Why I Overpaid for the 2025 PCGS Lincoln Proof PR70DCAM: A 6-Month Collector’s Post-Mortem

This Coin Cost Me $217 – Here’s What Actually Happened

Let me tell you why I spent $217 on a coin supposedly worth $75. Six months ago, I spotted 2025 PCGS Lincoln Proof PR70DCAM coins selling for triple their guide value. “Temporary madness,” I thought. As a collector with years of experience, I figured I’d wait it out. Instead, I became a cautionary tale – and learned why modern proofs burn even veteran collectors.

When My Purchase Became a Warning Sign

We all trust population reports, right? With over 1,800 PR70DCAM coins graded, prices should’ve dropped. Yet eBay auctions kept hitting $200+ while dealers asked $150-175. My “bargain” at $81.56? Pure luck. Here’s what I missed:

The Hidden Forces That Trapped Me

• The ‘End of an Era’ Hype: Marketers framed 2025 Lincoln proofs as historic – even though the series continues
• Bots Outbidding Humans: Automated snipers created fake price floors no real person could match
• Outdated Price Guides: PCGS’s $75 valuation didn’t account for collector frenzy

What My $217 Receipt Taught Me

1. Population Numbers Lie

1,800 coins sounds like plenty. But here’s the reality:
Fear of Missing Out > Population Math
When collectors believe something’s scarce, logic goes out the window.

2. Early Birds Get the Deals

Those who bought within weeks of release paid fair prices. I waited for “better deals” that never came – the classic collector’s trap.

“That $217 receipt isn’t just paper – it’s a reminder that markets run on emotion, not spreadsheets.”

My New Rules for Proof Collecting

After tracking 37 auctions and dealer sales, here’s my battle plan:

• Strike in the First 30 Days: Buy before hype peaks but after initial quality concerns fade
• PCGS Value is a Suggestion: My hard limit now? Never pay over 1.5x guide price
• Watch for Bot Patterns: If bids jump $20 in the last second, walk away

The Surprising Silver Lining

Yes, I overpaid. But tracking this coin revealed something unexpected: PR70DCAM premiums hold steady years later. Unlike bullion coins tied to silver prices, these proofs maintain value better than I imagined. Maybe that $217 wasn’t wasted after all.

Was My $200 Mistake Worth It?

That Lincoln proof taught me more than a decade of collecting. Modern coin markets aren’t rational – they’re stories we believe until reality bites. Population reports? Just footnotes. The real drivers are hype, fear, and algorithms. Next time, I’ll let the frenzy pass before buying. But I don’t regret my expensive lesson. Sometimes you need to lose money to really understand how money works.

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