Worst Numismatic Investments Ever

I would actually argue that buffalo and V nickels are a decent investment. V nickels seem to command at least $0.75 if they are not completely wrecked, and dateless buffaloes are still worth $0.15-0.25. Hobo nickels have been popular for over 90 years, so there will always be a steady demand for even low grade Buffalo nickels.

How about the FDC-like Coin Covers sold by the U.S. Mint, whether they be State Quarters or Presidential dollars (currently $19.95 each)? Over the course of each series, the cost adds up to the point where a collector may never recover his/her original investment.

It came with a thick layer of road tar, and I really thought it would be much better when I cleaned it up with some acetone.

Really?!!

Are you suggesting then that I just dispose of my $4,000 1961 Indian mint set for which I paid $2 in the trash because no moderns are worth any money!? How about the 1990 Russian mint set I paid $1.50 for and now lists for $2800?

I guess I'm really wasting a lot of money on safety deposit boxes for all this junk.

I don't think I understand your point. People are starting to collect some moderns because they are historical and when they go to look for them they aren't finding them. They aren't finding these "common" coins because nobody bothered to save high mintage "junk".

I saw some low grade $500 dollar notes at a local coin shop for $650. The dealer said that a bunch of them had come in from an accumulation. The seller's father had owned a store and had put them aside as special. Doubt that the dealer paid them much more than face.

Well if the dealer paid say $550 and can sell them for $650 within a years time then he'll make almost 16%, a good annual return. The longer it takes to move them though the lower the rate will be. for the seller though they were a lousy investment. He would have had to have sold them for over $1800 each just to break even after inflation. So in real terms he lost $1250 apiece on his "investment".