TRIVIA: Name a coin that is Cheaper now than 50 years ago!

braddick

It's fun to look through old Red Books and check out the prices on all the early Bust coins and Large Cents.
Surprisingly though, there are some coins that cost more back in 1951 than they do now! Can you name one of them (or more)?

itsnotjustme

1964!

truthteller

Rolls of 1950D bu nickels, they peaked at $2800 a roll in 1963. I think they are cheaper now

TRUTH

lathmach

Easy.
The 1950-D nickle.

Ray

kranky

What? The 1950-D nickel was more expensive in 1951 than it is today?

DaveG

What about the 1903-O Morgan?

I seem to recall that Bowers said (in his magnificent Encyclopedia) that the '03-O was regarded as a rare date before the Treasury releases in the '60s.

cladking

The 04-O lost much more on a percentage basis.

dan1ecu

My guess would be the 1908 No Motto Saint. The prices decreased significantly when they found a hoard, I think. Or how about the $20 Liberties that were found at the bottom of the ocean (can’t remember the name of the ship). There are a lot more of them around today.

Dan

agentjim007

I go with the 1903-O Morgan

Gilbert

#3 for the '03-O Morgan dollar.

1948 Catalog $115
1952 Redbook ????
1962 Redbook $1500
2002 Redbook $250 (greysheet $260 )

So I guess it is more than likely the 1950-D Jefferson

keets

many of the morgan dates were thought to be rare. only to be released en masse by our beloved uncle. nothing like a manmade rarity, is there?

al h.

oreville

Some thoughts:

1904-O $1 in Unc.
1903-O $1 is about the same as 50 years ago in Unc.
1926-S $20 in VF
some other $20 Saints in circ condition
1950-D 5c was a lot cheaper in 1952 than now

tjkillian

I will go with the 1903-O Morgan as well.

Tom

oreville

50 years comparison would be using the 2003 Red Book (printed in 2002) and comparing them to the 1953-1954 RedBook which was printed in 1952.

Gilbert

Oreville - I'm going to have to dispute you on the '03-O. You could not acquire one for face value unless your mint buddy arranged it in 1903. I didn't make up those prices, and although I don't have the price for 1952 (50yrs exactly) they weren't any more available than they were in 1948, when it would have cost you $115.

Blackhawk

How about the 1881-CC Morgan?

oreville

Gilbert: 1903-O was $250 in 1953 RedBook (printed in 1952) for Unc. and $250 in MS-63 in 2002 RedBook.

oreville

Just for accuracy 's sake the 1903-O was $225 in MS-60 in 2002 Red Book. .

ldhair

Star Rare Coins paid $2 to $25 for the 1903-O in 1952.

itsnotjustme

Are any ancient coins cheaper? I understand with the opening of eastern europe, many large hoards have been found--like where armies buried their payrole, and after they lost the battle it was not found until recently.

gsaguy

Easy one!

1903-O Morgan
1904-O Morgan
1898-O Morgan

All three were considered rare before the Treasury releases of the early 60's sent thousands of them onto the market.

GSAGUY

oreville

1898-O $1 was $12.50 in uncirculated per 1953-54 Redbook and $20 in MS-60 and $$30 in MS-63 per 2002 Redbook.

1881-CC $1 was $65 in uncirculated per 1953-54 Redbook and $220 in MS-60 and $$250 in MS-63 per 2002 Redbook.

Wow, Star Rare Coins paying $2 to $25 for a 1903-O in 1952 when the Redbook printed in 1952 reported $50 in Fine condition to $250 in Uncirculated!!!!!!

Byers

Good thinking, Brian. SOME Ancients are far cheaper today. Many new hoards are being unearthed in Europe and the Middle East. Recently a hoard of 10,000 gold staters brought the price down from $3500. to under $1000. per coin. This hoard was of one ruler. It was discovered in the last few years. Interesting enough, many saw this as a buying opportunity. The hoard was cut up, divided and absorbed by many dealers. Even some U.S. dealers stepped up to the plate and put a position of this hoard away.


Mike Byers
byersnc.com

gemseeker

Hopefully that will not happen to my Morgan collection in the future.

oreville

Byers: Which ruler? Hope it is not one of mine?

Gilbert

Oreville:

My apologies - for some reason I took your 03-O post to read that one could acquire the coin for $1 (notice the face value comment) AND I was referring to the 56th Ed of the Redbook issued in 2002. Really don't know why they don't just use the year in which the book issued. The prices are hardly accurate when issued, let alone, for the following year. (Meaning, current edition is dated 2003, but more than likely contains mean retail prices for 2001.)

Trime

Braddick,
You reminded me that I have a roll of 1950-D Nickles. At one time it was one of my most valuable possessions

Cocoinut

While I don't have any reference books from 1952, I have a 1958 Red Book. Here's a page showing Morgan dollar prices from 1957, when the book was compiled. Before the Treasury hoards were released in the early 1960's, the 1898-O, 1903-O, and 1904-O were key dates. BTW, the 1879-CC was listed at just $6.00; the 1880-CC was $7.50. You could have put together a nice partial set of proofs for $25-$35 per coin.

Blackhawk, the 1881-CC was also $6.00 in 1957.

Jim

oreville

Gilbert: I see exactly what you mean. Yes, looking at my posting a second time it DID look odd.

No, I didn't get any 1903-O silver dollars at face value in 1963. I tried, I tried. No luck! I DID get a few CC dollars though at the NY Federal Reserve!