How Old Does Something Have To Be...
Broadstruck
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To not instantly at first glance deem it Modern Junk?
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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One year after I was born. I was still a classic. After that, not so much!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
1999
99% percent of my coins are modern junk
1965
Post 1964 is a nice cut off. One could also use post 1939, post 1945, or post 1958. I'm sure others have different view points.
1933
I don't think a time frame exists that would cover all the differing perspectives.
Similarly, how does one define "Modern Junk".
A controversial subject, pornography was once defined by a politician: "I know it when I see it".
I wouldn't call modern coins junk, but I see the end of the Walking Liberty Half to be the end of a great era for regular and commemorative coinage, so I would say 1947
Commems and Early Type
Not that I’m a big registry participant, but would like to see the type series end at 1965.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I used to go with 1964 then I bumped it up to 1999.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
1916
Modern and junk are certainly separate categories to me, but ‘64 is usually my cutoff for what is and isn’t modern coinage.
Junk knows no such bounds.
It depends. Is it presidential... then most likely modern junk. The presidential exception for me is pre-1930 Lincolns.
I think years ago, this was the benchmark. Because as I understand it, starting in 1934, coin collecting became more popular, and dealers began saving rolls and bags of the current coins. Prior to that, not so much. Makes sense to me.
2000
Age has nothing to do with it. I wouldn't consider a 2009 UHR Saint to be junk. I would consider a holed large cent to be junk.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Nothing I'm really interested in post 1958 because of Lincoln wheat cents and actually Pre1948.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
On a more serious note. I have always split my inventory into 2 sections. The 1st being what I consider type coins ending with Large Cents, 2 + 3 cents, Liberty Seated Design and Trade Dollars. The 2nd starts with Indian Cents, V-Nickels, Barbers, and Morgan Dollars.
I agree. Modern does not have to be junk.
Just as a little different perspective, I was looking at a dealer's site who sells French coins. Their inventory was in categories like Medieval, Early Kings, and then Modern coins. Modern coins were anything after 1799. Different frame of reference, I guess.
All a matter of perspective. In 1909, Indians, Barbers, and Gold Libs were all modern junk.
There is no junk in numismatics.
But! If I HAD to call a date it would be just as soon as the mint took the humanity out of the making of the dies using computers to do everything . In my mind that’s when the BIG change happed.
Produced for circulation back before coins were widely "made for and marketed to collectors" Personally, my date is 1839, so about 180 years old.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Whenever it was they started using computers to design coins and all low relief.
Have you seen some of the parking lot finds posted here?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I was born in the modern junk era.
1982.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Evidently he has not seen the vast majority of my hoard when sorted out by weight or volume...
1964 and before. But there's some modern "junk" I like, too. Here's a few I like-
Used to be that you could get "Antique Plates" in NY for a car that was over 25 years old...
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Besides the UHR's, other modern coins I love are the SSCA $50 gold slugs, Libertas Americana restrikes and the gold Buffalo bullion proof coins.
I wouldn't use the term "junk", but I too would use 1964 as the cutoff for "modern". I've used 2000 as the max for my type set though, but haven't included clad - perhaps I do view clad coinage as "junk", a bias I've carried ever since we debased our coins in 1965.
It is all a matter of perspective. Some collectors like modern coins, some collectors only like copper coins...There is no designated demarcation.... Collect what you like and enjoy the hobby - your collection, your coins. Cheers, RickO
Junk can come in any date. Would say Modern is post-1964. But could argue post-1945 too. Was trying to think of criteria for Modern vs Classic. Would say Modern is when a proof grades below PR70Dcam and falls off the pricing cliff. So grade is the primary driver.
Classic would be where scarcity is the driver. A classic would catch bids at any grade and even no grades.
Tough to define.
Link to 1950 - 1964 Proof Registry Set
1938 - 1964 Proof Jeffersons w/ Varieties
Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word junk. I have amended that word with quotation marks.
One person's junk is another's treasure
I agree with the plethora of parking lot PMD ... now that's modern junk ... otherwise it's all good.
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I think for me it has to be something minted in the 1980s or before to not instantly think of it as modern.
True, but a holed large cent wouldn't be "modern" junk.
But would you consider a holed UHR to be junk gold?
It could be for collectors of Roman Empire coins!
For me the cut off is 2019, I won’t even look at one of those or 2020 but 2018 now we’re talking.
There is desirable coins from every era and there is junk from every era. To give extreme examples, an ancient Roman bronze coin that's extremely corroded is junk while a 2020 cent struck over a 2020 dime is an extremely neat and desirable mint error coin.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
1485
the date where "Modern" begins is a moving line that tends to be defined by some sort of revolutionary change in design, production or alloy. for a long time that was 1965 when we moved away from Silver to CuNi while keeping the same designs and production methods. judging from the replies in this thread it seems that the next defined line for "Modern" will somehow be tied to production methods.
Wait what? There’s already one of those?
The correct term is Modern Crap™, because anything can be junk.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
What was the most modern coin Pogue had? I know he had a 1943-D Jefferson War Nickel I wanted but am not too sure past that.
No such thing modern junk. It all adds up.
I don’t believe in date cutoffs lol especially if good profit potential. Many people collect by bd, anniversary date, theme, etc.
Recently made many multiples x cost on mod scarce variety picked off from online (non bay) auc house.
Modern junk? Ha ha am laughing all way to bank.
Post 1836...If it was minted on a steam press...it's modern.
Post 1964 I don't collect really..
hmmmm
1970 and before for half dollars
1958 and before for cents
1964 and before dimes and quarters
nickels? 1963?
1935 and before for dollars
1933 and before for gold
1954 and before for commemoratives
any half dime & any half cent & any 20 cents
worthy?