Future Of Clad Quarters 65-98

Governments have always created inflation because they can use the deterioration of the currency to fund their pet projects and boondoggles. This used to take the form of debasing silver coins on a regular basis. Recalling silver was a waste of time because people knew their 1 ounce Peso would be converted into a half ounce Peso and they'd be out half an ounce of silver. But with high mintage modern coins people have no real reason to hang onto them. If they don't turn in their aluminum peso for 10 New Centavos they'll be out 10c so they trade them in. The government collects thousands of ton of metal and sells it for scrap.

There used to be a freightor that sailed continuously from South American ports to Japan. It would bring new Toyotas for Bogota and sail back to Japan full of coins to make more cars and refrigerators. This has been going on since about 1950 with modern coins. Mintages are huge and attrition is staggering. It is quite likely to happen to US coins as well. The 1965 quarter is worth about 3c now and even if inflation doesn't pick up probably won't be worth more than .3c by 2050. But the many tons of quarters in circulation will have substantial value and be easy to collect and sell.

Fortunately numismatic coins don't derive their value from metallic value. Collectors are far more concerned with history, aestetics, and importance than with the value of the aluminum, silver, or gold in the coin. Clad quarters span one of the most important eras of human history from manned space flight to the creation of the internet. They are extremely attractive coins when well made and evenly worn though this is hardly tyical for them. I believe they have a lot going for them not only in the short term but the long term as well. I hope collectors remove the scarcities before they are worn out or destroyed but que sera, sera.

I've been coin roll hunting with my kids for the last couple of months, and I've been pulling out the low mintage late 60s and early 70s quarters. I don't know if they're going to be valuable one day or not....

I keep all 1965 quarters. They seem cool to me .

I put together a set of clad Washingtons and am currently working on the silver set from 32-64. Most of my clad coins from 65-98 are quite circulated, so hopefully one day I'll be able to replace them all with AU or BU examples. I have too many sets to work on now though so I'm stretched too thin to start upgrading my clad quarters...

Congratulations on your milestone Clad. I've learned so much from your posts. Thank you.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but the numbers of '60, '70. and '80 quarters that you are seeing I am also seeing in dimes. The other interesting thing that I've noticed is the drop off of similiarly dated nickels are the same. The earlier ones are almost non-existant out there. No real statistical data, just an observation of mine.

Collectors seeking a series to collect with potential for increase might wellbe advised to choose clad dimes rather than quarters. Roosies have a lot going for them since all of these exist in Gem condition in quantities in the several thousands. There are some stoppers in the clad quarters and this will tend to deflect more people into the dimes. Also Roosies are easy to collect even if you go all the way back to include the silvers. chBU sets are very affordable and Gems will be doable. Quarters are even tougher in well struck Gem with the silvers since the '32 issues are as scarce as the '82/ '83 probably.

Dimes are a better collectible for young people and young people are the collectors of the future but, as Conder 101 often points out, they may no longer be so young.

Coins being common are by no means an impediment to high prices. The primary driver of coin prices is demand and the demand for dimes could be quite high. I did not foresee all the things that would occur over the last half century and didn't see that the dimes could even exceed the quarters in their potential due to the higher attrition and exploding production.

There are many millions of modern coin folders out there that are partially complete and in need of upgrading. As time goes by many of these will be completed and upgraded and this supply must come from coins that have been set aside since, excluding new issues, there are fewer collectible coins in circulation with each passing year. These coins are getting worn down, destroyed, and pulled out of circulation by collectors. The number of moderns set aside is far far lower than people imagine. It is a tiny fraction of the total number of modern sets that have been started.