Is there a way to determine modern, survivng mintages?
Now that the precious metal melting frenzy has calmed down a bit, is there a way to determine surviving mintages on modern issues like Plat eagles, first spouses, $5 gold commems?
Say 9-12 thousand of the 20,000 Martha Washington UNC's were melted? Wouldn't those figures change the value of the surviving MW UNC's and change the collecting interest?
But will we ever know?
Say 9-12 thousand of the 20,000 Martha Washington UNC's were melted? Wouldn't those figures change the value of the surviving MW UNC's and change the collecting interest?
But will we ever know?

Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"
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New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
<< <i>There is no way. Cheers, RickO >>
If that is the case, and there's no reason not to concur, there may actually be some real rarities existing out there that will never be known or increase in value simply because no one knows.
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<< <i>There is no way. Cheers, RickO >>
If that is the case, and there's no reason not to concur, there may actually be some real rarities existing out there that will never be known or increase in value simply because no one knows. >>
True, unless--as Kranky said--demand picks up enough to lure most available coins out of closets and safe deposit boxes. I do think this will happen for many modern series such as the plats. I'm not alone in guessing that the past year has had an enormous effect on surviving plat totals, for instance, yet it may be decades before rarities become apparent in the bullion issues. Proofs, though, should start emerging much faster, as the collector base is larger. I've already noticed several supposedly common dates are showing up very rarely.