and market conditions — the sweet spot is usually either selling from your own table at a well-attended regional show or listing on eBay with strong photos and a competitive “Buy It Now” price.

Liquidity: How Fast Can You Turn That Quarter Into Cash?

Liquidity is the speed and ease with which you can convert an asset into cash without significant loss of value. In numismatics, liquidity varies enormously by coin type, grade, and venue.

eBay offers broad exposure — your listing can be seen by millions of potential buyers worldwide. For a common modern issue like the Mayflower Compact Quarter, this is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that there are thousands of State Quarter collectors actively searching for high-grade examples. The curse is that there are also thousands of sellers listing the same coin, which drives prices down and means your listing may get buried unless you invest in promoted listings or have strong seller feedback.

In my experience, a well-listed PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter on eBay will sell within 1–3 listing cycles (roughly 1–3 weeks if you relist promptly). That’s reasonably liquid, but it’s not instant. You’re waiting for the right buyer to find your listing, and you’re at the mercy of eBay’s search algorithm.

Coin shows offer a different kind of liquidity. If you’re selling from your table, you might sell the coin in the first hour of the show — or you might not sell it at all. It depends on foot traffic, the quality of your display, and whether the right collector happens to walk by. However, if you sell to a dealer, the transaction is instantaneous. Cash in hand, no waiting, no shipping, no returns.

The forum discussion highlighted an important point: at MS65, these quarters aren’t worth the cost of slabbing. But at MS66, they sell for more than grading costs on eBay, and at MS67, “decent profits can be made.” This means that the grade on the slab is what creates liquidity. An unslabbed Mayflower Compact Quarter, no matter how nice, is just 25 cents to most buyers. A PCGS MS67 slab transforms it into a recognized commodity with a clear market value.

Online Reputation: The Currency You Can’t Buy

One advantage of eBay that is often underestimated is the power of seller reputation. If you’ve been selling coins on eBay for years and have accumulated hundreds or thousands of positive feedback ratings, buyers trust you. They’re willing to pay a premium because they know you stand behind your descriptions, your grading assessments, and your return policy.

I’ve built my online business on this principle. When I list a coin as PCGS MS67, buyers know that I’ve examined it, that the slab is authentic, and that the coin is exactly as described. This trust translates directly into higher sell-through rates and higher prices. A new seller with zero feedback listing the same coin will almost always get less money, even if the coin and the photos are identical.

At a coin show, reputation works differently but is equally important. If you’re a regular at a particular show, dealers and collectors recognize you. They know your inventory, your pricing, and your integrity. This face-to-face reputation can be even more powerful than online feedback because it’s personal. A handshake and an honest conversation about a coin’s merits can close a sale that no amount of eBay feedback could replicate.

For sellers who are just starting out, I recommend building reputation in both venues simultaneously. Sell a few lower-value coins on eBay to accumulate feedback. Attend local coin shows and introduce yourself to dealers. The numismatic community rewards consistency and honesty, and over time, your reputation becomes a significant competitive advantage.

eBay vs. Coin Shows: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Let’s bring it all together with a direct comparison of the two venues, using the PCGS MS67 Mayflower Compact Quarter as our test case:

Actionable Takeaways for Sellers

Based on my experience as an online dealer who also sells at coin shows, here are my recommendations:

1. For coins under $50 in value: Sell on eBay. The global reach and built-in audience of collectors make it the most efficient venue for lower-value items. The fees are a higher percentage, but the absolute dollar amount is small, and you’re unlikely to find a dealer at a show who will offer you a strong price for a single $30 coin.
2. For coins between $50 and $500: This is the gray zone where both venues can work. If you have strong eBay feedback and can take excellent photos, list it online. If you’re attending a well-regarded regional show anyway, bring it and see what kind of offers you get from both dealers and collectors. You might be surprised.
3. For coins over $500: Consider consignment to a major auction house like Heritage or Stack’s Bowers. The exposure to serious deep-pocketed collectors at auction can produce results that neither eBay nor a coin show can match.
4. Always get your coins professionally graded before selling. As the forum discussion made clear, the difference between an unslabbed quarter worth face value and a PCGS MS67 quarter worth $75–$100 is the slab itself. The grading fee (currently around $20–$30 per coin for modern issues at PCGS) is an investment that pays for itself many times over.
5. Take excellent photos. Whether you’re listing on eBay or showing the coin at a bourse, image quality matters. Use a macro lens or a high-quality smartphone camera with good lighting. Capture both sides of the coin, the slab label, and any notable features. Blurry or poorly lit photos will cost you sales in any venue.
6. Know your market. Before listing or pricing a coin, research completed sales on eBay (use the “Sold Items” filter), check PCGS CoinFacts for population data and price guides, and consult recent auction results. For the Mayflower Compact Quarter specifically, check how many MS67 examples are currently listed versus how many have sold recently. A flooded market means lower prices; a scarce listing means you can ask more.

