Why I Gave Up Collecting Canadian Coins

@wildflowerAB Yes the term should be relegated to the historical dust bin. Unfortunately it seems you either get why or you don't. Why not just say 'rip-off' and move on guys? Anybody want to discuss the comparisons between NCLT and new cars for 'investment' value and associated profits for the companies that produce them?

I know some people who wake up offended. I know others who still need a few minutes after they wake up to find something to offended them.


In regard to the actual topic, I think at a higher level the issues inconnu cited about Canadian coin collecting are transversal to coins of other countries and even other hobbies potentially: shrinking market, quality fakes, aftermarkets, etc.

Other than some BU bullion, you couldn't convince me to try to collect Canadian coinage (no offense). Mostly because the way I enjoy collecting means I want to collect all of it, or none of it. That isn't easy to do with the sheer volume of Canadian offerings.

Zonad's around, but posts infrequently. As to the opening post, I really wish I knew where the Canadian coin market was going in the next decade or two. I am still buying, but occasionally wonder if I should be selling. One of the keys will be if people come back to collecting in their middle age, when they have more resources, like many of us did.

oh ok, thank you Bosox, I'm glad to hear that. I look forward to his next visit.

I think it is just a name
(remember the old saying sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.

Some good points about the way the hobby and market seems to be going.

The internet has had a big part in it.

Example the hard to get coins from your local coin shops suddenly become readily available and at reasonable prices this might be why some coins have gone down in price and why shops close down the shop owners have to sharpen the pencils more so now then ever and change the way they used to do business become more computer smart and use this to there advantage have a good web page with good pictures reasonable prices with lots of inventory to choose from.

I think the trends are all over the board with there prices some coins are over priced that are common and scarcer coins that are harder to find are under priced.
I mainly collect 1 cent small and large and notice it most for them, but I do collect 5,10,and 25 cent coins and there are some in every denomination that are over and under valued so to go to trends as a guide for a starting point not a firm price.

As for all the forgery coins that have entered the market we should all keep a sharp eye out for this and report it right away (it is a criminal offence)do our part and help police it we owe it to the hobby as collectors and to new comers to the hobby.

The RCM products aren't my collecting area either but to each there own I do agree they over charge for there items and most do go down lots in value so the way I see what the mint has done is demand the highest premium the coin would most likely ever achieve for the next 10 years so no room for anyone else (coin shops)unless its a hit and sells out fast low mintage.

For the grading companies they are human and will make mistakes many factors for there screw ups they are all guilty of it one time or another so back to the old saying (buy the coin not the certificate)

I also agree with others that as older collectors and with some sort of knowledge of coins and the hobby by dropping out of the hobby probably will help the decline of the hobby not help it in anyway. Also agree we should share our finds with pictures of varieties or neat coins we have found that makes others more interested in collecting and give them something to watch for.

But I know how frustrating it can be as well so I know where your coming from inconnu and others who feel the same I get down sometimes as well then I find another nice coin and I'm happy again.

Cherry picking and finding treasures can make everyone happy.
Happy Hunting,

Please take these comments as my opinion only

Well said papeldog!

I will collect as long as it is enjoyable, and then teach my grandchildren about them if they are so inclined. It's been a great hobby for me since I was 7 years old. I'm not ready to give up on it yet!

Aghawk, the philatelist crowd is suffering from the same demographics as numismatics. There is an elderly gentleman that lives two doors down that is a pillar amongst the stamp collecting community. He invited me in for a coffee and showed me some of his collection. WOW ! There were stamps that I could have only dreamed about when I was active in the hobby. We chatted about coins and stamps and life in general. Then he told me something that shocked me - "my collection is worth about 20% of what I paid for it".
I could not believe what he had told me. His response was "when was the last time that you mailed anything?" OK I can't argue with his assessment of the market.

I got into this hobby a long time ago. I thought that my collection would retain its value and would be passed on to my kids ever though I knew I was buying retail and selling wholesale. I have done well in some areas. I liquidated my 1953 silver dollars with die cracks to a some very motivated buyers on ebay. I did well on my collection of silver maple leafs. The remainder of my collection...well not so good. I still retain my HC and UHC pieces due to their rarity and beauty, so I still have some skin in the game.

If someone has proposed that I give him/her one hundred dollars and they would give me twenty dollars thirty years later I would have thought them to be daft. Unfortunately this is what I have done with most of my collection.