Modern commemoratives are the low cost competitor to the older coins and as long as they are making these modern coins I think most new collectors was gravitate to the cheaper coins. Until they stop making modern commemoratives, which I don't see happening, the older ones are too expensive and too disjointed to compete for many new series collectors.
There's no continuity in design, theme, or frequency of issue.
Thats what makes early commems the best set to collect in my opinion. Why do I want a set of 50 or more coins that all look alike besides the mint mark? Boring as hell! There is a neat, unique history behind each issue. It will come back, trust me.
I have seen the prices for early commes stay pretty constant, but no one is buying. Reserves and minimum bids are still high but one is pulling the trigger. Believe me I have been watching and have only bought one early commem in the last 6 months. I have seen no lowered prices. For what you are getting I think they are all bargains. Considering other coinage, early commems have extremely low mintage and most have absolutely beautiful designs. You cant beat them IMO. So yes..."mortgage the house and buy silver commems." You wont have any more fun with any other set...I guaranty!
Check miy set out in the link below if you want to see the fun I have been having the past few years.
<< <i>There's no continuity in design, theme, or frequency of issue.
Thats what makes early commems the best set to collect in my opinion. Why do I want a set of 50 or more coins that all look alike besides the mint mark? Boring as hell! There is a neat, unique history behind each issue. It will come back, trust me.
I have seen the prices for early commes stay pretty constant, but no one is buying. Reserves and minimum bids are still high but one is pulling the trigger. Believe me I have been watching and have only bought one early commem in the last 6 months. I have seen no lowered prices. For what you are getting I think they are all bargains. Considering other coinage, early commems have extremely low mintage and most have absolutely beautiful designs. You cant beat them IMO. So yes..."mortgage the house and buy silver commems." You wont have any more fun with any other set...I guaranty!
Check mine set out in the link below if you want to see the fun I have been having the past few years. >>
I like your work in progress.
I manage money. I earn money. I save money . I give away money. I collect money. I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
I'm with jmj3esq. These started out as a "backlash" series for me. The artwork on most of them are exactly the opposite of what is on today's stuff. To wit, it is good. The stories behind some of these speak to the absurd machinations of people that wanted a coin made. I hope to come away from FUN with one or two more checked off in my set. They're also fun to photograph.
Now I don't think David really wants you to mortgage your house but I think he is saying they are undervalued relative to moderns commems. Once the modern commem crowd discovers these.......
Would that qualify as "Chinese math"?
Regardless, I agree that Classic Commems are cheap.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Early Commems used to be "HOT" back in the early 1990's In fact they used to be on the front page of Numismatic news price guide right in front of, you guessed it, Morgan and Peace dollars. Personally a great series in which can be selective. You don't have to complete the whole set AND undervalued IMHO
Sounds like an equities analyst. Everything is either a buy or strong buy.
But, commems is an area I have thought about getting into for about 5 years now. But prices are dead and I am afraid I will be also by the time they do move up.
>>Why do I want a set of 50 or more coins that all look alike besides the mint mark?<<
That's not the only alternative to early commems. There's also type collecting, error collecting, and changing obverse/reverse series such as state quarters, presidential dollars, platinum burnished and proofs, and first spouse.
I think modern commems (such as proof silver dollars) have a better chance of attracting new collectors than classic ones (such as uncirculated halves). In general they're bigger and cheaper, plus proofs show off designs more dramatically than uncirculated coins.
Because they were mostly issued as stand-alone coins, there is not so much of a sense of "incompleteness" if a collector does not obtain a specimen of every commemorative ever issued. A set of 5 or 10 may be enough to cover a particular individual's collecting interests.
The problem with the classic commems is they are not the only type set out there anymore.
They are not the cheapest: Presidential Dollars 50 state quarters
They are not the rarest for the money either, there are 46 moderns with more material and are rarer than the so called rare Hawaiian.
