Community Voice Responses (Aug. 1, 2017)

From the July 7 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Are coin auction pedigrees important to you?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

Dumb question: What is a coin pedigree?

Name withheld

Editor’s note: Records are kept of who owned important coins, when and how they sold and at what price.

I’m not sure if I totally grasp the question. If you’re talking about “the pedigree” being that a coin was sold at a particular auction by one of the large and prestigious auction houses, the answer would be no. Conversely, if you’re talking about a particular coin being offered at an auction that has been attributed to a particular individual or collection; then my answer is maybe. However, there have been major collections put together by well-known individuals where not all the coins were “notable” and where far better examples were on the market without a pedigree. So my suggestion is that one should buy the coin, not the pedigree. Hmm, this sounds familiar ...

While it might be neat to own something with a pedigree for pure bragging rights, I am not so inclined.

Name withheld

No. But sometimes I wonder if these coins are purchased by collectors or by investors.

Mort Fine
New Jersey

No. If I was a big-time collector trying to build a high-end set they would be, but I am not so that is not a really important factor to me.

Larry Hamm
Tucson, Ariz.

It depends on your point of view (obviously). With the reputable companies like Heritage, Kagin’s, Stack’s Bowers Galleries and other well-knowns, you generally know what you’re getting and that they have their names to uphold. Me, personally? Yes.

Ken Kassen
Shawnee, Kan.

My reply is, “No.” Sorry, no Mr. Trump here, I am just a middle to upper-middle class 73-year-old who loves to collect what he likes and can afford in the areas of coin and paper money. I have several nice sets that have been put together over many years, but no auction pedigrees.

Johnny Trigg, Ret Major USAF
Mary Esther, Fla.