Do problems coins have more numismatic value today than 10 years ago?

mercurydimeguy

I'm interested in your thoughts regarding trends for "problem" coins...

I've been out of the loop for a while - less active - and have recently become more active again. I have noticed that compared to about 8-10 years ago there seem to be significantly more problem coins for sale and auction than I ever remember. There are myriad of PCGS, NGC, ANACS problem slabs everywhere I look. What's interesting is the prices being quoted / sought appear to only be fractions less than non-problem coins, as opposed to significantly less.

Are dealers simply stabbing their problem coins as genuine (versus selling raw) so same amount of problem coins but now they are in plastic?

Do problem coins now have more numismatic value than before?

In any event, from my vantage point, I am scratching my head a bit when I see what problem coins in slabs are selling for (and might be artificially pushing up prices of non-problem coins) so I'm interested in your thoughts?

Thanks.

/mdg

USMoneylover

In my opinion problem coins aren't worth buying unless the price is really right. Remember that there is a difference between what someone is asking for a coin and what it is really worth. There's a reason there are problem coins everywhere...no one is buying them! I recently wholesaled a beautiful VF 1818 bust quarter with some unfortunate old scratches on one side of the obv field for a bit over 1/3 of what a problem free coin would sell for.

AnkurJ

Key coins with problems have gone up with their problem free counterparts, just not to the same degree.

PerryHall

Problem coins used to get a body bag. Now they get a "genuine" slab. For this reason alone they are more saleable and are more accepted in the coin marketplace. Hence, they have gone up in price. That said, many collectors avoid problem coins under any circumstances.

s4ny

I had some problem (cleaned, tooled, scratched) etc.) gold.
I loved the coins and none was badly compromised, but when gold recovered
to 1420 I sold them all around 8 weeks ago.

Several were no motto $10 and $20 Libs, one was a $3 and one was
a better date $5 Lib. I was surprised at the strong bids.

Sold them on Craigslist. No fees helped.

BillJones

I would say yes for a couple of reasons. When PCGS first started to issue "genuine" holders I saw examples of a 1796 Quarter and an 1804 $10 gold in them. I don't remember the exact price marked on these coins, but it was a 5 digit number. The 1796 Quarter had a big gash by the date, but otherwise was in a higher grade like EF. The $10 gold had something similar. Years ago both of these coins would have been much harder to sell with no documentation that they were genuine. Now it's easier, and such coins are now showing up in major auctions, even the "Platinum Nights."

Second with the price of problem free, very scarce coins go up all the time, these problem coin alternatives become more attractive to collectors. It is just a matter of budgets and economics

ricko

I do believe they are more acceptable since they are often slabbed Genuine.... also, I have seen a tendency for collectors to buy them as 'place holders'... either until a better one is available or they can afford it.... Cheers, RickO