Home U.S. Coin Forum

Wealth Distribution – How Much Do You Keep in Coins?

2»

Comments

  • winestevenwinesteven Posts: 5,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 20, 2025 3:03PM

    @Old_Collector said:

    I wonder if @winesteven keeps track of his melt value? :D

    I see this is not a serious question, but I don’t. I have about 16 or so gold coins, all numismatic. Despite silver being near all-time highs, the melt value of my silver coins is minuscule compared to market value. Similar for my gold.

    Yes, stackers have done phenomenally well, and I’m happy for them!

    Steve

    A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!

    My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
    https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,582 ✭✭✭✭✭

    To paraphrase Blind Willie Johnson: It's Nobody's Fault but Mine...and Nobody's Business but Mine.

  • CatbertCatbert Posts: 7,750 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MidLifeCrisis said:
    To paraphrase Blind Willie Johnson: It's Nobody's Fault but Mine...and Nobody's Business but Mine.

    And Led Zeppelin!

    Seated Half Society member #38
    "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
  • DisneyFanDisneyFan Posts: 2,550 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As one who was taught at an early age the value of saving for the future by parents who lived through the depression, I actually found it interesting to read the different perspectives as to whether coin collecting is a hobby or an investment.

  • seatedlib3991seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,292 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So true about Zed. PRESENCE is my favorite Zed album. James

  • rte592rte592 Posts: 1,927 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    I seem to have offended people with my thread. That was not my intention. I was just simply curious as to the opinions of others.

    I forgot what I all have so it's hard to put a percentage on it. Should have eaten less and bought more when it was cheap :D

  • SwampboySwampboy Posts: 13,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:

    @Catbert said:
    I'm going to give a curmudgeonly response: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! ;)

    That was my first thought. :D

    Where's Russ?
    "TMI"
    😅

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • 2ndCharter2ndCharter Posts: 1,713 ✭✭✭✭✭

    As long as it's not interfering with your other obligations in life (family, home, retirement) who really cares?

    That is exactly my situation - I have a significant amount tied up in my ongoing collection of National Bank Notes but the house is paid off, the kids have their own homes, no other debt, and thanks to a Tier 1 Pension from New York State - a healthy income and paid medical insurance for the rest of my life. At 75, I'm still working almost full-time and putting a good chunk of it in the hobby and having a ball.

    Member ANA, SPMC, SCNA, FUN, CONECA

  • NeophyteNumismatistNeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DisneyFan said:
    Earlier this year I posted a poll and 76 forum members anonymously participated.

    In that poll 94% of our members spend more than $1,000 per year on coins. Of that group, the majority, 59% spend over $5,000. And 36% spend more than $25,000.

    Based on the above, I think the percentage of total assets tied up in coins is much higher than many posters want to publicly admit. Particularly when referring to it as only a hobby. Either that or those polled collect coins for only a few years and then move on to other interests.

    I suggest a truer reading of the amount of assets in coins could be obtained by creating an anonymous poll. :)

    I don't think these two things are mutually exclusive. I have not been collecting nearly as long as I have been investing. When I first started (2020), I probably spent 10% of my income (not assets) and the second year, I think I did the same.

    My spending is now going down, and I have not bought a coin all year (I did trade for one). Why? Two reasons... 1) the coins I want have continuously gotten more expensive and 2) my collection has grown that the cumulative spend over the years might represent 1-2% of my total total liquid investments (not including real estate, 401K, or other property) . While, I consider this a hobby (not an investment), I do look as what I have as a total of my holdings to assess whether I am being responsible in the hobby. I love coins, so I could get carried away if I didn't think this way.

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • NeophyteNumismatistNeophyteNumismatist Posts: 1,117 ✭✭✭✭✭

    correction - I bought a coin last week for $50. I like the coin, but that spend is not meaningful in a % of income or assets conversation.

    I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.

  • WCCWCC Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @hedgefundtradingdesk said:

    If you have $1 million and $250k is in coins, or $4 million with $1 million in coins, you aren't exactly hurting.

    Big difference between those two examples IMO, but it still depends upon the person's overall financial situation. $1MM isn't actually that much in 2025 even liquid, but it goes a lot further if the person has low or no debt with above average to large vs. most people discretionary income.

  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am a long term holder of coins I buy .
    Anywhere from 7 to 17 years .

    Net net I I made maybe 5-7% over time .

    Coins make up maybe 15% of my over holdings

    They are sort of my choice of “ private equity “.

    That said coins are a hobby first and foremost.

    If I literally lost all my coins I could still live relatively well.

    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,677 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @bidask said:

    If I literally lost all my coins I could still live relatively well.

    This... if all my coins were lost, I'm still doing fine. I'm not reduced to eating Ramen noodles and fighting the cat for dinner...

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,355 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Paradisefound said:
    I am far from an being expert on coin collecting nor do I have the commitment for such so mine is pure fun 🥰

    Percentage is very relative right?
    1/5 % of my worth for PURE FUN?
    I am not expecting any ReturnOnInvestment since that would be too stressful 🤔

    Most are in real estate and the SP500

    SHOULD’Ve snatch those 55/55 and 3 legged then 😖

    There is still time. And the 3 legged should be easy to " catch". Should not be able to outrun you, what with only those 3 legs.😀
    BTW welcome "Home"

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 10,355 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Should I include my big glass jug of cents in the breakdown?😀

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • renomedphysrenomedphys Posts: 3,867 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Let’s just call it, an “irresponsible” amount. Ask me the same question about my bicycles, and you’ll get the same answer.

