I completely agree with Nick. 1. If you want it to be OMP, then buy OMP. 2. If you want it graded, then buy the already graded coin. 3. If you want to have fun hunting for winners, then get to know your source very well. If you know more than your dealer do, good. Whatever you do, you must have a clear decision before you buy the coin. After all, if you hunt enough, bargain are everywhere to be picked up. Everybody wants a nice looking coin. That is so true.
Here's one on Ebay 6 hours to go http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-pcs-coin...812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c62aad0fc sheet of 10 OMP 1989 Ag Current bidding @ $610us Not much info on the seller, though. Shipping from CA.
I'm interested, but I'm afraid I'll end up bidding against the good Panda people here I'm blessed with a lot of Pandas already, so I'll let someone else take this... but if no one here is keen, I'll bid for these.
This goes back a bit to the post I wrote about sourcing your bears and that buying OMP and sending for grading is all a gamble. I see the OMP stock decreasing in quality as people pick up the good bears and grade them, then return the rest to circulation. Your chances of picking up an OMP that grades as a 69 or 68 keep reducing, so people pick up a graded "sure thing" 68 instead. The 1989s were going at around $120 only 6 months ago, so hopefully they get back up there, I have a soft spot for it. It should theoretically hold a premium not tied to the mintage numbers, as it is the first silver coin in the series you would expect collectors to target it.
I've heard that the older generation of Chinese prefer OMP whereas the younger generation like both graded and OMP. Entirely rumours but I see that some coin stores in China have started to sell slabbed pandas (at uncompetitive prices) so there might be some truth to it all.
First coin sell for the seller. Only for usa. Best to see the coins before pay. The seller is from california. Someone will have a very good bargain or a problem.
BARGAIN! I think I might want to spend a bit more time in the USA... but I'm really loathing the TSA experience... Yes, they do really grope down there.
89 has always been my least favorite design of any panda... the grid background pattern just doesn't work for me. From my experience it is a year that everybody has strong opinions about one way or another... love or hate.
HAhaha.. yeah the 89 bear is either loved or loathed... totally agree with you that people often either love it or hate it. I like it ... classical Panda design, with grid lines [imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/675_img_3129.jpeg][/imgz][imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/675_img_3130.jpeg][/imgz][imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/675_img_3131.jpeg][/imgz][imgz=http://forums.silverstackers.com/uploads/675_img_3132.jpeg][/imgz]