What is the most sought after commemorative?

Ogden

Is mintage the most important issue?

Ogden

StillLurking

Mintage is only part. Grade rarity and eye appeal matter too.

dpoole

Ogden,

Popularity of the design and notariety are important gauges of what is sought after. There are some low-mintages but unattractive commens, that sell for less than the very popular Buffalo commemoratives, for example.

Ogden

I'm not necessarily talking about the grade, but when you look at varieties as in the Lincolns, the 1909 S VDB always stands out as the standard. Is there a Commemorative that's head and shoulder above the others for a "must have"?

Ogden

Clankeye

Mintage does matter. A coin like the 1921 Hawaiian commem with a mintage of only 9,958 is much sought after to complete sets. Hudsons have a low mintage, and don't pop up that much with any eye-appeal. Spanish Trail is another low mintage coin that is sought. These are single issue commems, not ones like the Oregon or Boone that have a series of dates. So their mintage figures hold a little more weight than say a 39-D Oregon. Even though, that date has a lower mintage, there are still many, many more Oregons around to fill out a type set than there are Hawaiians or Hudsons or Spanish Trails.

With commems, even some of them like a Gettysburg, with a mintage of only roughly 27,000 pieces are more available than you might think. There seem to be enough around at any given time to satisfy demand. So, mintage can be real important, even within a series like the Oregon or even the Washington Carvers, but the price of some of them is cheaper than you might expect for a coin with such low, low mintages. It has everything to do with collector demand, and from what I've seen there are not huge amounts of people that collect full commem sets or complete series within the commem set.
There certainly are lots of commemorative collectors, but it doesn't seem enough to deplete the existing supplies of most issues. The following was of course my take on things, and certainly not to be taken as gospel.

Clankeye

a2labmom

I am a new commemorative collector, so I probably can not speak real intelligently about this. So therefore, I will give my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

To me the most sought after commem is any that I don't have (and there are an awful lot of them right now) that is in a grade of MS66 or better, slabbed (preferably PCGS to match my others) and affordable (the key thing for me right now).

Clankeye

a2labMom--
And accordingly, if you want examples of coins like the Hawaiian, Hudson, Spanish Trail, Lafayette, Isabella, etc. in at least PCGS66, you are going to pay for the privilege.

Good luck with your set. Commemoratives are truly a lot of fun, and they keep your interest peaked.

Clankeye

Ogden

I agree guys, I'm getting into the Commemoratives, I love them. Let's forget about the grade and says everything is equal. What is the most sought after Commemorative? What is the 09 S VDB of Commemoratives, or whatever variety you would equate with it? Surely there is a commemorative that is the most sought after, without considering grade. Or maybe the better question is, is there one?

Ogden

Clankeye

Off the top of my head some candidates are Alabama 2X2, Missouri 2x4, Grant w/Star...

Clankeye

Ogden

Thanks Clankeye, I'll keep an eye out for those.

Ogden

Clankeye

One thing Ogden, I guess I didn't ask... are you talking about classic commems, or the modern issues? I have not considered moderns in my reply.

C

meos1

Just for my vote.... The Columbia, SC commem.

Dan...Columbia, SC

Clankeye

meos1--

Homey!

Clankeye

mrcommem

The 1928 Hawaiian Half is the most sought after, even in AU grades. Second is the Lafayette Dollar, the Hudson or Spanish Trail and Missouri Halves. All are difficult to find with nice eye appeal.



Hawaiian Half PCGS MS65--Overland Trail Collection



Hudson Half PCGS MS64-- Overland Trail Collection



Missouri Half PCGS MS64--Overland Trail Collection

wingedliberty

I love both classic and modern commems. At todays Clearwater,FL coin show, both were red hot.
There are many bargains to be had, but the most important thing is for you to enjoy the history
behind them and the particular coin you get.



Brian.

meos1

I just picked up a 1987W Constitution gold for low money. It was fate. I bid low, forgot about it and won the aution. The modern eagle did not hurt either. I all about the design. I have to save up my scoots for a Columbia, SC commem next. Just gotta have one.

Dan... Columbia, SC

Clankeye

Mrcommem--
Can't argue with that at all. Thanks for posting the pics. Yes, I think the Hawaiian does hold the most allure in the series.

Clankeye

ClausUrch

Here are two of my favorites...

both alluring in their own way...

DennisH

Hello everyone!

Instead of "sought after", can I answer from the perspective of "lusted for"?

Hands-down would be the 1915-S Pan Pac $50 octagon. If I ever win the Lotto...

Next would be the 1848 CAL $2.5 Liberty. (OK, OK... it's technically not a commem, but it's close enough for me!

Happy New Year everyone!!

-- Dennis

LucyBop

I am on the lookout for a Hawian and a well struck Lincoln....

coinrookie

Maybe not the most sought after, but IMHO the Oregon is one of the most popular design wise.

michael

for me the most sought after commems are the sesqui in 65!!
but surpressed due to the fact that they are rare in 65 and almost non existant in 66 and above

also a cinci set in 65 but fully original the three p d s coins!

the rarest set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to get fully original!!!!!
but surpressed demand due to rarity

one of the most beautiful commems oregon in 68 with color!!!
wow!!!!!!!!!! now that is the most sought after!!

also any gem65 pilgirm with monster color !!!!!! rare and also surpressed demand due to its rarity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

arks any with great lustre and color huge demand!

but also a surpressed rarity as you rarely find any arks with not only great color but lustre underneath!!

also boones with color and lustre as described with the arks!!!
super rare and if you ever EVER!!! find a superb gem boone with monster color and also lustre buy it!!!!!!!!! you might never see such an animal again!

sincerely michael

file is ngc 67 monster rainbow color and lustre boone!the image barely does justice to the coin but it is all we got!!

GDJMSP

The round version of the Pan-Pac is actually harder to find than the octogon - more valuable too.

barberlover

last year at a local minneapolis show, i saw a p.c.g.s. 64 laffayette dollar. the dealer offered the coin to me at around 2750. it had a razor sharp strike, border line 65 quality suraces, and full unbroken semiprooflike luster. I thought long and hard about buying it, but i asked the dealer if the very light pretty brown color was origonal because the color was very even and had no varience in tone on either obverse or reverse, the dealer admitted to me at that point that it had probabley been expertly dipped and started lightley retoning. He also told me if i ever found a similar quality piece with origonal color i should forget about paying sheet prices to get it.

mrcommem

Since I can't afford a 1915-s Panama Pacific $50 my next choice would be a 1915-S Pan Pac quarter eagle, followed by 1926 Sequi quarter eagle. Also like the Columbus half eagle.



1915-S Panama Pacific Quarter Eagle PCGS MS64--Overland Trail Collection



1926 Sesquicentennial Quarter Eagle PCGS MS63--Overland Trail Collection



1992-W Columbus Half Eagle PCGS MS68--Overland Trail Collection