Options
Highest demand US coins?
rhedden
Posts: 6,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
Coin market values and availability are determined by some function of supply and demand, like all free market commodities. That simple observation brings up an interesting question, which is, "what US coins are at the top of the collector demand list?" In other words, suppose a dealer gets a certain item in his inventory at a show, and you'll have to fight off the other collectors with a stick just to get a look at it. What is it?
0
Comments
still holds it's own.....why...i don't know
crap...look at 1916-d mercury dimes
will demand ever exhaust the supply...most likely not
those 2 are still alive and kicking in high demand
On the other hand, if we are talking about which series in all grades has the most demand, that is a different question. Morgans may be the most collected, but I would argue against highest demand due to the overwhelming volume of coins available. If you go to any coin show, big or small, Morgans will have a large presence in many dealers cases.
If we were to define this as the series where the demand exceeds the supply of coins available, certainly Seated Halves would be among those IMHO. Again, price comes into play.
My answer to the question would be Bust Halves as there is a large dedicated band of followers that is ever growing. The price on AU coins has over doubled in the last 8 years or so and that indicates to me serious demand, else they would be like trimes where there is rarity, but only a small collector base and levels like AU tend to be less expensive.
<< <i>From what I see on this forum PQ Capped Bust Halves seem to have that honor. >>
This is, unfortunately, very true.
I say unfortunately because that means people are making me spend more to buy coins that meet my strict standards.
What about 1815/2 Bust halves? Chain cents? Nice 1909-o Barber quarters? 1809 and 1822 dimes in mid grade? Can these coins even survive an hour at a show if they're fairly priced? There are a lot of people looking for these coins, and they'd probably top my "high demand" list. Maybe I should have specified "demand outstrips supply."
Price is not necessarily the best indicator. I don't know too many collectors who are looking for an 1804 dollar right now, for example, so I would say overall demand is actually quite low. But the "blue collar" rarities like 1815/2 halves are on many collectors' want lists because they're within the realm of possibility.
Experienced collectors may gravitate to other fields like Bust Halves or early copper or 20th century gold or whatever. However, ASE's and Morgans have a stranglehold on the casual and novice collector market. They are big, silver, very common and relatively cheap. This makes them easy to stock, high-margin for dealers, very marketable, and for Morgans, historically interesting.
The top 10% of collectors may focus on a broad array of US coins, but the other 90% are collecting Morgan Dollars and proof silver eagles in NGC 69 holders.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
<< <i>What about 1815/2 Bust halves? Chain cents? Nice 1909-o Barber quarters? 1809 and 1822 dimes in mid grade? Can these coins even survive an hour at a show if they're fairly priced? There are a lot of people looking for these coins, and they'd probably top my "high demand" list. Maybe I should have specified "demand outstrips supply." >>
I don't really think "fairly priced" and "show" are synonymous.
Early American Copper, Bust and Seated.
Denomination matters not. AG to MS.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
<< <i>Capped Bust halves are Capped bust halves.......seen one nice one and you seen em all. >>
Therein lies the attraction. Seen one, the next one is intriguingly different.
Lance.
During the time frame (1992 til present), no series has had the following of avid collectors more than Capped Bust Halves(Caveat: I exclude early copper and Morgan dollars because I never did go there).
The collector base includes the entire spectrum, and hundreds of die varieties. Competition is keen, and a PQ for grade, toned, and scarce, will bring out the wolves. The premiums paid are large
and more often than not, the winner has paid the next grade price or higher every time. Newman sale in November 2013 proved this in spades. and recently, an 1808 and 1809 in 64 brought 125% of market pricing.
And AU 58's are always priced very high.
Today, CBH's are among the highest demand series, for the rare and scarce varieties.
<< <i>Coin market values and availability are determined by some function of supply and demand, like all free market commodities. That simple observation brings up an interesting question, which is, "what US coins are at the top of the collector demand list?" In other words, suppose a dealer gets a certain item in his inventory at a show, and you'll have to fight off the other collectors with a stick just to get a look at it. What is it? >>
I'd imagine it'd need to be a coin that a number of people want to buy and a lot of people just want to look at. The Sirna Moose comes to mind as well as other famous rarities, e.g. 1913 Liberty Nickel, 1933 DE, etc.
Or will we ? People getting off buses , and lining up outside ? Made me think of ….. WalMart tomorrow.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>I'd toss out PQ - orig seated dollars. They rarely show up and are big, impressive coins on most every type collector's list. Nice ones sell immediately if the price is fair. You could also probably add anything bust in the 1793-1815 range. Collectors and dealers love that stuff. >>
<< <i>>>>I was thinking more along the line of specific coins like the 1909-S VDB Lincoln. Those are probably too available to win this title, though. There are many for sale at any major show, and it's more a matter of finding the money rather than finding the coin.
What about 1815/2 Bust halves? Chain cents? Nice 1909-o Barber quarters? 1809 and 1822 dimes in mid grade? Can these coins even survive an hour at a show if they're fairly priced? There are a lot of people looking for these coins, and they'd probably top my "high demand" list. Maybe I should have specified "demand outstrips supply."
Price is not necessarily the best indicator. I don't know too many collectors who are looking for an 1804 dollar right now, for example, so I would say overall demand is actually quite low. But the "blue collar" rarities like 1815/2 halves are on many collectors' want lists because they're within the realm of possibility.
<<< >>
twice "fair price" is mentioned, it seems that if something sells immediately, couldn't it be considered underpriced rather than fairly priced? (especially if the buyer is so eager)
On the other hand, I see dealers wonderful inventory of this top stuff and the coins sit and sit because it's priced high, I guess (the prices sure seem high to me) and nobody's snapping them up. In the original post it's "at a show", which is different, as someone didn't know what they had if they let it go cheap enough.
to the question, ""what US coins are at the top of the collector demand list?" In other words, suppose a dealer gets a certain item in his inventory at a show, and you'll have to fight off the other collectors with a stick just to get a look at it. What is it?"
I'd answer, "Early Gold" as any US gold pre 1833 is at least worth looking at. However, very little of it is for sale at what most collectors would consider a "fair price" unless someone doesn't know what they have there and gives it away. (is it raw?) speaking of "raw", another answer would be, "anything fresh and raw from an old collection that would grade well and make the submitter a lot of profits. Now That's a hot table at a show where they're selling wonderful uncertified coins, from an obviously virgin set, at "fair" prices, eh?
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry