Is there any data (i.e. survey results) which disclose which US coin series is collected most, least
SanctionII
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It would be interesting to know the demographics (# of collectors, years in the hobby, age, etc.) of the collectors who collect the various series of US coins. I assume that hobby leaders have obtains this type of information and may have even published summaries of same on occasion.
For example: copper vs. silver, vs. gold collectors; type set v. date & mm collectors, circulated grade v. MS grade collectors; proof vs. circulation strike collectors, commemorative v. regular issue collectors, classic v. modern collectors, etc.
I wonder if a snap shot of the collectors in the hobby say 30 years ago would be much different from a snap shot of the collectors in the hobby today.
For example: copper vs. silver, vs. gold collectors; type set v. date & mm collectors, circulated grade v. MS grade collectors; proof vs. circulation strike collectors, commemorative v. regular issue collectors, classic v. modern collectors, etc.
I wonder if a snap shot of the collectors in the hobby say 30 years ago would be much different from a snap shot of the collectors in the hobby today.
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although not necessarily in a line-item-by-decade comparison. His Expert's
Guide to Collecting and Investing in Rare Coins includes a lot of such
commentary, discussing prevailing collecting habits and tastes in various
time periods.
How would you describe me? I have a few darkside coins, lots of esoteric "modern" stuff like Kennedys and Ikes, some modern bullion - both silver and gold, some 90% silver, a top-20 Registry Date & MM Peace Dollar set, a top-5 business-strike US 20th Century Registry type set, a circulated date & MM Walker set, a handfull of classic commems, and I'm working on a basic US design set. I've also got my sights set on one or two ancients that I'd like to own someday.
Confused? Schizophrenic? Unfocused?
most widely collected coins and I'd wager the parks are close behind. Lincoln cents
are probably third.
As a rule most collectors are baby boomers but this doesn't apply nearly so much to
the states quarter collectors based on anecdotal evidence. I believe within a short
time we'll see the eagle reverse clad quarters edging out Lincoln cents for third place.
There are enormous numbers of folders and albums being sold for these.
Coin World did the only study of which I'm aware back in the early to mid-'80's but it
was a somewhat informal study. Their primary interest was in guaging the size of the
collector base by means of analysis of memberships in organizations and in estimating
their potential audience.
Just like in trying to figure out what circulated where at any given time I believe it has
to be deduced because no records and no studies exist.
It's kindda funny how that is.
Even studies of the coins currently circulating are most rarely undertaken by the mints.
Ostensibly mint marks are used for quality control but they never look at the coins again.
The Chicago FED did study circulating coinage back in 1999 but a one year snapshot like
this can have a great deal of sample error in it. Coins in circulation are like a living animal
and are a moving target affected by macroeconomic forces and the activity of the federal
reserve branches and counting houses. It's impossible to get a good sample at any given
place and time and the numismatic hobby shares many similarities.
<< <i>Look at the number of Set Registry sets here and across the street to get a snapshot >>
This although I would add that different series have different levels of pertisapation with not only the registry system but the grading plastic game as well. Some high dollar series like early copper don't care tooooo much for plastic and some low dollar series like circulated peace dollars and franklins are much more collected then the graded numbers would suggest.
You do realize your title asks one question and the comments asks another don't you. I answered to the title, and don't think anyone has a answer to the second.
The dimes quarters and halves are all near the top. But dollars are way ahead
At the bottom are twenty centers and Medals.
Age of collectors and what they collect must be determined by their ability, during their work life, to use disposable income
in their pursuit of the hobby. I began like most, with circ coins in blue folders. Today, many new young collectors will go to the mint
( like both my sons). As each gets older, and the thrill is still there, they will move on to more difficult areas, where extensive knowledge
is required.
As for what it looked like 30 years ago, the world has changed so much, in this hobby and elsewhere, that I would turn to Roadrunner, Hall and others who were there.
I was without a clue in the 80's and didn't begin again til 1993. No internet, auction catalogs-- just a dealer who advised me each Monday morning after he returned
from the latest show. Numerical grades, TPG's, pop reports all had to be consulted, along with the valued opinion of the experienced dealer.
Today, with all the information that is now at one's fingertips, passionate collectors can almost do all the work that once was only available to a long time dealer.
Caveat: I really meant "almost" as the passion is never as informed as the 30+ years of experience.
Even looking at heritage, I doubt their client base touches but a tiny percentage of collectors.
From my anecdotal expereince, common collectors love their big old silver morgan dollars more than anything.
State quarters are #1 in terms of number of collectors, but 99.9% of them are collecting at face value. For U.S. numismatic coins, Lincoln cents are #1 in terms of number of collectors. In terms of dollar value of slabbed coins Morgans dollars and $20 Saints are about equal, with each at 35% to 40% of total market cap of all slabbed coins. A common $20 Saint is worth 50x to 70x the value of a common Morgan, so there are far fewer collectors of Saints. Also some of the $20 collectors are more interested in the gold bullion value than any numismatic premium. At the top end, there are plenty of six figure and up, coins in both series.
U.S. type collecting is also popular but their money gets scattered over many series. The bottom are the obvious, the two cent, the three cent, and some other coins have tiny collector bases, and a microscopic percentage both in terms of number of collectors and market cap dollar value of slabbed coins.
As far as demographics, my guess is that it hasn't changed that much. A numismatic coin collector (vs. someone that gets a state quarter and throws it into a coffee can) tends to be 50 to 65 years of age, white, male, upper 20% of income and net worth. The absolute number of numismatic collectors are likely down, the average age up a bit vs. say 20 years ago. The total market cap is likely up a bit more than inflation, because there are a few more whales now vs. the past, and the upper end of the market skews the total coin market.
Probably only 99.99999% of the total collectors out there participate in either of the above.