Gem moderns.

cladking

I like gems as much as the next guy but am starting to think that
most modern world coins won't get large premiums for high grades
like their US counterparts. Some are almost impossible gem and
some are nearly common but generalists usually won't pay up for
them since they just won't be available for too many series. Spec-
ialists will probably want them only where there are substantial
numbers of uncs available and small percentages are gem.

Any thoughts?

Rickc300

Huh? Anything minted after my birthday has got to be considered modern! Gems prior to my birthdate do command a premium in my book as I have some wear like anything my age... To find anything in perfect unused condition this old has got to be worth a premium! I have been used and put up wet, but there could still be some "gem" coins out there that will match my raw handsome good looks... Even at my age.



I cut off my collection of German coins to a date of about 20 years before I was born (a nice round number that matches my physique) but I still seek coins of Germany 200+ years older than I am just because they are appealing and fit into my interest of Germany and its history of shaping Europe into what it is now...

Rick

lordmarcovan

<< <i>I like gems as much as the next guy but am starting to think that
most modern world coins won't get large premiums for high grades
like their US counterparts. Some are almost impossible gem and
some are nearly common but generalists usually won't pay up for
them since they just won't be available for too many series. Spec-
ialists will probably want them only where there are substantial
numbers of uncs available and small percentages are gem.

Any thoughts? >>

Not really. Sounds like an accurate anlalysis to me. (Which is not surprising, considering who made the analysis.)

coinkat

This really varies from country to country and the true GEM market really has yet to mature nor is fully appreciated yet. Over time, the spread will likely increase for the right coins.

theboz11

<< <i>GEM market really has yet to mature >>



I don't think it has progressed to a collectors point anywhere near that of US coins, and is still in it's relative infancy. To early to tell if you are correct King IMHO.

Doogy

<< <i>

<< <i>GEM market really has yet to mature >>



I don't think it has progressed to a collectors point anywhere near that of US coins, and is still in it's relative infancy. To early to tell if you are correct King IMHO. >>




ditto. not much market for them yet

cladking

<< <i>This really varies from country to country and the true GEM market really has yet to mature nor is fully appreciated yet. Over time, the spread will likely increase for the right coins. >>




I don't disagree.

Some countries will prove natural for spreads to develop because there
are sufficient numbers and the quality range is wide. Britain, for instance,
has enough decimals that an active market can be supported and there
is wide variation in quality.

On the other hand a country like India has very spotty availability and qual-
ity tends to be either excellent or very poor (mostly very poor). Some coun-
tries like Japan have very poor availabilty. Swiss coins are just about the
proper numbers for spreads but almost all the coins are nice.

In countries where there is a range in quality and supplies are adequate
I can envision a large premium developing but my contention here is that
most generalists are simply going to give up on obtaining gems because
they are too scarce. Indeed, even bad uncs can be too scarce.

So far most of the premiums I've heard of have been limited to about 300%
which is insignificant compared to say a '57 cent in MS-60 or MS-67. This one
ranges from 5c to $10,000 they say.

I'm also wondering if some of the strange multiples between XF and Unc are
a reflection of extreme scarcity or what. The 50 and 100L Italian and the 10Y
Japanese coins spring to mind. These seem to come with degrees of wear more
than circulated or not.

cladking

<< <i>

<< <i>GEM market really has yet to mature >>



I don't think it has progressed to a collectors point anywhere near that of US coins, and is still in it's relative infancy. To early to tell if you are correct King IMHO. >>




I have a vested interest in the gems since I've always sought these almost ex-
clusively.

But now it seems that if you acquire modern world coins this way then you just
end up with the series that were well made.

I was looking at a superb gem Icelandic 1975 5K that got me thinking about this.
This particular series is really tough in unc and seems to have a fairly good spread
in quality. The '75 is the key date perhaps (hard to tell with moderns since people
might save the low mintages exclusively), and it is the only one I have. Krause
lists it as a 35c coin if memory serves. For all I know this is the only unc available.
Even if there are more there probably aren't nearly enough for 1% of Icelands pop-
ulation to even have one in VF or better. If it is scarce then it just seems unlikely
that a substantial premium will arise.

theboz11

Selective series are always difficult at best to predict. Modern pandas have a good track record with the rare 1982 demanding an increasing premium. Some of the Lion Coins that I have picked up, due to rarity are valued with significant premium. The GEM ones of course. Some of the older stuff has done better.

I have MS-65 Morgans that have been sitting at $130-$150 for a short lifetime. Coins can be selective in light or dark persuation

coinkat

In connection with UK coinage, I think you would get a wider discussion and a more interesting one in terms of what constitutes modern coinage. Some of the Elizabeth coinage, especially the 1959 1/2 Crown is likely very tough in 65 and higher.

cladking

<< <i>In connection with UK coinage, I think you would get a wider discussion and a more interesting one in terms of what constitutes modern coinage. Some of the Elizabeth coinage, especially the 1959 1/2 Crown is likely very tough in 65 and higher. >>



The pre-decimal cu/ni might be even more interesting and it is certainly modern.

These do have a wide range of quality as well.

FilamCoins

What's your prediction for say NZ predecimal clad??

cladking

<< <i>What's your prediction for say NZ predecimal clad??


>>




There's already quite a bit of interest in these.

NZCCA forum

cladking

That's a spectacular half florin by the way.

In all my years of searching all I ever found were a few nice 1950 and '52 issues. One was a '50 mint set.