Bust coinage

Coin Finder

Most recent grey sheet has a sea of red arrows for Bust dollars and Bust quarters.. 1794- 1807 Anyone know why?

Insider2

I guess the bid price must be going down. Otherwise, "they" are killing the price to buy them cheap and then raise it.

WCC

Coins I like but don't own. How does this compare to recent auction results? I was looking at the Heritage archives at Bust dollars recently but didn't pay attention to whether prices are falling, or not.

ricko

Falling prices?? I must be looking at the wrong things.... Or maybe the things I am looking at, are what everyone else wants as well.....Cheers, RickO

Nysoto

Prices are down for half dollars 1794-1807 in grades up to AU50. I don't know why, whether there are fewer collectors in these early series, or more coins are available for sale, or both. Whatever, I have been buying flowing hair and draped bust halves for the first time in years. Lower prices is good news for me.

CoinPhysicist

@Nysoto The drop in 1794 halves, which is probably larger than many other drops (don't know, haven't looked closely), can be attributed to the dispersing of the Terry Brand hoard which happened over the course of about a year and finished about a year ago if I remember correctly. I think over 200 unique 94's were publicly sold in the timespan of about 1 year.

Nysoto

@CoinPhysicist - yes the Brand hoard sales explain the 1794 drop in prices. When I was trying to buy 1794's in 2000-2012, they were going up rapidly in price and were never in dealer stock, the dealers knew of the hoard and nearly all 1794's went to Brand. Collectors also knew 1794's were being hoarded, word was getting around.

The 1795 to 1807 prices are also down in PR's and dealer stock, but not to the same extent as 1794 halves. The extreme rarities, and PQ high grade coins, are still strong.

WCC

@Nysoto said:
Prices are down for half dollars 1794-1807 in grades up to AU50. I don't know why, whether there are fewer collectors in these early series, or more coins are available for sale, or both. Whatever, I have been buying flowing hair and draped bust halves for the first time in years. Lower prices is good news for me.

Lower prices are good for any collector still in the accumulation phase. However, your post is one of the few I have read (here or elsewhere) with this sentiment. It's the same opinion I hold for the coins I collect since I have no plans to sell any time soon.

hchcoin

I think the grey sheet reflects what many of us have known for quite a few years. I have bought about 25 raw bust coins in the past year in mostly Fine to Very Fine at great prices compared to 5 to 10 years ago. It's a great time to be buying bust coins in my opinion.

astrorat

@hchcoin said:
I think the grey sheet reflects what many of us have known for quite a few years. I have bought about 25 raw bust coins in the past year in mostly Fine to Very Fine at great prices compared to 5 to 10 years ago. It's a great time to be buying bust coins in my opinion.

I've not seen the prices soften on nice, certified (mostly PCGS) Capped Bust halves in grades VF and above. This is especially true if stickered by CAC.