General question about the market for Canadian coins...

Walkerguy21D

How is the Canadian coin market these days? Has the weak U.S. dollar (or the strong Canadian dollar) played any role in the prices Canadian collectors are willing to pay for coins being offered by US owners? I'm more curious about better date, older coins made for circulation, not the special coins produced by the RCM, or those that have increased merely due to bullion content. Any insights would be appreciated.

syl

I think that, with the Candian dollar almost at par, that more Canadian collectors are buying coins priced in US $$ because they are relatively cheaper than they were before. Just like there will be lots of Snowbirds in Florida and the South this winter because US $$ are so cheap to buy. But the Worldwide recession has hurt countries all over the globe, not just the US. We, in Canada, feel it really bad (US & Canada are the world's largest trading partners) .. especially in Ontario where the 13% HST is now applied to almost everything.

ajaan

IMO the Canadian coin market is excellent if you are buying. Terrible if selling. I recently had a 1922 5c PCGS MS62 sell on eBay for 45% of Trends. It's very common to pick up certified coin at 50-60% Trends. A few years ago they were selling at 75% Trends.

Walkerguy21D

Thanks guys. Sounds like I probably ought to just hold on to my hoard for now.

Walkerguy21D

That sounds like it is mirroring the US market then.
I was checking the prices listed for various coins on the J & M website and was surprised to see what was being charged (or asked) for early material, but maybe a lot of that is wishful thinking on the seller's part.

coinkat

Okay- I will comment for what it is worth

Check out the US coin forum and read what collectors think about Barber coins in VF30 to AU and how rare certain dates are- then look at Canadian coins from the reign of Victoria through George V UP THROUGH 1915.

Then, for the sport and fun of it, go look at the PCGS and even NGC POP reports for BETTER DATES- Check out the 1901-s Quarter- then check out the 1905 Canadian half and then ask yourself which you would rather own at current prices?

For those that want to write that I should use a Canadian Quarter- okay- pick an 1891... look at what they sell for and which would you rather own based on what one would expect to pay and consider surviving population...


I rest my case... but we can discuss this more for those who have doubts

DoubleEagle59

<< <i>Okay- I will comment for what it is worth

Check out the US coin forum and read what collectors think about Barber coins in VF30 to AU and how rare certain dates are- then look at Canadian coins from the reign of Victoria through George V UP THROUGH 1915.

Then, for the sport and fun of it, go look at the PCGS and even NGC POP reports for BETTER DATES- Check out the 1901-s Quarter- then check out the 1905 Canadian half and then ask yourself which you would rather own at current prices?

For those that want to write that I should use a Canadian Quarter- okay- pick an 1891... look at what they sell for and which would you rather own based on what one would expect to pay and consider surviving population...


I rest my case... but we can discuss this more for those who have doubts >>



With the Canadian market, you just can't look at Pop report numbers when comparing Canadian to US coins.

In Canada, you may have only 5 collectors chasing a rare coin.

In the US that number may be 100 collectors.

Look at 'completed items' on Ebay for choice ms65 Canadian coins and you'll see very little being sold.

Prices realized are extremely low.

As mentioned earlier, it's a great time to buy and a terrible time if you're selling.

As an example...KGVI material (1937 to 1952) in ms65 is selling at 60% of trends, when prior to 2008, they were selling for 80% to 110% of trends.

WWW

I would not rely solely on eBay for pricing information. The market is definitely down, but if you have high quality, eye appealing coins, there will still be strong money paid for them.

coinkat

I think my point somehow was not communicated clearly-

A 1905 Canadian Half that is original and grades in the VF to AU range is probably as rare, if not a tougher coin than a 1901-s Barber Quarter-

Pricing is a different animal- prices are based on who is going to pay for rarity- there are collectors willing to spend $20,000- $50,000 FOR A 1901-S Barber quarter in the same grade as a 1905 Canadian Half that would likely bring between $750 AND $2000.

I would rather have the Canadian Half and wait for everyone else to wake up and smell the coffee

coinkat

Well... I will let someone else rest the case...

Seriously... well written and to the point

ormandh

I have to agree. I learned early on that it was much more fulfilling to chase the foreign coins than it was the US coinage! I will try to find the first post I posted here, but it might be a challenge. -Dan

Walkerguy21D

More good insights!
Yes, it seems like much of the darkside is underappreciated, price-wise, as supply (even though small in many cases) probably outweighs demand. As part of a large estate I purchased some years ago, there were a number of very nice British, Canadian, and other pieces in there. I sold a few of the best pieces here on the forum, and a few went to specialist dealers. The rest I kept, as I would rather own the beautiful old coins than have the few more dollars they would bring.