So how low will the classic commems go?

bolivarshagnasty · May 16, 2016 10:51AM

Seems like the prices have been falling for several years. Just looked up a commem in the price guide and it is another sea of red. Have picked up a few I felt were superb for the grade, but it this a losing proposition? Opinions please.

MICHAELDIXON · May 16, 2016 10:56AM

Commems have been a roller coaster since I first started watching them in the 1970s. They are not for the faint of heart or investor.

Broadstruck · May 16, 2016 10:58AM

They can't go much lower as the prices between grades are starting to trip over one another.

So while you can buy a beautiful peripheral toned MS64 1921 Pilgrim for just pizza money over a AU example it's a great time to collect

sparky64 · May 16, 2016 11:05AM

I'd love a 1921 Pilgrim.

On my wish list.

TomB · May 16, 2016 11:16AM

I thought they had bottomed out in 1993, but I don't think they ever recovered.

CommemKing · May 16, 2016 11:23AM

It has made it a lot easier to pick up some nice new additions to my set. Seems like some pretty good material on the market now. I think many are dumping them and taking the loss. I, however will never give up as I have pretty much completely narrowed my collecting to my commem registry set. I love them too much!

SkyMan · May 16, 2016 11:37AM

Unless it is a MONSTER in MS68, then yes, I'd say it's a losing proposition.

Still, there are few things as attractive as a nicely toned Classic Commem. I'm happy with the ones I have, even though I have lost money on them. Of course, I like Franklins too, and they've been a losing proposition for just as long as Classic Commems...

Mark · May 16, 2016 11:38AM

I agree with CommemKing insofar as I, too, am working on a set of commemoratives. The price fall has been stunning. Coins I never thought I'd be able to afford are now in my collection. Of course, probably grading has changed so that the coins I couldn't afford two decades ago I still can't afford today.

Justacommeman · May 16, 2016 11:43AM

I keep waiting for the commems on my list to come in on price Sy and sadly they have not. I wait.

mark

Connecticoin · May 16, 2016 11:44AM

Prices seem to have leveled off, especially at the lower MS grades. Good time to pick up gems and superb gems.

kookoox10 · May 16, 2016 11:48AM

MS 64 and 65's are relative bargains right now, probably because there's so dang many graded by the TPGs in those grades. Like Broadstruck had eluded to, find one with a little color and you're set. I for one would stay away from problematic, ungraded material. Even if I were a set collector and not a person in the business end of the hobby.

Broadstruck · May 16, 2016 12:17PM

If you have an eye for the series you can make money even in a down market. There's a few collectors that have gotten upwards of 2 solid point upgrades on cracked and resubmitted older graded examples.

Not as easy as it sounds as prices having dropped hasn't really released a lot of killer commems into the market. Since most collectors in this series unless forced are holding out for better days and not selling at these price levels.

Cougar1978 · May 16, 2016 1:56PM

The Gettysburg in MS65 is higher than it was ten or fifteen years ago.

BG · May 16, 2016 2:35PM

Great bargains right now.

A coin with super color, even in 63, breaks out the fat wallets.

Not much lower to go.

Future looks bright.

Boosibri · May 16, 2016 5:30PM

I had this discussion over the weekend... I cannot see the desire to park capital into common coins in common grades.

Perhaps someone will have another mega promotion and we can start the 40 year boom and bust cycle again.

SaorAlba · May 16, 2016 8:18PM

I kind of don't mind that they are cheap, because I overlooked them for quite a long time and now dabble in them. In fact aside from the gold Merc, they have been my only coin purchases in the past couple of years.

Broadstruck · May 16, 2016 8:56PM

Originally posted by: Cougar1978

The Gettysburg in MS65 is higher than it was ten or fifteen years ago.

Prior to just a couple years ago you couldn't even find a Gettysburg in MS63-65 at any show. The lower mint state examples where being hoarded by two dealers on the east and west coasts by the hundreds expecting them to rise dramatically in 2011 with the 150th Civil War anniversary. I heard between the two of them they took over 900 sub MS66 TPG graded examples off the market. Gettysburg's in those lower grades have just been trickling back into the market within the last 2 years or so.

jesbroken · May 16, 2016 9:39PM

I think that eBay's practice of throwing classic commems with modern commems wears people searching for the classics out to the point of passing the commems by.

Jim

keets · May 16, 2016 9:45PM

MD said They are not for the faint of heart or investor.

