The two tier market
All of the doom and gloom about how the numismatic market is in trouble.......... What is really in trouble are the lower quality for the grade coins. When buyers become educated, these types of coins are no longer desirable.
The link below is for a coin I viewed in hand at FUN during Ha lot viewing. The images don't do it justice. It is an A+ coin all of the way. Certainly not an MS grade as there is heavy rub, but with a nice rotating luster under the light underlying what is toning that took a long time to acquire. The 50-O's come poorly struck with rusted dies. Yet it went for 2x market price because liberty seated specialists recognized its a high quality example that will be hard to find again for years. So quality coins are still going for very strong money. Silly me, I thought I could get that one for an aggressive bid of $1,700 because everyone says the market is down......
Best, SH
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The "doom and gloom" discussed on most coin forums is about the price level. The coin you profiled will always be desired by a collector (as opposed to many other coins which are owned by speculators and non-collectors). The "doom and gloom" usually described on coin forums just means most or all coins will be worth less than in the past under current financial bubble conditions.
The ways to collect for me now include:
The middling coins where you care about the spend but will go down in value is the danger spot.
Ah the perennial doom and gloom of the coin market. Well, I cannot speak for dealers, however, I have been hearing this same refrain here for over a decade... If the market were really tanking, there would be no market left by now. The FUN show seems to indicate otherwise...I will continue to collect.... and look for bargains in this 'down' market - Have not seen any .... Cheers, RickO
I always felt that when one gets out of whack real collectors bring the other group up.
It's like Camaro vs Mustang which is best? Well one been in continuous production since birth.
While both groups trash talk, the little 4 or 6 banger kept the Mustang in production because of a base outside the enthusiast. The base is lost and we may have an issue🥂
JMO
Humans will always collect and accumulate stuff.
Coins happen to be easy to arrange and store and have residual value.
I don't think the market is even "two tier." It's just not the "buy any crap offered at any price" market of 2000 - 2008.
Many years ago historian Paul Fussell wrote a book "Class" that may be relevant to this topic, I recommend it.
People can always try to upgrade, some people collect just certain company holders, others collect the coin, not the holder. Others are adversely swayed by peers who complain that their coins are overgraded. "To thine own self be true"; I should have used that six word saying from Shakespeare with the P.F. challenge.
No matter how you perceive the numismatic market, the FUN auction had over $40M in sales. Add in the bourse floor business for more millions. As a collector, two of the three coins I purchased had active bidding ahead of hammer. Not a dead market to be sure.
Edit: High price could not be related to market at all. It was lot #7777.
High quality for the grade coins are in demand.
Low price for the grade coins are also in demand.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
There has ALWAYS been, and will ALWAYS be, over-graded lower-quality coins marketed and promoted as "choice" items.
I have to laugh when I see dealers lament that they didn't have a good show because they couldn't buy high-end (for the grade) coins at low-end (for the grade) prices.
I also get a little turned off by dealers who repeatedly proclaim that everything they have is great and everything that everyone else is buying and selling is "dreck".
Anyway, the point to my post is that everything has a price. Take a hypothetical coin that, in average quality for the grade, has a market value of $1,000. And a premium eye appeal coin of the same technical grade is valued at $1,800, while a lower-quality (for the same technical grade) is valued at $600. In this scenario the difference between the upper end ($1,800) and lower end ($600) is substantial, especially in percentage terms.
The difference has been diverging (increasing price disparity). But at some point, this difference becomes so great that the lower-end coin (if bought at the right price) is actually the bargain.
Sure it's not "two tear" market?
Seated quarters have many a scarce date. Still, that price went for double prior auction histories. So, it is good we get to pay a lot more for our coins?
Yes, if one wants quality one will have to pay alot more. OTH, one can buy a scrubbed/cleaned/dipped out AU with a numerical grade for much less. So pay a lot more, but get higher quality. I think that collectors are becoming more educated on what quality is, such that coins like this will be more valued, messed with coins, not. Good to see, but shows that published price guides are just that, only a 'guide' on true value.
Best, SH
Successful transactions with-Boosibri,lkeigwin,TomB,Broadstruck,coinsarefun,Type2,jom,ProfLiz, UltraHighRelief,Barndog,EXOJUNKIE,ldhair,fivecents,paesan,Crusty...
Higher prices should be preferred for anyone who either is selling or contemplating selling their collection or part of it. Otherwise, it makes no sense. I agree with you and never understood why anyone who is still in the accumulation stage prefers higher prices which mean they get to pay more. As someone who does not intend to sell their core collection, the only benefit of higher prices is that it increases the minimal supply of the coins I collect somewhat.