Who holds the rare coins?

Merc

Who owns the majority of the rare, low mintage, key date coins? I am thinking of coins like the 1901-S barber quarter and the 1916 Standing liberty quarter. If you add up the number own by all the collectors, investors, and dealers, which group would hold the most? Are the majority of these coins in collectors' hands and only rarely come up for sale?

saintguru

Well one fine 1901-S quarter has been held by David Akers for 30 years or so and is now for sale in ANR's ANA auction!

That's half of your question answered. I also know where many of the rarest 20th century gold coins are, including the Judd 1776, but I would have to kill all the board members who read this if I told.

partagas

The coins you listed aren't rare, they are heavily collected coins. There are numerous examples of both the 01-s and 16 SLQ available for sale at any given moment.

Rare is Tradedollarnuts 1870-s dollar. One of maybe 10 examples. Or the 1873-cc no arrows quarter. Those are rare.

To answer your quesion. I would guess dealars hold most of the coins your are asking about. Keeping just enough of a supply to keep the price high.

Merc

Ok, I realize the 1901-S quarter can be found at most large shows or auctions. I was thinking about who owns the coin and for how long.

I would think the super rare coins (surviving pop of 10 or less) would be owned by collectors and museums.

Coxe

I think you are asking if there are current Eliasbergs out here with stable collection with true rarities squirreled away and as a group concentrated among very few individuals.

pharmer

<< <i>The coins you listed aren't rare, they are heavily collected coins. There are numerous examples of both the 01-s and 16 SLQ available for sale at any given moment.

Rare is Tradedollarnuts 1870-s dollar. One of maybe 10 examples. Or the 1873-cc no arrows quarter. Those are rare.

To answer your quesion. I would guess dealars hold most of the coins your are asking about. Keeping just enough of a supply to keep the price high. >>




This seems counter-intuitive. Dealers exist by buying and selling, turning inventory. Why would they hold? And the goal of keeping prices high cannot occur is they don't sell. A high price only occurs if a sale occurs.

cladking

It depends on the specific coin. The most popular key date coins are probably
in collections but even here you'll find some large accumulations among horders
of the more readily available ones. More esoteric coins are often in small hordes.

Conder101

I would say that most of the keys are in collectors hands not dealers. The dealers are always looking to buy the keys. Why?, because they can't keep them in stock, the collectors buy them. Plus there are a LOT more collectors than dealers.

Now the major rarieties, that might be a different matter.

Longacre

<< <i>Well one fine 1901-S quarter has been held by David Akers for 30 years or so and is now for sale in ANR's ANA auction!

That's half of your question answered. I also know where many of the rarest 20th century gold coins are, including the Judd 1776, but I would have to kill all the board members who read this if I told. >>




Would this be the infamous East Coast collector that we always hear about (some entertainment mogul)?

Coxe

<< <i>I would say that most of the keys are in collectors hands not dealers. The dealers are always looking to buy the keys. Why?, because they can't keep them in stock, the collectors buy them. Plus there are a LOT more collectors than dealers.

Now the major rarieties, that might be a different matter. >>



There is a little game of hot potato with the major keys that goes on among some dealers so they can say they owned or handled such-and-such coins. In the end though, they cannot tie up capital and htese end up in stable collections.