So they are not cheap, have very little material backing them and they are not rare so whats the point? If you are going to start something new its not the best place to be.
I have been working on a MS64ish Classic Commem set for a few years now...I like them and will hopefully finish the set some day...but honestly for the most part prices have gone nowhere in the time I have been working on the set...and several have drifted downwards. I think the really high end stuff has moved up a bit but where I am not much appreciation pricewise. Which is OK with me!
A lot of valid points here as to competition from other series new and old.
But also, if you go out and try to buy some of these "undervalued commem coins", you find the vast majority of the coins seem to have been resubmitted and resubmitted and resubmitted. Can you find a slabbed MS-65 that doe'snt have significant rub or major hairlining?
I love the series, but it can be a very frustrating series to try to purchase good values in.
<< <i>Can you find a slabbed MS-65 that doe'snt have significant rub or major hairlining?
I love the series, but it can be a very frustrating series to try to purchase good values in. >>
Thrill o' the hunt. It is entirely possible to find nice coins that are appropriately graded, but as you say, not always easy. If one is diligent about this, one could end up with a really nice set that isn't all übergrade coins. At least that's what I'm trying to do.
"Thrill o' the hunt. It is entirely possible to find nice coins that are appropriately graded, but as you say, not always easy."
I love the thrill of the hunt myself, but with these classic commems, it's almost always the rub and the hairlines that make the grading differences.
And rub and hairlines are easily hidden with a photograph.
So, that means you cannot buy them online or thru pics, you have to go see them in person (if your a hunter). And only regional and national shows will have any selection at all to choose from.
So that means only a few large shows per year.
So........... it's just easier to collect something else.
I think the problem with classic Commems is there are just too damn many of them. Too daunting to complete a set and many of the designs stink. I only like maybe a dozen or so out of all the classic designs. This problem is magnified 10X with Modern Commems.
<< <i>I think the problem with classic Commems is there are just too damn many of them. Too daunting to complete a set and many of the designs stink. I only like maybe a dozen or so out of all the classic designs. This problem is magnified 10X with Modern Commems. >>
it is the one type of coin that antique stores always have for sale for some odd reason. in old PCI slabs, raw, low grade, etc... you name it.
i always check the price and grade for an easy steal but they are always, and I mean always, over priced.
Comments
Thats what makes early commems the best set to collect in my opinion. Why do I want a set of 50 or more coins that all look alike besides the mint mark? Boring as hell! There is a neat, unique history behind each issue. It will come back, trust me.
I have seen the prices for early commes stay pretty constant, but no one is buying. Reserves and minimum bids are still high but one is pulling the trigger. Believe me I have been watching and have only bought one early commem in the last 6 months. I have seen no lowered prices. For what you are getting I think they are all bargains. Considering other coinage, early commems have extremely low mintage and most have absolutely beautiful designs. You cant beat them IMO. So yes..."mortgage the house and buy silver commems." You wont have any more fun with any other set...I guaranty!
Check miy set out in the link below if you want to see the fun I have been having the past few years.
<< <i>There's no continuity in design, theme, or frequency of issue.
Thats what makes early commems the best set to collect in my opinion. Why do I want a set of 50 or more coins that all look alike besides the mint mark? Boring as hell! There is a neat, unique history behind each issue. It will come back, trust me.
I have seen the prices for early commes stay pretty constant, but no one is buying. Reserves and minimum bids are still high but one is pulling the trigger. Believe me I have been watching and have only bought one early commem in the last 6 months. I have seen no lowered prices. For what you are getting I think they are all bargains. Considering other coinage, early commems have extremely low mintage and most have absolutely beautiful designs. You cant beat them IMO. So yes..."mortgage the house and buy silver commems." You wont have any more fun with any other set...I guaranty!
Check mine set out in the link below if you want to see the fun I have been having the past few years. >>
I like your work in progress.
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
My work in progress
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Yep!...heheee!
