commems have been cool for a long time..........

BigRed

would it be a good time to put away a few before its thier turn to get hot? Its almost a fact that coins run in cycles and they haven't had thier turn in a long time.

RYK

My take (assuming you are talking about US classic commems):

While extraordinary coins will command higher and higher premiums (until the next coin bust), the typical and even very nice commems will never be big price gainers. That should not stop anyone from collecting them, if they enjoy doing so.

DRUNNER

From an investment standpoint . . .yes.

I think it has been a good time to buy . . .I have virtually completed my set and am very happy to sit on it . . . perhaps they will have their day, perhaps not. I really can't believe that this generation of Statehood Quarter collectors will ALL degenerate into non-collectors. If just a few decide to pursue numismatics . . . Commems are a superb place to end. Just a few hundred Commem collectors will have an effect on the market . . . or another book . . . etc.

It is ALL supply and demand. Right now the demand is low, so a coin with an outrageously low mintage (insert 75% of the Commems here) can be purchased for a song. Add the history . . . the art . . . the intrigue . . . I don't think that will continue forever.

Drunner

ttown

Well they are nice to collect but not doing a thing in a huge bull run on coins should tell you something......

mirabela

Relative to the mintages, the populations in high grades are pretty huge for most issues, notable exceptions notwithstanding.

Whereas something like New Orleans seated quarters would only take maybe five or ten serious new collectors on the national scene to really show an impact on prices, classic commems might take hundreds. "Only" a few hundred new serious collectors trying to chase a high grade set might be a lot to hope for any time soon. It's sort of a thin specialty, and my guess is it will remain one.

I will probably always look for nice examples of the eighteen or twenty of them that I like the best, but I can think of places I would rather put money that I need to see grow.

DRUNNER

I agree with the investment possibilities . . . questionable at best.

Still . . . I think it depends on why you are collecting. A closed series like Commems, with all the attendant history, beauty, and art is almost tailor made for a collector of 'medium' means who wants to put something together that is really 'unique' on the block. I do several sets . . . Morgans, traditional Type, and Commems. My Morgans are upgraded and cherried and sold to finance a higher-value collection. My Commems are bought and stay. With just a couple more coins I'll finish both sets . . . but I have no 'attachment' to many Morgans, but every Commem tells a story (at least to me) regarding how I got it, the history of the issue, and any relevance it may have to myself or the world around me. My Morgans just aren't the same collection, although I've worked hard for eye-appeal there too.

So . . investment? Get used to a series . . read everything about it . . .view thousands of that series at shows . . . more thousands on the 'net . . . and test the market with a little selling here and there . . . and use that series to make money. For 'collecting'? Go with your Commems and hope for the best on making money . . . but enjoy the unique ride along the way . . .

Drunner

CommemDude

Some really good advice here. These coins are still affordable, some downright cheap for the pops, but not a good investment strategy until the demand increases significantly...there are just too many coins around everywhere. Commems used to reflect closely the market's moves, but they have not participated this time around.

Four complete gem sets and hundreds of duplicates later, I still haven't surpassed the fun and excitement I got from chasing my first 50- piece set of MS 64 coins a decade ago, for about the same money as it would cost today.

ricko

Reading this commentary.. I would say we are again confusing investing with collecting. They are two entirely different pursuits. Cheers, RickO

dizzyfoxx

I was 'hot and heavy' into them, but my views on them have changed. My collecting interests have changed to more historically substantial issues. Commems are historically important in their own right, but the big dollars for the toners just does not make sense to me. I feel they're over-priced and over-hyped. JMHO.

PinnacleRarities

I collect commems personally, and have realized very little return on them as investments, but enjoy them more than my type set which has showed some substatial gains in areas.

Regardless, classic commemoratives are a fun sector of numismatics and most examples are readily available in affordable grades. If the modern commemorative crowd goes classic, the market could move. But, as they were minted as collectibles (unlike MS type) many exist in unc condition and won't ever be "rare".

However, for whatever its worth, the Market high on the 50 piece set is $170K and around $50K now. The market low is $22K. So if you believe in graphs, there is room for some profit there.

Buy what you like, and like what you buy. Somethings bound to go up!

combatmailman

I collect modern commemoratives, but once I have a complete set I will probably switch and collect classic commemoratives.

USAROK

<< <i>Commems are historically important in their own right, but the big dollars for the toners just does not make sense to me. I feel they're over-priced and over-hyped. JMHO. >>



Of course the Battle Creek Dollars aren't - at least until your opinion of them eventually changes.

