In todays market environment, is it possible to be true MarketMaker???

keets

I guess what I'm wondering and what I'd like to see discussed is if anyone thinks it's possible to promote an area of Numismatics to the point of starting an interest that isn't strong or doesn't even exist?? I know he's been the subject of discussion in a rather negative manner, but the gent that comes to mind most readily is Rick Tomaska. He seemed to find a niche back in the 80's and through the nineties that was "Virgin Territory" until he promoted it, wrote a book about it and began marketing it. Another would be Supercoin who to a large degreepopularized Ike Dollars in the past 2-3 years and did a full court press to have the three Type 1972's recognized. Yet another would be Rick Snow who may not have popularized IHC's, but his Snow Seal on slabbed coins was innovative and forward thinking.

I guess you see what I mean, at least I hope you do. As I see it, a knowledgeable Collector/Researcher/Marketer could turn his area of speciality into a nice little fortune rather easily. He would have started some time ago most probably not with any of this in mind, just collecting his series, hoarding the gems and rarities, attributing and cataloging to get some sense of rarity and then...........the lightbulb goes on!!!! The site gets set up, the book gets written, the accolades start pouring in.

The trick is just knowing the what and the when of it all. So am I day dreaming too much, or can this all happen in another area in our White Hot Market??!!??

Al H.

itsnotjustme

clackmass... certainly the specialist on moderns. I don't know if he has translated that to a market, but the market has materialized.

kieferscoins

Conder101 with collectible old slabs.

Cameron Kiefer

Nysoto

Cardinal's accomplishments have had a very positive effect on the early dollar series, his upcoming book will continue to enhance interest, demand, and prices for ED's.

Any well written numismatic book will create a dedicated following within a series.

kranky

I think that could be done but it takes a lot of work and time. There are so many areas just within US coinage that haven't gotten a lot of attention.

The first thought that comes to mind is getting a new attribution recognized on slab labels like what happened most recently with Full Torch Roosevelt dimes. Stock up on the coins while no one cares, start the campaign, maybe write a book, and then become the market maker. This could be done in a number of areas. The key would be to find an characteristic that's challenging to locate, yet not too rare. There would need to be enough examples out there to attract people who could find them to collect if they wished.

Another possibility is to plug a hole where the literature is weak or non-existent. Like Nysoto said, a well-written book will generate interest. It would need to contain information on minting characteristics and die varieties. There are people out there who have the knowledge but either can't or won't put the time in to create a book. They could get hooked up with someone with the requisite skills to transform that information into a book.

Longacre

I agree that not every area of the market is hot right now (or more correctly stated, as hot as other areas). I definitely agree that a book on a particular subject can create interest in a series.

seanq

Talk to me in about two years and I hope to God I'll have a really good answer for you.

Seriously, my ultimate goal is to publish all I know about my specialty. In an ideal world it would generate heightened interest in the coins, driving up values, and maybe bringing more coins out into the marketpalce. In reality, I'd be ecstatic if just the first thing happened.

I think there's a huge difference between writing a book to create a market to capitalize on, and writing a book to share knowledge and generate interest without regard to profit. I wouldn't shoo profits away if they came, but it can't be the primary objective.


Sean Reynolds

cladking

In the traditional sense of "making a market", no- it's no longer possible in US coins. Twenty or thirty
years ago there were areas that had tiny surviving mintages and one could buy up the coins and man-
ipulate the market if he had the money and time. Today the prices of the coins with tiny surviving num-
bers are too high and many are entrenched in collections. Condition rarities are too widely dispersed.

It might be possible with some low mintage moderns like a '90 No-S cent but one would drive the price
very high before getting even half the surviving coins.

It no doubt could be done in some world coins, tokens or medals but these areas tend to be very price
resistant. If the prices go up past a certain point then demand falls precipitously and price stalls.


edited to add: Of course it's still possible to buy and sell coins at a price which will move a market. If
you offer to buy coins at over current market the price will increase but you have to be able to move the
coins you buy or you'll soon run out of capital. Such a strategy might work in thinly traded markets.

nwcs

CladKing with moderns

coinkat

Market makers are at work now and it literally is happening as we speak... certain dates within series are bought and promoted and that activity creates a market even if it is self generated or creates the illusion of demand and scarcity. All of this just comes with the territory of collecting

DHeath

PCGS certainly made one for certified moderns. Condition rarity transposed to modern coinage and made competitive. NGC's initial refusal to holder the coins certainly suggests PCGS is the sole parent.

MrEureka

There are many, many such opportunities in US coins. If you have any doubt, ask yourself if you would have thought VAM's had a chance ten years ago. I certainly would not have thought so. But the VAM 100 changed that overnight.

For all it's worth, if I were going to try to promote a market, I'd try gem circs. Just to prove it can be done.