Would that qualify as "Chinese math"?
Regardless, I agree that Classic Commems are cheap.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
In fact they used to be on the front page of Numismatic news price guide
right in front of, you guessed it, Morgan and Peace dollars.
Personally a great series in which can be selective. You don't have to complete
the whole set AND
undervalued IMHO
BTW Hudson my Favorite
Mintage 10,008
100% Positive BST transactions
<< <i>
<< <i>Gotta be David Hall..... >>
Why yes, ...he wrote it here! >>
Sounds like an equities analyst. Everything is either a buy or strong buy.
But, commems is an area I have thought about getting into for about 5 years now. But prices are dead and I am afraid I will be also by the time they do move up.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>Sounds like an equities analyst. Everything is either a buy or strong buy. >>
Right, until after the market crashes, and then, everything is a sell.
(speaking of equities analysis here)
an up market to make these take off like they did before.
i do not see that happening anytime soon.
That's not the only alternative to early commems. There's also type collecting, error collecting, and changing obverse/reverse series such as state quarters, presidential dollars, platinum burnished and proofs, and first spouse.
I think modern commems (such as proof silver dollars) have a better chance of attracting new collectors than classic ones (such as uncirculated halves). In general they're bigger and cheaper, plus proofs show off designs more dramatically than uncirculated coins.
Because they were mostly issued as stand-alone coins, there is not so much of a sense of "incompleteness" if a collector does not obtain a specimen of every commemorative ever issued. A set of 5 or 10 may be enough to cover a particular individual's collecting interests.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
They are not the cheapest:
Presidential Dollars
50 state quarters
They are not the rarest for the money either, there are 46 moderns with more material and are rarer than the so called rare Hawaiian.
So they are not cheap, have very little material backing them and they are not rare so whats the point? If you are going to start something new its not the best place to be.
Eric
<< <i>
<< <i>Sounds like an equities analyst. Everything is either a buy or strong buy. >>
Right, until after the market crashes, and then, everything is a sell.
(speaking of equities analysis here) >>
I am not going to comment on the buy/strong buy recommendations
K
series new and old.
But also, if you go out and try to buy some of these
"undervalued commem coins", you find the vast
majority of the coins seem to have been
resubmitted and resubmitted and resubmitted.
Can you find a slabbed MS-65 that doe'snt have significant
rub or major hairlining?
I love the series, but it can be a very frustrating
series to try to purchase good values in.
Regards, Steve K.
<< <i>Can you find a slabbed MS-65 that doe'snt have significant rub or major hairlining?
I love the series, but it can be a very frustrating series to try to purchase good values in. >>
Thrill o' the hunt. It is entirely possible to find nice coins that are appropriately graded, but as you say, not always easy. If one is diligent about this, one could end up with a really nice set that isn't all übergrade coins. At least that's what I'm trying to do.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I dont care much if they go up or down in value as I buy coins because I like them not as a investment.
"Thrill o' the hunt. It is entirely possible to find nice coins that are appropriately graded, but as you say, not always easy."
I love the thrill of the hunt myself, but with these classic commems,
it's almost always the rub and the hairlines that make the
grading differences.
And rub and hairlines are easily hidden with a photograph.
So, that means you cannot buy them online or thru pics,
you have to go see them in person (if your a hunter).
And only regional and national shows will have any
selection at all to choose from.
So that means only a few large shows per year.
So........... it's just easier to collect something else.
But isn't that the point of this entire thread?
Regards, Steve K.
<< <i>I think the problem with classic Commems is there are just too damn many of them. Too daunting to complete a set and many of the designs stink. I only like maybe a dozen or so out of all the classic designs. This problem is magnified 10X with Modern Commems. >>
it is the one type of coin that antique stores always have for sale
for some odd reason. in old PCI slabs, raw, low grade, etc... you name
it.
i always check the price and grade for an easy steal but they are always, and I mean always, over priced.