ColonialCoinUnion

<< <i>Reading this commentary.. I would say we are again confusing investing with collecting. They are two entirely different pursuits. Cheers, RickO >>



The OP seemed to be asking about commems as an investment, and the answers seemed to be logical responses to the question asked. Where's the confusion?

BRdude

Well, I don't know whether to agree or disagree with most.. I love the classic commems, and agree that their prices haven't changed much over the years I have been around, which isn't many, I still have to think that these are the rarities of the future. How far in the future I don't know, but with the lower mintages and number of collectors entering all fields of collecting, hopefully, someday, they will appreciate into something more than the beautiful, interesting pieces of history that they are. Wishful thinking maybe?? JMHO

Nic

I've loved and collected commems for 35 years. Not an investment IMHO. Talk about a two tiered market .

I'm still a buyer of killer coins .....

K

dizzyfoxx

<< <i>

<< <i>Commems are historically important in their own right, but the big dollars for the toners just does not make sense to me. I feel they're over-priced and over-hyped. JMHO. >>



Of course the Battle Creek Dollars aren't - at least until your opinion of them eventually changes. >>



I can comfortably say, my opinion on Battle Creek Morgans, or beautifully toned Morgans in general, won't change. Far less of a 'novelty' in my opinion.

Goldbully

I simply early commemoratives!!!!


History, art, numismatic value, blaze white, toned, humor, sculpture, land, sea, serious, silver, war, timelines, ...............................and??????????

mommam17

I love the classic commems. Some have done quite well. I was buying PCGS 65 Boones under $100 about 3-4 years ago on ebay. I also bought a NGC 66 Spanish Trail for $1350 at the same time and they`re closer to $2000 now.

eyore

How can we talk early comms. with out pics , so here iis a pic.

MrEureka

Some have done quite well. I was buying PCGS 65 Boones under $100 about 3-4 years ago on ebay. I also bought a NGC 66 Spanish Trail for $1350 at the same time and they`re closer to $2000 now.

Those are good examples of why an investor should pick specific issues rather than collecting the whole set.

Zoins

<< <i>

<< <i>Some have done quite well. I was buying PCGS 65 Boones under $100 about 3-4 years ago on ebay. I also bought a NGC 66 Spanish Trail for $1350 at the same time and they`re closer to $2000 now. >>

Those are good examples of why an investor should pick specific issues rather than collecting the whole set. >>

How many people collect the entire classic commems set (or a large portion of the halves) now? While some have very attractive designs, I don't have any interest in others. I'd rather focus on a collection of specific issues of early commems along with specific SCDs. This is my perspective as a collector that enjoys beautiful designs, not an investor looking for price appreciation. A nice bonus would be if the specific issues I enjoy do appreciate but that's not my reason for preferring certain issues over others.

mommam17

I am a collector and not an investor. My goal was the 50 piece type set and I finished it. I recently sold my Isabella and that`s the only one I need. I did enjoy the freedom of finishing the set and buy whatever I wanted and not working on that next coin to build the set.

BigRed

Thank you all very much for your replies ,they were very interesting. I don't collect classic commems and the reason I ask is because I keep reading and hearing how they haven't moved much in years and how they are underpriced. The impression I got from some of the replies was that commems are for the most part common in higher grade and probably will not perform well through the years. I have E-mailed a few dealers and ask them in person what coins they think are undervalued in the market and most of them have said the classic commems. I'm just wondering how some of you arrived at the conclusion that they will probably stay cool, they have had thier day. I'm just a collector/investor of limited means and like to get the most for my money. I like Morgans, all bust coinage, and barbers but it seems like they are fully priced at the moment.

IrishMike

Underpriced=damn things have set way too long in my inventory and haven't budged pricewise in years.

291fifth

You seem to have investment/speculation on your mind. Classic commems have always been a promoted market. If you don't have inside info on when the promotions are going to occur, stay away.

BrianKuszmar

Imho
Ignored for years, yes.
Undervalued, for the most part yes.
Interesting, yes, far more than most coins who all look alike except for the date.

I beleive that once the folks that are now enjoying collecting moderns (particulary commems) complete there sets up to date, some of them will naturaly progress to older US coins. Classic commems are a natural...

Besides, I suspect some smart cookies have been buying the keys for the last few years now..

Regards to all