A downside of rising prices.
Maywood
Posts: 2,930 ✭✭✭✭✭
It seems that for every positive thing that happens there is an inversely equal negative happening and it tends to hold true in our Hobby,
Beginning about 4-5 years ago I once again became interested in Classic Commemorative Half-Dollars as prices steadily slid lower and some really attractive coins became available at reasonable prices, coins graded MS64-66. Bright white coins didn't dominate the auction sites and dealer webpages, although they were still plentiful. I managed to buy several nice coins, designs I like with tone that wasn't over-the-top but pleasant to look at. I was finally able to own what I had only looked at but things didn't last very long. After a few years the number of nicely toned coins started to shrink. I can only believe others were doing what I was doing.
Eventually we arrived back where it seems the market for Commems always ends up, dominated by bright white coins and MS67-68 toned coins. I did some looking around this morning after several months of having given up and that's really all I saw. I swear, it seems like about 75% of all Commems ever struck are white, Heaven for @ricko I suppose, but not so for me. I'm left wondering how long it might be before the tide turns again and the pleasant toners show up.
Timing is everything, I guess. I'll pay attention and hope I can catch the turn.
Maywood.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
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They are already showing up. I’ve sold about $30k worth of high graded toned commems.
Glad we weren't fighting over this one back in 2018!
@Maywood .... There are some nice BW commems out there.... Perhaps you should buy a couple and put them in old albums for a couple of years...
Cheers, RickO
Btw, go look at current Heritage auctions for MS68 booker T’s. I believe one is up to $14k already.
I too look daily as I get eBay email updates each morning and feel on that site 90% is white and anything else has ho-hum toning. There have been some darker ones offered lately for strong asking prices which are terminally toned. I guess the prices will need to rise a bit more for nicer examples to reenter the market as with the lower levels they have remained in strong hands.
Consecutive serial numbers. You just need to know where to look. I constantly sell on Instagram.
Consecutive serial #’s
I had to pay up for my favorite toned Commem when it showed up for auction in 2021. While blast white commems have struggled in the past, nicely toned examples have often seen a premium (even in down markets). I believe nicely toned commems will not see much of a decrease even if the blast white start falling significantly again (in large part due to the supply of them being fairly low vs untoned examples).
The upside is all the ones you own have gone up in value.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Some of us are having too much fun collecting them to consider selling them:
There is a forum member selling several nicely but not monster toned commems on the BST. Not my coins and I'm not involved with the sale but if you have not seen them maybe something there for you.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
68 CAC I sold.
As Broadstruck mentioned, until prices rise or you find a buyer who will pay the premium for quality and color, the nicer coins are going to remain off the market
Commems and Early Type
I came across this beautiful Lafayette in 65cac at the fun show. I really loved the patina with a subtle blue hue. The dealer that had it was a wholesaler out of Encino, CA. I collect gold and I couldn’t pull the trigger but the coin vas very appealing to me.
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@DeplorableDan, that one looks satiny smooth!!
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
There were a few nice 64 and 65 commems listed a few days ago on eBay by a certain seller. I can PM you a link if you want to take a look. Most have a brownish original looking tone, but a one or two have some attractive rim tone.
That Lafayette is one commemorative I have always wanted in BU. Seems to be a difficult one to locate. I am curious about his price.....
I think you honestly lucked out by not buying that coin. The “cigarette burn” style tone on the reverse is a tough selling point if you decided to ever let it go. A better example will come along.