  • vplite99vplite99 Posts: 1,387 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Coins are a poor investment for most collectors, but I try to keep 10% in mostly bullion-type coins.

    Vplite99
  • GuzziSportGuzziSport Posts: 275 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The thought makes me almost as uncomfortable as “how much do you spend annually on golf trips?” 😉

  • yspsalesyspsales Posts: 2,547 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fraction of 1%

    Accumulation of knowledge and the cherry chase has always been my goal.

    As I transition into full retirement in coming months, plan is to concentrate selling on EBAY?

    5% allocated and reinvestment of any profit.

    BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out

  • SapyxSapyx Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1. Since I don't own real estate, or shares, or any other "assets" apart from the car and the money in the bank, I'd have to put my figure at around 70%.
    2. My collection is purely for non-investment purposes. The only coins I've ever sold have been duplicates I've unintentionally acquired. The collection is not for sale, for any price, so it's current value is largely irrelevant to me.
    3. Not really, no.
    Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.
    Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

    Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice. B)
  • ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,621 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BLUEJAYWAY said:

    @Paradisefound said:
    I am far from an being expert on coin collecting nor do I have the commitment for such so mine is pure fun 🥰

    Percentage is very relative right?
    1/5 % of my worth for PURE FUN?
    I am not expecting any ReturnOnInvestment since that would be too stressful 🤔

    Most are in real estate and the SP500

    SHOULD’Ve snatch those 55/55 and 3 legged then 😖

    There is still time. And the 3 legged should be easy to " catch". Should not be able to outrun you, what with only those 3 legs.😀
    BTW welcome "Home"

    🐬 so funny & kind of you BB!

  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,774 ✭✭✭✭✭

    to me it's just a hobby and i have a set limit to what i spend on coins
    and i still buy whatever catches my notice within the budget

    coins for sale at link below
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/8FiWKGyewRfa5o1b7

  • Mr Lindy Mr Lindy Posts: 1,311 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 23, 2025 1:32AM

    .

  • blitzdudeblitzdude Posts: 6,685 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @blitzdude said:
    Numismatic coins? Less than 1%

    Add in bullion gold and gutter metal currently about 16%.

    RGDS!

    Edit: 16.1% bullion. What a difference a day makes. lol. :sunglasses: PKR!

    The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
    BOOMIN!™
    Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????

  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,969 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 23, 2025 11:06AM

    Way too much. Maybe 30-40%.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • batumibatumi Posts: 900 ✭✭✭✭

    @lordmarcovan said:
    Way too much. Maybe 30-40%.

    Not necessarily imho. I have about the same-about 50/50 coins/bullion. I am retired and debt free. I look at it as insurance that one doesn't have to bite the big one to collect if one so chooses. The past year or so it sure is a good felling to have the bullion and I relly enjoy the coins even though they haven't had as good a 'performance.'

  • john_nyc1john_nyc1 Posts: 206 ✭✭✭

    As others have stated I don’t consider my coins assets but I suppose between 1% and 2% if forced to!

    Casual collector: Morgans & Peace Dollars & 20th Century Type Set. Successful BST transactions with ProofCollection, Morgan13, CoinFinder, CoinHunter4, Bretsan.

  • GoldFinger1969GoldFinger1969 Posts: 2,614 ✭✭✭✭✭

    FWIW, I worked in a couple of Private Banks and some portfolio options included 5% in precious metals for most HNW individuals. That figure might be higher today since gold has done much better in recent years.

    When money market and bond yields were higher (like they are today, after ZIRP ended), the opportunity cost of holding PMs/gold was higher so you'd make sure someone could hold an asset that doesn't pay interest or dividends.

  • Old_CollectorOld_Collector Posts: 424 ✭✭✭✭

    The answer would be quite different if I used an actual number as opposed to what I tell my wife. ;)

  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,881 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 28, 2025 2:48PM

    Basically on plan.

    I operate off an inventory plan number but it is classified.

    Investor
  • pcgsregistrycollectorpcgsregistrycollector Posts: 1,901 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Old_Collector said:
    The answer would be quite different if I used an actual number as opposed to what I tell my wife. ;)

    Always the wife.....

    Proud follower of Christ!

  • PapiNEPapiNE Posts: 384 ✭✭✭✭

    5.45%. Yea, I know where every penny, 'er cent, is. It's a bit more than a hobby but I'm not quite sure how to describe it. It started with family so it's sort of like family and I'm responsible to build upon it.

    USAF veteran 1984-2005

  • jedmjedm Posts: 3,188 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 29, 2025 9:04AM

    @2ndCharter said:

    "... I'm still working almost full-time and putting a good chunk of it in the hobby and having a ball."

    I can relate to this. My income from my job and social security allow me to enjoy my hobby like never before in my life.
    I've been blessed with good health, a great family, and steady lifelong employment and am able to enjoy this hobby as my physical limitations to other hobbies have increased. I'm around 10% yet I am very comfortable with it.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file