The US collector base

ARCO

Anyone want to take a stab at the number of collectors in the US? Do not include the zillions of 8 yr olds who collect state quarters or grab shiny pennies from circulation.

1) number of serious collectors with over $5000.00 in collectable coins, are part of clubs, join forums like this, attend coin shows, read periodicals etc..etc..

2) number of part time collectors who pick up a coin now and then from the local dealer, aren't forming sets seriously, and attend coin shows as an off and on occurance.

3) number of people who collect rolls, bullion, and have junk silver laying about, but don't really know key dates, values, or much of the terms in numismatics (excluding state quarter collectors)

I would stab a guess at 25,000 100,000, 750,000 respectively. I have absolutely no idea.

Tyler

DaveG

Coin World says their total distribution is about 80,000.

I would say there about 100,000 active, knowledgable coin collectors in the US.

As far as Category #3 goes, it seems as if everyone I talk to has a "bunch" of wheat pennies at home that they're saving in the hopes that they'll be "valuable" someday.

mbbiker

I don't know the answer but i'm a #1 except for the "with over $5000.00 in collectable coins" part

oldcameoproofsguy

ARCO,

I think that your SWAG sounds good.

The real question is how many Barber collectors are there? That number has to be pretty darn small. We are a rare breed.

DaveG

It seems to me that if you start with 100,000 active collectors and then take away the folks who only collect moderns, type sets, Morgans, Walkers, Mercuries, Buffalo nickels and Lincoln and Indian cents, that you'd only be left with about 10,000 folks who chase after all the other US coins!

ARCO

there are about 300 members of the Barber Coin Collectors Society. There are three series so perhaps 100 or so committed to each series give or take a few slanted to the superior Half denomination. I have met quite a few hardcore barber collectors who weren't part of the society, and over the years another 500 plus have probabluy joined and dropped away.

For barber halves I estimate
less than 20 serious Mint state collectors lookin to complete the whole series. Maybe 8-10 power collectors picking up MS64 or better pieces.
High Mid grade= VF-AU 50-100 serious and semi-serious collectors
VG and Fine = 100-300 serious collectors.
AG/Good = up to 500 collectors

Just my best guess
Tyler

Dave99B

Tyler, you made a typo. You meant to say "a few slanted to the superior QUARTER denomination".

Dave

Draco

I would fit in the #2 catagory, but I do have about 7K to 10K in various coins (almost no gold because they are just too darned expensive). I do not collect key dates because it just takes money away from other coins I could buy. What do I buy. . .10 good quality seated quarters or 1 key date seated quarter? What do I buy. . .a $1400 double-eagle or three or four really nice early bust dimes/halfs/etc.? Since I don't have an unlimited budget, I'll pass on the key date coins and most gold coins. As far as sets go, I have started a walker late date registry set, but it's slow going because there are too many other coins I'd like to have right now.

cladking

100,000- - this number is similar to what it's been for years.

7,500,000- - this has increased substantially in the last few years.

25,000,000- - everyone has coins lying around which just might be valuable.

Let's not exclude the 50,000,000 or so who "seriously" collect states issues. It
would pay dividends to all collectors in the future if we could find more ways to
include these people.

Twowood

I come in between 1 and 2. I've got a couple of registry sets going (Peace Dollars and Buffalo Nickels on NGC) but I rarely spend more than $75. for a coin.
It seems to me that everyone I speak to has collected coins at one time or another in their life and most have coffee cans full of Indian Heads and Canadiens.
Throughout the US, I'd guess that there are over a million collectors...groups 1 - 3.
Twowood

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