Status of the modern coin market

erwindoc · May 1, 2010 10:03PM

Been talking to several friends lately who have been having trouble moving modern coins of different denominations. As a modern coin collector, this interested me alot, especially since I have a few duplicates I am trying to sell. Does anyone else have opinions on this? Is it isolated to just one series or all of them?

fcloud · May 1, 2010 10:22PM

I think each series is different. Gold Buffalo seem to remain hot from what I can tell, but that may have to do with the price or gold on the non-2008-W coins. I would have thougth the 2008-W Buffalos would have stopped climbing by now, but they seem to be doing okay. As far as other modern stuff it is probably the easiest to find and get, so people could simply be sitting by the sidelines waiting. Modern stuff probably has more down side than up for short term market movement. The 2008-W Buffalos have multiple things going for them 1) Gold, 2) popularity of design, 3) low mintages thank to the mint. Other moderns for the most part aren't anything special.

Now don't get me wrong I like moderns; however, one needs to be a realist on these. Some take off and some don't. The current Boy Scout commem has the potential of being hot,and I think it is one that will continue to have a premium because the Scouts themselves are going to want these. For the record I didn't buy any Scout commems.

The other problem is the mint just now offers too much stuff. Years back you could buy one of everthing they offered. Today many people don't earn enough money to buy one of everything which in the long run hurts the modern collectors. I know I for one no longer even try to keep up with one of each.

keets · May 1, 2010 11:06PM

Status of the modern coin market

to get a meaningful answer you should really be more specific. there is too much misunderstanding/disagreement about what a "Modern" coin is and enough specialists here who can comment on a specific series or niche market.

sonoranmonsoon · May 1, 2010 11:36PM

"The other problem is the mint just now offers too much stuff. Years back you could buy one of everthing they offered. Today many people don't earn enough money to buy one of everything which in the long run hurts the modern collectors. I know I for one no longer even try to keep up with one of each."

I think this statement is the major problem with moderns right now. The mint is simply offering too many coins. You start adding varieties, a and b sides, satin finish, business strike, proofs errors,etc....the numbers become stagering.

BillJones · May 1, 2010 11:48PM

I agree with the “too much stuff” assessment. The mint is headed down the same road as the Post Office Department which ruined the modern stamp market with too many issues and too many mundane to ugly designs. Some collectors are really getting sick presidential dollars, First Lady gold pieces, beautiful America quarters, and mundane and boring commemorative silver dollars. Collectors just can’t afford to keep up with this stuff, and a lot of it is so junky that they really don’t want to keep up with it.

quickwing · May 2, 2010 12:19AM

Moderns are fun, inexpensive, and easy sets to build. I enjoy looking at my States Quarter album and don't have to worry about it getting stolen so it's not in the SDB. As far as resale value on moderns, I really do not expect any in mine or my children's lifetime. If you are looking to collect for resale or retirement, just say no to moderns. (Not to confuse moderns with classics)

BillJones · May 2, 2010 1:06AM

<< <i>Moderns are fun, inexpensive, and easy sets to build. I enjoy looking at my States Quarter album and don't have to worry about it getting stolen so it's not in the SDB. As far as resale value on moderns, I really do not expect any in mine or my children's lifetime. If you are looking to collect for resale or retirement, just say no to moderns. (Not to confuse moderns with classics) >>

I would revise this statement to say that MOST modern coins are inexpensive and easy sets to build. As for the fun part, I would agree that some of them are fun, and I enjoy collecting them. But if you had wanted a set of the Buffalo gold coins, they might have been fun, but they have never been inexpensive. I thought that the $2,400 mint price for the four piece set was too high relative to the then price of gold bullion. For that reason I didn’t buy one, and neither did a lot of other collectors. The result is that the prices of the coins are now through the roof despite the fact that relative to classic coins, they are not at all rare. I’ve seen dealers at the FUN show have a case full of them to sell.

When it costs ten grand for some years to keep up with ALL of the U.S. modern coin issues, including all the gold and platinum, it’s hardly “inexpensive.”

RedTiger · May 2, 2010 1:25AM

Maybe a year ago, there was a thread about spotty auction results on one of the big auction sites for the costlier post 1950 coins.

As others have said, the modern coin market is segmented so that it is difficult to offer generalities. Kennedy collectors have nothing to do with Franklin collectors. Post 1982 coins are going to be different from 1950 decade coins. Top pops are going to be a different segment from coins in original mint packaging.

If specific coins, or at least a decade of a series, are mentioned, more meaningful comments might be able to be made. Even then, many coins are thinly traded, so isolated results may or may not mean much.

wondercoin · May 2, 2010 1:30AM

The modern coin "metals" market is very strong these days. Coins such as proof platinum are up nearly 90% in the past 18 months. Many modern gold commems and proof gold are doing great as well, not to mention silver eagle proofs. IMHO, gold, silver and platinum coins make up a very large % of the modern coin market and are very easy to sell. So, to answer your question (without knowing what series you are referring to), I do believe it may be isolated to whatever series of coins your friends are having problems with.

Wondercoin

7Jaguars · May 2, 2010 3:39AM

Gold and plat have bullion floors, how about coins/sets like the 1999 silver proof sets now selling for 175 and less compared to price of say, three years ago? Down, down, down...

wondercoin · May 2, 2010 3:44AM

Keep in mind that 1999 silver state quarter sets are still up more than 400% (without taking into account compounding returns) in 10 years even if you use the $175/set figure. The fact that they were up nearly 700% at the high... well, congratulations to those who took their profits.

Wondercoin

erwindoc · May 2, 2010 4:57AM

I guess when I started this thread, I had in my mind "modern" as post-1964 when the alloy changed from silver to copper-nickel. This would be up to debate with many other collectors, but that is generally what I think of.

I too would agree that the mint is making too many things. I gave up trying to collect everything they make long ago.

More of what I wanted to know was the status of the following by series since the time, ie: Ike/SBA/Sacagawea dollars, Kennedy halves, Roosevelt dimes, Jefferson nickels, and Lincoln cents, etc.

RedTiger · May 2, 2010 8:18AM

<< <i>I guess when I started this thread, I had in my mind "modern" as post-1964 when the alloy changed from silver to copper-nickel. This would be up to debate with many other collectors, but that is generally what I think of.

I too would agree that the mint is making too many things. I gave up trying to collect everything they make long ago.

More of what I wanted to know was the status of the following by series since the time, ie: Ike/SBA/Sacagawea dollars, Kennedy halves, Roosevelt dimes, Jefferson nickels, and Lincoln cents, etc. >>

That's still a wide brush. Anyway, you probably know better than most. What's your take? For those wanting data, the auction archives at the big sites will give a decent indication.

Status of the modern coin market

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