At the height of the Mongolian Wildlife frenzy, I was one Wolverine short of 2 complete sets (wolverine, owl, hedgehog).
I paid $1300 for a wolverine so I could flip the other 2 coins as a set. While I merely recouped my $1300 on the wolverine, it increased the price of the owl and hedgehog on fleabay.
So I didn't lose on the purchase, but in fact profited indirectly.