The Grading Debate: Why It Matters for Your Bottom Line

I want to return briefly to the forum’s grading discussion because it illustrates a point that every seller should internalize: grading is subjective, and that subjectivity creates both risk and opportunity.

The forum members were split on whether Coin A deserved MS67 or MS66. Some saw the scattered marks on the sail rigging and the fields and thought MS66 at best. Others noted the cleaner fields and frostier devices and agreed with PCGS’s MS67 call. One experienced submitter said he would have graded Coin A as MS65 and Coin B as MS64 — a full two to three points below the PCGS assessment.

What does this mean for you as a seller? It means that the grade on the slab is the grade that matters, not your personal opinion of the coin. If PCGS says MS67, you sell it as MS67. If you disagree with the grade, you can resubmit the coin (at additional cost) in hopes of a higher or lower grade, but once it’s slabbed, the market will price it based on the label, not your opinion.

It also means that coins on the borderline between two grades — like these Mayflower Compact Quarters sitting right at the MS66/MS67 boundary — can be excellent buying opportunities. If you can acquire an MS66 example at a price close to face value and resubmit it to PCGS with a realistic chance of earning an MS67, the profit potential is real. As one forum poster noted, “At 66 these sell for more than grading costs on eBay and at 67 decent profits can be made.” That’s the kind of arbitrage that savvy dealers exploit regularly.

Conclusion: The Mayflower Compact Quarter as a Case Study in Smart Selling

The 2006-P Mayflower Compact Quarter may seem like an unlikely subject for a thorough exploration of selling strategies, but that’s precisely what makes it such a useful case study. It’s a modern, widely available coin that nonetheless has a meaningful market in high grades. It’s the kind of coin that passes through both eBay listings and coin show tables every single day, and the difference in net profit between the two venues can be substantial.

As an online dealer, I lean toward eBay for its reach, its convenience, and the ability to build a reputation that compounds over time. But I also attend coin shows regularly because there is no substitute for face-to-face interaction with fellow numismatics enthusiasts. The handshake deal, the spontaneous conversation about a coin’s history, the thrill of finding a fellow collector who shares your passion for a particular series — these are things that no online platform can replicate.

The Mayflower Compact itself — the 1620 agreement that established self-governance among the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower — is a foundational document in American history. The quarter that commemorates it, designed by Thomas D. Rogers Sr. and struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 2006, is a small but tangible piece of that legacy. Whether you sell yours on eBay for $75 or trade it at a coin show for $60 and a handshake, you’re participating in a tradition of commerce and collecting that stretches back centuries.

Choose your venue wisely, know your numbers, and never stop learning. That’s the dealer’s edge — and it applies whether you’re selling one quarter or a thousand.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• The Currency Connection: Paper Money from the Era of Rising Auction Premiums — National Bank Notes, Silver Certificates, and the Hidden Value in Matching Coin and Currency Sets – Coins didn’t circulate in a vacuum. Let’s talk about the fascinating paper money that changed hands right al…
• The Artist’s Vision: The Designer Behind the 2026 Dime — A Numismatic Masterpiece in the Making – To truly appreciate this piece, you have to look past the metal and into the hands that shaped it. In my decades of stud…
• How to Build a Coin YouTube Channel Around Military Tokens: A Content Creator’s Guide to an Underrated Niche – The coin collecting hobby is exploding on social media. Here is how to create engaging content and build an audience aro…