Numismatic Promotions

tyler267

I know in the past Numismatic Promotions were fairly common and led to wild price swings. Some of the ones I remember are Proof Type, Classic Commems, Patterns. I know there are lots of others including some moderns like the Gold Kennedy Half.

With the exception of cornering the market on new mint issues, How common are promotions in todays Numismatic Market Place? I'm also curious if the availability of information to the average collector is making it harder to make money promoting coins.

Also, if anyone has any stories about successful or unsuccessful promotions I'd Love to hear them.

Sonorandesertrat

The 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent was used as the basis for running up prices of matte proof Lincolns. I bought a handful of really nice 65-66 RD coins in PCGS Rattler holders out of a small hoard that one dealer had in 2007, mostly as an investment. Sure enough, retail prices marched up (as the hawking of early date Lincolns increased), exceeding my purchase prices by more than 100% by early 2009. Of course, the collector in me just would not let go of them, so my paper profits evaporated as the 'dump' phase set in after the centennial passed. My bad. Moral of the story: If one is going to invest in coins, don't think like a hard-core collector and fall in love with your coins.

Justacommeman

MPL's seemed to be the standard bearer most recently

mark

shorecoll

I think it was hoarder, not a promo, but someone ran up Gettysburg commems a few years back.

ricko

As soon as you see hype - the respectable term is promotions - walk away. Unless, of course, you are an accomplished flipper.... 'Accomplished' means you are a) Not a collector, b) You have the funds c) you are very fast at reselling - that means you have scoped your market opportunities and targeted outlets. If that does not describe you as an individual, then walk away for a year or so and you will have saved a lot of money AND be able to get the coin (if you really still want it). Cheers, RickO

ctf_error_coins

I tried promoting a coin ( 2005 Two Horned Bison) and even got it published in Coinworld. The promotion worked at first but very quickly faded.

The 2005 Speared Bison promotion by Sue was extremely successful and the price still holds today.

The 2009 Lincoln million error cent varieties promotion that was highly promoted here, I think at first worked, but became a tremendous fail, imo.

Those are just a few that come to mind in my world.

DpvReno

Not in the Market place, but the Atlantis Casino in Reno is giving away GSA Uncirculated Morgans if you hit a special 4-4 keno spot.
Still not worth it from an odds perspective, but I admit, I have played during dinner on occasion.

BackroadJunkie

Those free mint bags really drove the sales of the BBHoF commems.

Oh wait...

northcoin

Add California Fractional Gold to the list.

Dentuck

This isn't the same kind of Numismatic Promotion™ you're referring to, but remember not too long ago the Mint would ship boxes of Sacagawea dollars at face value (with free shipping)?

Elcontador

In the mid 1960s, it was the 50 D Nickel and BU rolls of 1955S cents.
Around 1999, a Liberty Nickel in MS 66 was going for about $800. Problem was, none seemed to be available. At a Superior auction soon after, a full 24 of them became available. Bidders went ape----. The nicest one, an attractively toned 1887, went for $2,400. The others, mostly common dates, went for around $1,600.

Prices for common dates dropped slightly, and stayed that way for many years. The better dates were bid up further. In 2014, that 1887 would have fetched a good $4-5K because of its color.

The market for these cratered in the last two to three years due to exploding pops.

Another one was a run on MS 65 Capped Bust Halves in PC holders about 2004. Many colorful coins in this grade appeared around then, they were slabbed and people couldn't get enough of them. Prices went from something like $4-5K to double that for common later dates.

Price wise, the coins have held their own. Better dates in this grade have increased in value, common dates have dropped in price a bit, but not hideously.