1970s-80s Gem MS Coins Have Value
Sequitur
Posts: 1,195
Below are some Ebay auctions I had been following a couple months ago. These are Lincoln cents from 1974-76 and 1980 in PCGS MS67. Each cent hammered on average for about $140. Not big money, but the moral of the story is if you have some 1970-80 mint sets lying around it's worth your while to protect the superior gems -- there just aren't that many in slabs (yet).
In any event, I think this is some recent, real-world anecdotal confirmation of what Cladking has mentioned from time to time, namely, there really are conditional clad rarities from the 1970s-80s that are recognized by the market.
Auction 1 = $150
Auction 2 = $137.50
Auction 3 = $123.50
Auction 4 = $167.50
In any event, I think this is some recent, real-world anecdotal confirmation of what Cladking has mentioned from time to time, namely, there really are conditional clad rarities from the 1970s-80s that are recognized by the market.
Auction 1 = $150
Auction 2 = $137.50
Auction 3 = $123.50
Auction 4 = $167.50
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Comments
tiny number of collectors. They really aren't even worth the trouble of looking for since
the effort required is extreme. If you're a collector you're better off buying this coin
than looking for it.
The more interesting coins from an investor standpoint are the choice examples of
the coins that are scarce in choice or gem condition. The demand for choice coins will
be far higher than for gems and they are almost always easier to find. There are al-
ready thousand of collectors for moderns that are just in "nice attractive condition".
Over the years it will be discovered that many of these coins are "condition rarities"
in comparison to the demand. Many of the gems are already sufficiently expensive to
chase many buyers to the lower grades.
Even if you hate moderns, you've got to love the potential of scarce coins with fast
growing demand.
What do you see as the difference between "choice" and "gem" coins? A grade range for each would be useful.
<< <i>The demand for choice coins will be far higher than for gems and they are almost always easier to find.
What do you see as the difference between "choice" and "gem" coins? A grade range for each would be useful. >>
It varies a little by date, but generally Ch is MS-63 or MS-64. Gem is MS-65. Most collectors
seek nice attractive examples and don't care a lot about getting the finest or an extremely
nice example. Watch a newbie go through a roll of something to start a collection. He'll us-
ually take almost anything unless it's extremely worn or has unattractive spotting or damage.
He'll use similar standards for uncirculated coins. He might not recognize a little rub but he
will pass on coins that are poorly struck, banged up, or have spotting. Most MS-60 clads are
very unattractive and collectors seem to avoid them. They look for no question unc coins with
good detail and minimal marking. Most of the moderns are not scarce in MS-63 but there are
several which exist in far smaller quantities than even the current demand. In some cases these
lower grades aren't really much more common than the gems or the superb gems.
Even the cents which are percieved to exist in huge quantities even in gem can be much tougher
in choice condition than is believed. In some cases they are likely scarcer than the number of ex-
isting wheat cent collections. An '84-D cent for instance can take a while to find in nice attractive
MS-63 with nice smooth surfaces. '68 cents without carbon spots are becoming somewhat unusual
and are no longer found in mint sets. Only about 5% of the mint set coins are attractive and they
will invariably have carbon spots.
Cents and dimes are the easiest moderns in high grade.