From coins to classic cars: Which investments have really paid off?
TopographicOceans
Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
TopographicOceans
Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
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Investment should be a term used loosely when speaking of antiquities.
I started collecting coins in the late 1980's. A few coins I've owned have appreciated nicely but nothing compared to my Corvette.
Paid $5,100 in 1979, used it every year some and today it's valued in the mid $40,000 range.
That list seems blatantly wrong.
In every category there's a subset of items that have done well and it seems to change with generations. Cars from the 80s like the Lamborghini Countach have really done well over the last decade. Collectible video games have started to become a thing.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Antique radios. Have dual uses. They are functional and decorative with their many styles/colors.
I paid more for my vette, but it has still done pretty well. Some of the coins have done well but surely not as well when you look at the % on the whole dollar amount.
My coins have done very well but my guns from the 40's, 50's and 60's have done much better.
bob:)
So, I'm basically transitioning some of my collectors energy into classic VW automobiles. Mainly the Bus.
I'm employing my collector gene on information and parts sourcing. At first I didn't realize it would be such a pain to fine original gear, but I've been able to make it fun. Spending literally hundreds if hours cleaning and fitment of parts and immersing myself on the whole culture.
I was telling my 8 year old son that life doesn't revolve around Nerf guns and he quips "life isn't all about the Bus and searching for parts all day on the iPad!" I say come on dude, I just want it done so we cn can go camping sooner.... I get a satisfactory grin peaking at the corner of his mouth. So, compared to coins, a 20 dollar part or there about is really no problem and there is a lot more practical things I can do with it compared to flipping it over in my hand. Only drawbacks are it takes up my garage and a lot of my house and coins not so much.
Not that I'm selling my coins to do this but man, there is an army of folks searching competitively to have classic VDubs and I'm really not nervous putting my money into one.
A lot of parrelels in the two hobbies, like originality is key and not to clean them "improperly", also, get a mentor. Back to paying dues, but it's really fun. Time will tell if it's a good investment or not for either, but I know I'll be making memories with the auto. I don't care if I get out alive money wise, you only live once.
Except for toy trains.
Yes....that would be the exception.
That list is a load of horse manure. Coins did well? Ummm, let's look at the PCGS 3000 over the last 10 years as a broad based index. Started at ~ 6600, it's now at ~ 6,000.
Also, what is Art as a category? They talk about modern pieces doing the best. Well, surprise, surprise, MOST "modern art" has NOT done well. There are many modern works of art created by artists that were recognized in the last 50 years that have absolutely toileted. Clearly there ARE pieces of modern art that have done well, but they tend to be by the most famous of the modern artists. Even there, many of the most famous, like Andy Warhol, have backtracked recently.
Stamps have done well? What is this list maker smoking?
One thing I would suggest is that across pretty much every field, top of the line items have done the best.
Oh, and one field (granted a small field given total auction and resale dollar amounts) that has not been listed, but has done VERY well over the last 10 years, is early space memorabilia, particularly items from the Apollo Moon missions.
U.S. Type Set
I have done it all wrong, the only bright spot was I bought a Buick grand national in 1990 and drove it 175,000 miles and soldout last year for double what I paid for it. I have a 79 corvette andI I will never see it do a thing and I bought it 20 years ago for cents on the dollar. I passed on a BuickGNX for 23k 15 years ago from a friend. That would be have been a winner. Friend owns a body shop lost 40k on a 63 split window sold a few years back at AZ auction. A hand full of guns have done well but they are slow now. The Sandy hook disaster paid for 3 gun safes full of guns I now have. Lucky timing, disaster seems to be the big driver
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
A $30k Porsche 356 10 years ago might bring you $150k today. A $40k Porsche 993 turbo 10 years ago would fetch $160k today.
Lance.
The difference between cars and coins is cars are always eating away at your wallet! Ask me how I know?
Few collectibles are good "investments". A small number of trophy items do well but most will result in a loss when sold. Buyers often fail to "full cost" their "investment" collectibles and, as a result, some profits are an illusion. Think of what it costs to store, insure and maintain cars or other bulky collectibles.
For a collectible to return a good true profit you really have to be into it before it becomes popular. In the world of coins an example would be collecting Capped Bust Halves back in the 1960s or 1970s. They were very cheap at the time and collecting by Overton number had not really caught on. Today they are very popular but, as a market, are very mature as well. Big future gains are doubtful unless the collector population grows substantially.
I'd go on a rant but will save it for eBay. About investments? I'm not the go to guy.
I have never ever, ever lost money on a gun. Many have appreciated immensely. I have quite a few in my collection where there are less than 5 examples in the country and while condition can be important there is no necessity to have a TPG assign it a grade.They are very desirable and buyers are lined up either waiting for me to sell or die. Plus with guns unlike coins you actually ARE required to clean them. That's is half the fun...taking them out, holding a piece of history and letting your friends handle them rather than than having to look at them through a piece of plastic. One downside is they do take up a lot more room than my coins and are a little harder to sneak past my wife.