Modern Coin Rarities

19Lyds

I've got a question which should stir some debate.

How should prices for Modern Coins be estimated?

Popularity?

Overall Quality?

Number Graded at a specific level (Population)?

How.......

BillJones

Modern coins are like everything else. Popularity (demand) is the key ingredient. If very few collectors want something, chances are its market value will low.

Beyond that the number of pieces available (supply) kicks in. For modern coins the state of preservation is key. For most modern coins the relevant supply of high grade, registry point grabbing pieces, constitutes the marketable supply.

And yea, I need to say something controversial. A mintage of 5,000 for the Jackie Robinson $5 gold in Unc., or 30,125 for 1995-W silver eagle is not rare or by classic coin standards even scarce.

cladking

<< <i>Modern coins are like everything else. Popularity (demand) is the key ingredient. If very few collectors want something, chances are its market value will low.

Beyond that the number of pieces available (supply) kicks in. For modern coins the state of preservation is key. For most modern coins the relevant supply of high grade, registry point grabbing pieces, constitutes the marketable supply.

And yea, I need to say something controversial. A mintage of 5,000 for the Jackie Robinson $5 gold in Unc., or 30,125 for 1995-W silver eagle is not rare or by classic coin standards even scarce. >>




You already did.

Suggesting the only reason to buy high grade moderns is for registry
points is demeaning to most collectors, all registry collectors, and the
coins themselves.

The fact is that rare moderns whether rare by number produced, num-
ber surviving, or by a very high level of preservation sell for a small frac-
tion of what a rare classic might sell for.

This is because of many factors but it boils down to lower demand. And
this is why moderns usually have far higher percentage gains than old
coins and this has always been true s well except from 1965 to 1995
when moderns were almost completely overlooked.

As times moves on there is a strong tendency for what people collect in
aggregate to also move on.


But time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.

BillJones

<< <i>Suggesting the only reason to buy high grade moderns is for registry points is demeaning to most collectors, all registry collectors, and the
coins themselves.
>>



I'm sorry that you find that demeaning, but I can't think any other reason except registry why one would pay thousands for a modern coin with mintages and overall survival rates at a minimum in the of tens of thousands. I call them like I see them.

Buying modern coins in high grades in very cost effective if you want to be at the top of the registry heap. Buying classic coins in the "collector grades" is very cost ineffective. Dollar for dollar you'll get FAR more points for 1917 Standing Liberty quarter in MS-67, FH or even 1964 JFK half in PR-68, Cameo than you will for a 1796 Quarter in VF-25. That's just the way the deck is stacked in the registry rat race. I know because I've had first hand experience.

cladking

<< <i>

I'm sorry that you find that demeaning, but I can't think any other reason except registry why one would pay thousands for a modern coin with mintages and overall survival rates at a minimum in the of tens of thousands. I call them like I see them.

Buying modern coins in high grades in very cost effective if you want to be at the top of the registry heap. Buying classic coins in the "collector grades" is very cost ineffective. Dollar for dollar you'll get FAR more points for 1917 Standing Liberty quarter in MS-67, FH or even 1964 JFK half in PR-68, Cameo than you will for a 1796 Quarter in VF-25. That's just the way the deck is stacked in the registry rat race. I know because I've had first hand experience. >>



You can't find any reason because you don't believe these coins or any
modern coins are worth collecting. To each his own.

You don't hear modern collectors talking about people collecting doctored
low grade junk and paying huge prices just because they want to fill all
the holes in a collection. You don't hear modern collectors refer to any of
the old coins as NCLT or suggest they weren't real coins because they
didn't always satisfy all the criteria of a "coin".

The simple fact is that there are differences between old coins and new coins
beyond their age. That these are mostly superficial (entirely in some cases),
just seems to escape many people. But many others like collecting one, the
other, or both.

How about; people who collect old coins are just grabbing as much age as
they can or grabbing as little dirt and wear as they can afford? Don't you
think a barrage of this kind of talk might be demeaning to collectors?

BillJones

<< <i>You can't find any reason because you don't believe these coins or any
modern coins are worth collecting. To each his own.
>>



PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not put words in my mouth !!!!!!!!!!

I have NEVER said that modern coins are uncollectable or unworthy of being collected. My only concern has been the prices paid. PERIOD

I probably have $20,000 in modern (post 1964) coins. I like them. I think that some of them are neat. But aside from the stuff I needed to fill registry holes, all of it is raw.

jmski52

For most modern coins the relevant supply of high grade, registry point grabbing pieces, constitutes the marketable supply.

No, it doesn't. The relevant supply for any Modern is the supply of available pieces, just like any classic coin - and the available supply affects pricing, just like any classic coin. Registry is fine, but it isn't the only game in town, and it never will be.

And for Moderns, even PCGS or NGC grading isn't the "last word" on the matter. Grading populations are a point of reference for Moderns, just like they are for any other coin. Whatever your opinion on the rarity of a Modern coin, it's a part of our coinage heritage.