Boosibri said I cannot see the desire to park capital

thes are great coins for a "collector" in the current market, there are many to choose from so if you're patient and know what you want it is a great time to buy. I can't see any kind of downside on buying coins like BG's Vancouver: it's a pleasing design in a nice collector grade with attractive tone, I can't see having any difficulty in selling that, but why would you want to??!!??

Barberian · May 16, 2016 9:49PM

Huh? One can easily sort out classic commems from modern commems on Ebay.

erwindoc · May 16, 2016 10:10PM

I have tried to pick up a Columbian half twice in the last 2 weeks for a type set. The first was an1893 MS65* that was on Heritage. It went for strong money. The next was an 1892 PCGS MS65 with even better toning and went for even stronger money on GC over the weekend, but both had very nice toning. I don't know where either of these sold for several years ago though.

oih82w8 · May 16, 2016 10:31PM

Always loved the Panama Pacific, Texas, Oregon and San Diego Commemorative Half Dollars from when I was a kid. Add a little tone/color and watch them BLOOM;

ricko · May 16, 2016 10:43PM

Yep... lower prices.... except when I want to buy one...

... well, I guess because I look at

the better ones.... I assembled a 'personal interest' set some years ago.. and they were more

costly then.... but when I look for upgrades... the prices are not cheap. Oh well... Cheap coins are not good, and good coins are not cheap. Cheers, RickO

sparky64 · May 16, 2016 10:57PM

Originally posted by: Boosibri

I had this discussion over the weekend... I cannot see the desire to park capital into common coins in common grades.

I like US history.

To me they're mini history lessons on sliver discs.

It's why I've parked a few in my collection.

I also understand that some were contrived and that the commem program was abused at times.

JJSingleton · May 16, 2016 11:01PM

I've ridden the prices down for the past 15 years. Still have four more to go to complete my 50 type set. Sure glad I collect for fun and not for investment.

bolivarshagnasty · May 16, 2016 11:14PM

Looks like most feel that the commems are a risky investment, but all would like to own a few favorites. I guess that's where I am. Considering not a complete set, but a few favorites. Here is a 66 Texas I picked up recently.

messydesk · May 16, 2016 11:40PM

I didn't collect these as an investment. I collected them because they're cool, and the series contains some of the best numismatic artwork produced by the mint.

Like many series where there is a selection of coins available at any given grade, eye appeal is king when finding the good values, and this doesn't necessarily mean monster toning and pop top grades. Taking that into consideration, these suddenly become more difficult to find.

roadrunner · May 16, 2016 11:41PM

The downward slide for over 90% of all MS63-MS67 classic commems has been going on since the 1989 peak, 27 years. Top pops, toners, and a few dates are the exceptions. It was so insane in 1989 that MS65 Columbian halves were in the $3500-$4500 range. While many of those coins are 66's or even 67's today, you're probably still well underwater.

Good collector coins for sure. Just don't call 90% of them an "investment." When the rare coin market roared back in 2003-2008 I don't think classic commems recorded much more than a blip.

DeepCoin · May 16, 2016 11:56PM

For me, the classic commemoratives are very similar to doing one of the big type sets. Every coin is different, giving you the opportunity to learn about each one. Also, differing from series date and mm sets is that you are not looking at the same coin with a different date all the time. That is the beauty of collecting, there is something for everyone and no "right" way to collect.

LindeDad · May 17, 2016 12:00AM

Originally posted by: Barberian

Huh? One can easily sort out classic commems from modern commems on Ebay.

just check one box, right.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 17, 2016 12:04AM

Beautiful series and one I'll never complete, but love dabbling in; in the field of numismatics, through commemoratives.

CommemKing · May 17, 2016 12:41AM

I like US history.
To me they're mini history lessons on sliver discs.
It's why I've parked a few in my collection.

I also understand that some were contrived and that the commem program was abused at times.

Exactly why I do it. I study them each individually almost every night. I pretty obsessed. Nothing better than seeing the whole set right there in front of you. Its something everyone should do.

I have taken my set to the few shows I have done and people look through all 50 and look amazed at seeing a perfect example of each one right in front of their faces. I quite like showing it off in hopes I will spark some new interest.

I mean...Come on, what's not to like?!:

Wabbit2313 · May 17, 2016 12:45AM

Originally posted by: roadrunner
It was so insane in 1989 that MS65 Columbian halves were in the $3500-$4500 range. While many of those coins are 66's or even 67's today, you're probably still well underwater.
.

