What's So Interesting?

I collect all of the moderns (as listed in the forum title), and have full sets of most of the series (don't collect LWCs or Ag Washingtons), but what I like to collect the most are the modern commemoratives (may be in the minority on this). I enjoy the different designs, they're readily available even though the mintages are low, they are affordable in Prf69 and you can even collect gold coins at not much over their gold value. Plus, there's ALWAYS a story behind the coins that you can explore. Finally, there's a natural progression path to the classic silver and gold commemoratives, if that's your desire.

Agree with this I do.

BadDog,

I was wondering if anyone would mention the modern commemorative's. I guess I will have to look them up and spend some time studying what has been issued, because honestly, I have not really followed them at all up until now.

n9jig,

Yes, the State Quarter series really injected some new interest and enthusiasm into coin collecting, lets just hope it sticks. I kind of think it will, coin collecting is somewhat addicting don't you think? Once you experience the initial attraction to coin collecting, I think it stays with you life long in most cases.

Probably not a bad ideaespecially the Uncs. They don't get a lot of respect and many of them can still be acquired for not much over melt value plus a small premium. I'm sure many were melted last time silver jumped over $40. Many of the Unc coins have ridiculously low mintages as well. For example the 1996 D Tennis Olympic dollar is under 16,000. Not that you can get that one for melt, but checking the sold listings on ebay I see MS-69's for under $120 and raw coins for under $50. $50 for a 90% silver dollar with a mintage under 16,000 sounds like a deal to me.

Ike dollars are a great start as well as Wheat Cents,I enjoy collecting these two the most since I was introduced to them around the same time last year.

Condor101,

I just got a new Red Book the other day, so last night I browsed through the modern Commemorative section, and was really surprised how much has been issued since the early 1990's. Lots of pretty nicely designed coins among them, I really took a liking to the 1991 USO for some reason, especially the reverse. The proof version (on ebay) looked sharp, and could be had for under $25. You're right, some awfully low mintage's, look out if they ever catch on with collectors, the prices could skyrocket.

Yes, the UNCs are lower mintages than the proofs, I just like the look of the proofs better (although there can be spotting issues). So, I collect the proofs rather than the UNCs.

My favorites? I like nearly all of the designs, but I guess I'd put the 2006 Franklin scientist, the 2009 Lincoln, and the 2012 Star Spangled Banner coins at the top of my list. I have many more likes, but you only asked for 3

I'm also partial to the 1986 Statue of Liberty $5 gold, as I attended the first strike ceremony for this coin at the bullion depository at West Point.

Although I don't have many of them (yet ), I wouldn't ignore the commemorative halves either. There are some pretty good designs on many of those as well.

If you're really interested in low mintage coins, then you might want to consider picking up a Unc $5 Boys Town while you still can. This coin's design is a little plain, but it looks like it's headed towards a mintage of less than 2,500 coins. The Mint can only sell them this year (another 5 1/2 weeks).