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CW Trends shows big Lib Seated price gains
roadrunner
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The Dec 1st Coin World "Coin Values" magazine did a major update
to Seated half dime to dollar pricing. Most surprising was the doubling of most "good" type coins across the board. I'd say that many scarcer dates (the more undervalued ones) showed 30-50% increases in all grades listed. A number of coins doubled in price (witness one of my favorite underrated coins, the 67-s quarter, no longer very underrated at $1500 in XF (from $750). Even some of the more generic better dates saw a 10-20% increase. The rare date CC coins of the early 1870's were updated to reflect the strong auction prices over the past several months, esp. for the CC dimes.
You'd be hard pressed to find dates that did not advance in price in the Trends listing. The vast majority did. Whether this will cost collectors more to find those key dates remains to be seen. I sort of chuckle at the $6000 price for an 1877 trade dollar in MS64. I just sold a choice 64 piece at $2700. No doubt the $6000 trends price will allow someone to justify $4-5K for a coin worth around $3000.
One of my very favorite dates, the 1872-s quarter, was upped from $15K to $25K. That's surprising since I felt it was fully priced at $15K! While this date is likely the RAREST non-variety quarter from
1828 to date (yes, rarer than the cc's), there are a handful of MS63-64 coins out there, though they never seem to come up for sale any more. The only gem I recall seeing was the Norweb GEM that sold for $17,600 in 3/88. That coin would grade at least 66 if resubmitted today.
roadrunner
to Seated half dime to dollar pricing. Most surprising was the doubling of most "good" type coins across the board. I'd say that many scarcer dates (the more undervalued ones) showed 30-50% increases in all grades listed. A number of coins doubled in price (witness one of my favorite underrated coins, the 67-s quarter, no longer very underrated at $1500 in XF (from $750). Even some of the more generic better dates saw a 10-20% increase. The rare date CC coins of the early 1870's were updated to reflect the strong auction prices over the past several months, esp. for the CC dimes.
You'd be hard pressed to find dates that did not advance in price in the Trends listing. The vast majority did. Whether this will cost collectors more to find those key dates remains to be seen. I sort of chuckle at the $6000 price for an 1877 trade dollar in MS64. I just sold a choice 64 piece at $2700. No doubt the $6000 trends price will allow someone to justify $4-5K for a coin worth around $3000.
One of my very favorite dates, the 1872-s quarter, was upped from $15K to $25K. That's surprising since I felt it was fully priced at $15K! While this date is likely the RAREST non-variety quarter from
1828 to date (yes, rarer than the cc's), there are a handful of MS63-64 coins out there, though they never seem to come up for sale any more. The only gem I recall seeing was the Norweb GEM that sold for $17,600 in 3/88. That coin would grade at least 66 if resubmitted today.
roadrunner
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I specialize in seated material and am always looking for rare dates in lower circulated grades. In almost every case, the coin sells for far over the price guides. I have for the last 3 years paid heavy premiums over the guides to aquire problem free examples and faced stiff competition from other bidders.
I'd say a 40% increase in the more scarce issues is appropriate.
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
Thomas Paine
Frankly, I've had a devil of a time just finding ANY attractive Seated quarters, halves or dollars, not to mention the rare dates!
And the pre-1853 quarters and halves - forgetabboutit!
(unless, of course, you go to a specialty dealer - and even then, they have fewer coins than you might think!)
Check out the Southern Gold Society
I gave away my old issue so I can't say how much the 1840 $ went up but it looks like they may have got it right. MS60 lists for $4K
(2.5x type). It jumps to $10K in MS62, and then to $20K in MS63 (about 4x the price of the more common dates in the 1840's or nearly 6x an 1860-0). This puts the 1840 about 20% higher than the 1850 which lists for $16,500 in MS63. The 1850-0 is at $30K.
Does this help ya??
roadrunner
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Edited to add: Roadrunner is right - that value is too high for the 1877 in MS64. It's a pretty common coin by trade dollar standards. Nice ones are available for $4k and average ones sell for around $3k.
Maybe the LS series that I enjoy so much will have it's day. CV may not reflect total reality on sale value but suggests increased value. Since over half of my LSHD are either graded above MS 65 or are gem+ proofs, I may have more equity than I realized.
The seated series (as do most other long run 19th cent. series) offers quite a bit of value for your dollar. At some point in time more than a few people will get the idea that they can buy a 19th century coin that is many times rarer than an equivalent 20th century, or even 21st century coin, for the same or less money.
roadrunner
In addition to value , the series is much studied. As you know, the Gobrecht Journals from LSCC are a great source document and can give great pleasure to a serious collector of these series. There are many die varieties, misplaced and repunched dates to discover. In this sense the high grade coins that you and I collect are not necessary to have a very interesting collection. I would strongly encourage all collectors of LS coins to join the club and receive ongoing issues of the Journal. The bound volumes are treasures and great value.
Now if he can just fix the Gobrechts: Different prices for 1836 MS and PF and no 1839.......
One of the biggest things I saw in the quarters was the pricing of the 1853/54 "overdate" quarter. This is a somewhat overrated variety that is probably not even an overdate. They tend to be slow movers and I felt more than fully priced in the other guides. I recently sold an unattributed NGC MS62 piece for 50% over type valuation. The new guide bumped the price from around $2500 to $5000! In fact this is way out in front of the 53-0 which is probably more in demand. That is only listed at $3500 in MS62.
After scanning the higher grade MS 25c's I'd have to toss my vote for most underpriced date to the 1851 quarter. At $3500 in MS64 I doubt you could find one. This date has always been on par with the 1850 and easily tougher in circ grades. PCGS appears to have a slew of resubmits in the 64/65 range. I cannot even recall the last time I saw a decent one. The 1850 isn't worth 70% more than the 1851 imo.
roadrunner