That is very interesting! I looked at Heritage and in 1993 the 65's were still selling for a grand or more. Paying the 1989 amount would like a scar forever!

roadrunner · May 17, 2016 12:58AM

Originally posted by: Wabbit2313

Originally posted by: roadrunner

It was so insane in 1989 that MS65 Columbian halves were in the $3500-$4500 range. While many of those coins are 66's or even 67's today, you're probably still well underwater.

.

That is very interesting! I looked at Heritage and in 1993 the 65's were still selling for a grand or more. Paying the 1989 amount would like a scar forever!

Those halves were under a strong promotion even into 1990. My brother had one that he picked up raw from a local dealer as gem MS65 for around $400 several years earlier. He showed it to me along with some other commems he was thinking of selling. It was heads and tails better than the others. I though it had high point cheek rub and might grade 58-64. I sent it in for him and it graded MS65. On the CDN it was still around $3200-$3500 bid. Talk about luck. I called up Larry Whitlow and he offered us $2800 for it. He told me about the promotion and I thought he was just trying to get it cheaper. Larry also said don't wait too long or the price could really drop. Well, we dragged our feet for several months or longer and they indeed dropped fast....down to $1200 bid! At that point it was sold figuring there was still plenty of downside, esp. based on Larry's promotion information. Better to get a 3X gain than a 0X gain.

bestday · May 17, 2016 1:02AM

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

joebb21 · May 17, 2016 2:41AM

I have always wanted to do a set and as prices have been dropping I have been building

shorecoll · May 17, 2016 4:55AM

It seems to be that a lot of the ones people have dumped are low end for the grade. During the promotions lots of 64's sneak into 65 holders, etc. Rick Snow has written how this hurts the IHC market, it likely hurts the commems as well. Buyer beware but there are some bargains out there.

mozin · May 17, 2016 5:33AM

I started collecting the full set of commemoratives back in January 1998 at the Fun show. I see that most of the inexpensive coins I bought in these eighteen years are now worth less than what I paid for them. The more expensive ones appear to be holding their value far better. My bids on coins I need are not often high enough to win. Maybe won three in the past year or so.

Good thing that commems are only a small part of the value of my collection.

Justacommeman · May 17, 2016 5:46AM

Originally posted by: bestday

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

I have not been able to buy any superbly toned ones in 67 or 68 for my Oregon set the past two years and I actively look. I know of a few others working on the same project.

mark

TommyType · May 17, 2016 5:57AM

Originally posted by: Justacommeman

Originally posted by: bestday

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

I have not been able to buy any superbly toned ones in 67 or 68 for my Oregon set the past two years and I actively look. I know of a few others working on the same project.

mark

If your goal is a bit more modest, I picked up a PCGS MS-66, white, and CAC for about $260 not that long ago on GC. That's well below the PCGS price guide....

I suspect this is just another example of there being two related, but entirely separate discussions going on here: High end vs. moderate coins.

For that reason, it's a rather interesting thread to follow!

epcjimi1 · May 17, 2016 6:06AM

ebay search for iowa under coins shows this MS67...

"SAVE ON MARKDOWNS See all eligible items" -

@ about $400, the price is a 747 dragging its tail either on takeoff or landing.

I am not associated with this sale

MHO.

1946 NGC MS67 IOWA Rainbow Color Tone Purple Blue Silver Commemorative Half

sparky64 · May 17, 2016 6:21AM

Originally posted by: TommyType

Originally posted by: Justacommeman

Originally posted by: bestday

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

I have not been able to buy any superbly toned ones in 67 or 68 for my Oregon set the past two years and I actively look. I know of a few others working on the same project.

mark

If your goal is a bit more modest, I picked up a PCGS MS-66, white, and CAC for about $260 not that long ago on GC. That's well below the PCGS price guide....

I suspect this is just another example of there being two related, but entirely separate discussions going on here: High end vs. moderate coins.

For that reason, it's a rather interesting thread to follow!

I agree, two separate but connected discussions.

To take the Oregon one more step to the modest (my 'hood), I picked up an MS 64 for about 60% of PCGS guide. Really nice for the grade, imho.

Couldn't be happier with it.

Justacommeman · May 17, 2016 6:23AM

Originally posted by: TommyType

Originally posted by: Justacommeman

Originally posted by: bestday

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

I have not been able to buy any superbly toned ones in 67 or 68 for my Oregon set the past two years and I actively look. I know of a few others working on the same project.

mark

If your goal is a bit more modest, I picked up a PCGS MS-66, white, and CAC for about $260 not that long ago on GC. That's well below the PCGS price guide....

