Personally Feel That RCM Has Sunk The NCLT Hobby

Agree with much that you say.

One thing though, being a photographer myself, using equipment for five years and selling at a loss is standard operating procedure. If my equipment has paid for itself over years (which it has) then so much the better. But even if not, if I just used it, then I at least have those 5 years of use and even if selling at a loss it is a good excuse to either upgrade or trade for something that you need.
I don't think that analogy applies to either numismatics or NCLT as these items are not used - just enjoyed - and I think there is a different spectrum of interaction.



I think what you said here is an interesting perspective. Coin roll hunting used to be a valid and interesting way to collect, especially for those on a budget, and the alloy recovery program has all but killed that aspect of collecting.

Perhaps I am old fashioned or maybe just starting to get old.




For me the above statement is the exact reason that there are so few young collectors.
A 1970's 5 cent piece for $5 or $10? That's more of a discouragement and not an encouragement. Coin roll hunting used to be a way for kids (and adults) to find treasures at a reasonable cost. Not only that it encouraged learning about what value all coins had - what rarities or errors to look out for - grades of coins. All these things lead to a greater interest in the hobby which then lead to larger purchases at coin shows for more valuable coins.
And yes, I would spend time looking through a box of nickles (or dimes or quarters) if I knew there was a decent chance that my time would be rewarded with a good find. Thise days are over.

I'd be willing to bet most buyers of monthly release NCLT are at least a generation or two younger than those of us who also collect circulation coin. But circulation coin collecting, I'm definitely not referring to roll hunting. Too much time has passed to expect to find what could be found years ago and otherwise it's often someone else's rejects. Circulation coin collecting - buying good quality coin on the secondary market, the same as NCLT.

Besides, folks who spend $$$$ on NCLT each year are not likely to partake in roll hunting as a new hobby. In my opinion, it's a futile pursuit, aka big waste of my time. However I suppose the upside is that devaluation is not a factor.

John's example --



Compared to the cost of NCLT, "antique" Circulation Coin is a bargain.

Well golf clubs and cameras are basic requirements in order to indulge in the hobby of golf or photography but for the ordinary person, golf and photography are hobbies all the same, and hobbies are for sure an expense.

I suppose if one exits a hobby a portion of their cash outlay might be recovered but most often it's minimal. One other thing about hobbies, I think Its common to sort of hope to keep at them for life.

What Dcadon said -

What does ARP mean?

Before knowledgable people will give professional answers:

ARP = Alloy Recovery Programm

According to it, the older coins (struck from silver, nikel) gradually removed from circulation and sent to the melt (even if it some scarce circulation coin) and coins replaced by steel plated with nikel (our modern coins).
Pay attention - do you frequently see in the change coins from 80's or 90's ....

Why does the RCM have to be the scapegoat for the fall of NCLT?

All Mints across the world are doing the same thing: overproduction of all coins.

Why did the sports card industry and Beanies stamps fail, greed of vast over production collectors exhaustions just gives up and leave the hobby, who else to blame, the collectors.