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Which of the two supports the industry more

TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,090 ✭✭✭✭✭
Modern Coins or Classic Coins ?

There is a lot of bullion, but that's another story and forum.

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    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Being a collector, and as such, collecting what attracts me (either market), I really have no idea what supports the industry the most. I would say that some dealers who specialize in rare, classic coins would give you one opinion, and certainly the Mint would give you another. I enjoy them both. Cheers, RickO
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    lkeigwinlkeigwin Posts: 16,895 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi Joe. Nice to have you back.

    I'm not sure it all boils down to moderns and classics and that one keeps the other going. But I think new hobbyists are often attracted to moderns which are generally less expensive and more readily available, and some of these collectors will develop the taste for classics. I think the reverse rarely happens.
    Lance.
    (edit typo)
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    291fifth291fifth Posts: 25,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bullion and jewelry rule. Numismatic coins are now a sideline business for many brick and mortar shops and many bourse dealers as well, especially at smaller shows.
    All glory is fleeting.
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    << <i>Hi Joe. Nice to have you back.

    I'm not sure it all boils down to moderns and classics and that one keeps the other going. But I think new hobbyists are often attracted to moderns which are generally less expensive and more readily available, and some of these collectors will develop the taste for classics. I think the reverse rarely happens.
    Lance.
    (edit typo) >>



    I agree 100% , in in my case I collected as a kid, lost interest for 20 years and was drawn back in by moderns. Some friends also started with moderns and developed an interest in classics as they collected the moderns and learned more about coins.
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    FRANKLINS , it's all about Ben Franklin and his incredible Half Dollars !

    and of course the minting of the greatest thing since Franklin Half's ; the 1964-D Dollars image
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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 35,864 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Most collectors get started with moderns that get out of pocket change and then if they get hooked on the hobby tend to go back to older material. In the old days, Lincoln cents got a lot collectors started. Today I'd say State Quarters.

    As for the "industry" classics rule. Just go to any major show and look at what most dealers are offering. The modern stuff, when it offered, plays a secondary role.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    << <i>Most collectors get started with moderns that get out of pocket change and then if they get hooked on the hobby tend to go back to older material. In the old days, Lincoln cents got a lot collectors started. Today I'd say State Quarters.

    As for the "industry" classics rule. Just go to any major show and look at what most dealers are offering. The modern stuff, when it offered, plays a secondary role. >>



    I think that is pretty spot on but it also matter where you draw the line. If you take Fraklins, Peace, Mercury & Washies ect Most people still collect mid to late 20th Cen coinage before moving to something with a little more challenge.

    My main sets over my live went form Indian cents to Peace$ to Trade$'s- with a hand full of subsets in between.
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    Classics drive the bus. Morgans drive the classics, making up half the dollar volume at many major shows. Don't believe me, just walk by the cases and see how many Morgans there are. There are a lot of high value Morgans as well.

    Bullion is a big player, often more than all collector coins combined. This tendency is more true at brick and mortar stores.

    Moderns, even including all 20th century issues are less than 20% of dollar volume at most shows. Pare it down to post 1964 issues and it is less than 3%. Again, don't believe me? Walk by the cases and start doing running totals of market value for Peace Dollars, Walkers, late date Barbers and other latter coins. One high value MS Morgan can be worth an entire case full of MS quality Peace dollars and Walkers.

    The exception is direct sales from the U. S. Mint--they do a good business.
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    LindeDadLindeDad Posts: 18,766 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The only industry involed is the Mint and they make moderns all the rest are just secondary market not industry.image
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    ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If we look at dollar volume transacted....

    2009 AGE

    1oz mintage: 1,315,500
    1/2 oz mintage: 110,000
    1/4 oz mintage: 110,000
    1/10 oz mintage: 270,000

    Gold also rose from $874.50 to $1,212.50 during the year.

    To get a rough estimate of dollar volume, just multiple 1.3 million coins by $1000. And then we still need to add the fractional AGEs, all the ASEs and all the APEs.

    From a simple dollars and cents perspective, modern bullion seems hard, if not impossible, to beat.

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