US Mint Coins Or Sets To Collect

I feel extremely fortunate. I met someone who has collected coins for many decades. Over the past nine summers, he and I have a place we meet and just discuss coins. During that time I not only learned how to grade coins, I learned about their numismatic value. He took me to coin shows, introduced me to dealers and they all suggested I buy books and start the education process.

The three basic books are: The "Red" book, "A Guide Book of United States coins - 2012" by R. S. Yeoman (for basic wholesale trade values); "Grading Coins" by Q. David Bowers (learn the difference between a Fine and Very Fine grade, for example); and finally "The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards for United States coins," edited by Kenneth Bressett.

For the past three years, I purchased commemorative coins because the market was good. However, since the spot price for silver went astronomic since last summer, most silver coins have risen to meet the demand. Commemoratives that were selling for less than $25.00 on ebay last summer are going for twice that amount now. (That price is justifiable for low mintage proof 90% coins.)

I would recommend you start to gather a "legend" collection. Many collectors on this site purchase coins from the 19th Century. However, if cost is a factor, chime in on auctions that offer coins in the F to VF range and in recent years (1920's, 30's, 40's, and 50's) - pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters in series from the same years. Put them in good holders, label them, and put them in a safe place. They will only increase in value. Bring them out and show your children. Include them with your buying, collecting, and labeling process. Years from now, they will remember it. I promise.

Someday, you can hand over to your children a collection that you and they will be proud to own. I hope I was of some help.

Oh yea, an afterthought. Does the 1995-S silver PF 70 DCAM Kennedy follow the spot price or not, just wondering.

cc99999,

Yes, I hear what you are saying. I think all the suggestions to the newbie are rooted in what we ourselves are collecting, just as you offered your idea of collecting high grade commemoratives as a sound investment. What I objected to was the person who said my suggestion on what to collect was a "really bad idea". I have not been on this forum very long, and everyone seems very friendly and helpful. I certainly didn't expect to get called out on my opinion by another member, I don't think the original poster(newbie) intended for their question to turn into a negative debate on the subject.

tershaffer -- I am new to learning about collecting. I have always stashed any old coins that I found. But now I am really interested in learning. I have been for about a year now and it has taken me that long to figure out what it is I want to collect. I just made up a little 'shopping list' for myself this past week.

It's hard to guess what somebody should get to leave their kids. Are they old enough to participate in the hobby with you? How much room do you have to store coins? I you have ten children and want to get each of them a mint set every year, you will need some space for that.

I agree with 'just carl' who said that the coins should be something that make them remember you. So maybe think about the important years in your life and get coins from those years.

People have been wrong about this for 50 years. Whenever the collecting public sees a low mintage, they pick all of them up and cause a huge surplus of these issues versus demand. A low mintage coin will only be worth its purchase price if people didn't know it was low mintage, which won't happen. The only current coins that are literally rare enough to beat this are already so expensive as to not allow any profit to be made there either.

Case in point, why do you think the 99 silver quarters are worth so much more than any of the other silver quarters. In 1999, most didn't want them. These opportunities don't exist after the fact.

Unless you have a crystal ball letting others know what the future will hold, buying proof kennedys will leave you at a loss. Buying PF70 kennedys after the fact will leave you at a fat loss.

hesgut,

You can stubbornly keep defending your position that I suggested some "really bad ideas" to the newbie, just as I anticipated you would do. Who made you the "police" here on this forum? Am I the only one who needs to be concerned about you looking over my shoulder making sure that I say all the right things so as not to offend your view on collecting certain coins? And you think I am being overly sensitive, not really, just trying to drive home the point to you that what you did by singling me out and announcing to everyone that I give bad advice was uncalled for, but at this point I don't think that an apology is something that you do too often, so I won't be holding my breath for it. This is supposed to be a fun hobby, learning as we go, collecting coins for the love of it first and foremost. This debate is over for me, and as far your suggestion that I criticize what you collect or recommend someone else to collect, I won't bite on that.

My recomrndation... Don't worry about appreciation. Find something that strikes your fancy and go with that. You're not going to be able to predict which set / series is going to perform the best but you can know with certainity which ones appeal to you now.