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Peace Dollar Vs. Liberty Nickel Opinion Please
erwindoc
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Been considering a more "classic" coin set to work on since I have such a modern(65-date) focus. I enjoy both sets and have completed them both in the past in circulated grades. Both sets are relatively short and have no special designations. They have a similar number of key dates. Im hoping to get some high grade specimens with time this time around once I pick a series. My question is which series would be the one to hold most of its value or perhaps even increase in value? I have a good idea, but would love some expert opinions.
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Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
ditto
Ditto for Peace dollars. They are an excellent learning series--one canbuild a circulated set with only the 1928 costing over $120. One can also spend a fortune on just one coin. In either case, they are challenging, because they are definately a series in which the coins cannot be judged by grade or holder alone, particularly when looking at quality of strike in the 1921. And, the key dates change depending on the grade, as the series is chock full of condition rarities. They are a good way to get to know classic coins.
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
<< <i>Peace Dollars.... a very underappreciated series.... Cheers, RickO >>
I am not sure that one of the most collected sets could be called under appreciated but who knows. Liberty nickels are pretty scarce compared to Peace Dollars and while I don't like copper coins Lib Nickels value and history should be weighed next to Peace dollars intrinsic value, popularity and size/visual appeal.
Liberty nickels are collected for numismatic reasons. I think they have a greater chance of increasing in value.
Plus as others have mentioned, Peace Dollars are probably the ugliest non-modern coin in existence.
<< <i>Liberty nickels will always be more popular than Peace Dollars. JMHO >>
Please explain.
Joe.
A set of proof Lib Nickels would look nice, and is not too difficult to assemble, unless you demand ultra gem cameos.
You said you wanted something "classic" to collect. To me personally, I think the liberty nickel is more classic because it is more obsolete.
You also asked which one would hold its value better. Because Silver increased so much over the last year then it could backslide, and if it did, it might take Peace Dollars with it. Liberty Nickels seem to be a really stable series price-wise.
Now, in spite of what I just said above, what you didn't ask is which series would appreciate better. I think Peace Dollars have more potential because Liberty Nickels seem to be less appreciated by the masses.
You also didn't ask about alternatives. But If you had, heres a recommendation for you: Theres no law that says you have to collect an entire set. For example, I'm only collecting the First Dansco Album page of Buffalo nickels because I find the second half of the series to be less challenging and less of an investment. What I'm saying is that you can roll your own. Here's some suggestions: Buy a blank Dansco album page and fill it only with bargains in some series you like. For example, try to fill a Dansco album page only with Seated Liberty Dimes or Bust Dimes that are problem free that you got at a good price. Alternately, buy a one a year set of Peace Dollars and fill it only with the most difficult mint mark (...S?...) to help insure your set will maintain its investment value. Or only collect the Liberty Nickels before 1900. Parsing sets in this manner helps ensure investment potential. (Hmmm...this deserves its own thread....)
Steve
My currency "Box of Ten" Thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1045579/my-likely-slow-to-develop-box-of-ten#latest
I really enjoyed collecting first a XF/slider set then a MS set. They start to have good eye appeal around MS64/5 but certain 63s look fabulous. I'm tempted to look for a set of 58's though. A good set would be visually stunning. Certain 65s are sorta blah. They're also the last of a breed (who hasn't heard of a silver dollar?), and there is plenty of interesting history behind the design and their production.
Plus, if you and 10,000 other people start collecting Peace Dollars, mine become more valuable!
True from the perspective of a conversant collector... But not from the masses of the widget collecting proletariat
<< <i>Just wait till some 1964-Ds show up, esp if there are less than 5
If any still exist, they wont come up until after the Langboard case is finalized and it goes to the family.
Intrinsic value, numismatic, and a large collector base.
Plus they're big n shinny
Peace dollars share a similar problem with the St Gaudens $20 series; beautiful, sculptural first year issues followed by pancake flat, low relief disks. A typical 1921 Peace dollar looks better than the sharpest 1922-35 dates. When I see Peace dollars, I gaze at the 21 and can't help but compare it to the others. In addition, all Peace dollars (with the exception of the 28) are condition rarities. You'll need to spend loads of money on a branch mint MS coin that's virtually "worthless" in circulated grades. That always bothered me.
Liberty nickels have a special 19th century charm, and several dates are legitimately scarce in grades as low as VG-10! Just finding a solid, problem-free 1885 in F-12 or a sharply struck, mint state 12-s with positive eye-appeal is challenging enough. A complete, attractive MS set of Liberty nickels is a major accomplishment.
True, Liberty nickels don't have the flash and silver sparkle of a large silver dollar, but they possess a quiet, "under the radar" appeal. Most are heavily worn, so when I see the most common date in grades such as VF or XF, I always take a second look. I see it as a survivor. There's something special about that.
Youre no noob and I dont think your get a warm fuzzy feeling from these coins.
I suggest this often...and ONE day I will take the plunge, but it seems to be a wonderful side road of Numismatics at a serious level are Vermont Coppers. Throw that MS65 out da window and just concntrate on warm handled copper. In time, I do think a well put together set of Vermont coppers would outshine any peace or libnick set. Just my as usual slanted opinon.