I suspect this is just another example of there being two related, but entirely separate discussions going on here: High end vs. moderate coins.

For that reason, it's a rather interesting thread to follow!

I suspect you are correct

mark

bolivarshagnasty · May 17, 2016 6:31AM

Originally posted by: Justacommeman

Originally posted by: TommyType

Originally posted by: Justacommeman

Originally posted by: bestday

Always wanted to own Oregons... how have they fared last couple years ?

I have not been able to buy any superbly toned ones in 67 or 68 for my Oregon set the past two years and I actively look. I know of a few others working on the same project.

mark

If your goal is a bit more modest, I picked up a PCGS MS-66, white, and CAC for about $260 not that long ago on GC. That's well below the PCGS price guide....

I suspect this is just another example of there being two related, but entirely separate discussions going on here: High end vs. moderate coins.

For that reason, it's a rather interesting thread to follow!

I suspect you are correct

mark

I too just bought an uber white Oregon in 66. Haven't received it yet. 249 and free shipping.

BG · May 17, 2016 6:42AM

Nice coins all and nice discussions.

Bob C. image.

Cougar1978 · May 17, 2016 8:54AM

I love buying them and as they get cheaper my thirst intensifies.

These are beautiful classic coins with fantastic designs coins minted in an era forever gone. Putting together a complete Oregon Trail Set is an adventure in itself.

CommemKing · May 17, 2016 10:20AM

White commems somehow lack the "history" feeling they attain. It's my goal to rid my set of white commems. There's a couple I might keep, but white commems no matter the grade are a dime a dozen. The only way to make a good looking set is to have unique and original toned coins. My set is a good example. I'm working hard on upgrades right now. keep watching the link below.

Most of these coins toned naturally in their holders or shipping material. The tone tells a story as to how they were produced packed and shipped and eventually stored. Whit commems imo don't have much appeal. Good luck with them if that's your thing.

bolivarshagnasty · May 17, 2016 10:48AM

Originally posted by: CommemKing

White commems somehow lack the "history" feeling they attain. It's my goal to rid my set of white commems. There's a couple I might keep, but white commems no matter the grade are a dime a dozen. The only way to make a good looking set is to have unique and original toned coins. My set is a good example. I'm working hard on upgrades right now. keep watching the link below.

Most of these coins toned naturally in their holders or shipping material. The tone tells a story as to how they were produced packed and shipped and eventually stored. Whit commems imo don't have much appeal. Good luck with them if that's your thing.

I'm going to disagree. If the white coins have original mint luster, I prefer them to a russet rim toned example. Bright colors are a different story, and bring big bucks. I looked at your set, and keep me in mind if you are moving a white example out for a toned one. Did I buy this one from you? Love it.

CommemKing · May 17, 2016 10:58AM

I think you might have. I had a blazer that looked just like that. MS65 that should be a MS66+. I don't hate it because I had it a long time. I just want a little something to talk about when it comes to these.

claychaser · May 17, 2016 11:18AM

Originally posted by: oih82w8
Always loved the Panama Pacific, Texas, Oregon and San Diego Commemorative Half Dollars from when I was a kid. Add a little tone/color and watch them BLOOM;

I see a few factors that have killed the classic commem market:

1. The "Beanie Baby" flood of modern commem product from the US Mint has taken flooded the market, and I think that has spread into the classic commem market.

2. There is a glut of dipped out and lifeless commems in holders, and those just do not look like the two great coins pictured here. I for one would rather have a nice original toned or original white coin in a 61-63 grade rather than some life-less 65 or 66 that has been dipped or has ugly toning. But the price guides to not factor this in. But I do think a two tier market may be starting.

Walkerfan · May 17, 2016 1:18PM

Originally posted by: TomB

I thought they had bottomed out in 1993, but I don't think they ever recovered.

I didn't like them then and I don't like them now.

I have this hang-up that makes me only want to collect a coin that actually circulated in commerce. That is what makes the coin exciting IMHO to find that conditionally scarce, absolute rarity.

That being said----the above statements are only MY opinion and I certainly wouldn't begrudge anyone that collected these coins.

I must admit that I have seen some that have beautiful designs and with incredible toning, so I can appreciate their beauty and understand the mindset. They are just not for me.

So how low will the classic commems go?

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