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 Replies: 13 / Views: 20,081 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and numismatism. I would like to know which is a better investment and value a U.S. mint uncirculated coin or proof coin. I want to purchase an 2007 Silver American Eagle and don't whether to purchase the proof or uncirculated. The proof is more expensive probably because it's more difficult to manufacture. Is proof the better way to go? I know rarity concides with value. Does the U.S. mint make more proof or more uncirculated coins? I guess I could use the production quantity to determine which is a better investment but the U.S. mint doesn't list this data for this particular coin on its web site.
Thanks for any replies.
vb_bn
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
I personally have always preferred Proofs. Every coin is different for mintages. Usually the one with the lower mintage is going to produce the greatest return for a future investment Silver Eagles 1995 UNC with 4.6 Million minted books at $$17 1995P Proof with 0.4 Million minted books at $200 1995W proof with 30,000 minted books at $5,000 I recommend purchasing a RedBook for most of the information about US coins including mintages. "A Guide Book of United States coins 2008 by Yeoman" And... Welcome to the Forum!!  Edited by GO
06/13/2007 9:59 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
It really depends on what you like. Forget about investment potential, especially for modern stuff. Now, if you were to ask me about 19th century material, I'm EXTREMELY biased...PROOF all the way baby!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1106 Posts |
I think high grade MS coins will usually do better than proof, especially on modern issues. It is much easier to find a proof coin than it is for a high grade MS coin.
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Valued Member
United States
390 Posts |
Welcome to the forum!  If you like ASE's, then proof's are a lot more shiny than uncirculated. It all depends on what you like in a coin. I like the proofs because they are so clean looking with their mirror finishes. But as was stated above, mintage numbers will tell you which one SHOULD increase in value more. As far as older coins, the proof coins are much, much more rare and go for big dollars. Generally the proofs are more expensive because there are less of them minted. Supply verses demand. |
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Valued Member
United States
204 Posts |
I collect both proof and unc ASE's. If I had to choose I would go with the proof as it is much nicer in appearance (and should be for the extra $ and work to make it so). For the US commemoratives, of which I have a few, I only have proofs and I seem to pick the ones that haven't skyrocketed in value. The BU versions of the modern commemoratives seem to do better than the proofs - sort of a reverse of the situation of the ASE's  . Mintage (quantity) has some to do with the values, but some is also related to hype, the coin's design and liquitidy (how many are available for sale now as opposed to the total number actually produced). I think the ASE's are a great series to start with as a collector as they have a great design and are still reasonably priced (try buying a 1893 Morgan dollar in MS 65!). I don't think you can go wrong with Unc or Proof (as a collector - you are buying as an investment a S&P fund has beaten my ASE collection in % return). Enjoy! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
I only collect the Unc's in the commems !! and ASE's ,, I think it is just whatever is appealing since I do not go in all that much for investment . Proofs are far easier to find in the ultra grades ,,just why they are more expensive in the market ,Is probably due to demand and not so much by rarity . I do love my Proof Lincolns though !! Metalman |
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
Of course, the ASE is not a commerative right? Can you give an example of a commerative? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Sure Is a coin minted to commemorate a specific thing and is not intended for circulation !!  Like this one . Metalman |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Are they worth collecting for investment reasons? What I'm trying to say are they just as desirable as non-commemorative coins? I've always passed them up.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The long-term investment quality of *any* modern coinage is purely speculative. Of course, the lower mintages graceoutcast mentioned are a pretty sure sign of future value, but those numbers are just not happening any more. The Mint has discovered that they can make some serious bucks with Eagles and Commemoratives, and I cannot imagine them deliberately limiting mintages, especially when there's such a feeding frenzy among the uneducated (and the dealers who wish to sell to them).
If I were forced to make a choice, for me it would be the Proofs. Even the Business Strike Eagles are of such high quality that higher grades (MS69) are hardly uncommon.
But if it were me investing with a mind to the future, my money would be spent on nothing newer than, say, 1930.
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to determine whether commemoratives are just as valuable as non-commemorative? I guess a rare
commemoratives is just as valuable as a non-commemorative? I never though of collecting commemoratives because I think they're worth less than non-commemorative. Has their ever been commemorative coin worth alot of money?
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
A great modern day example would be the 2001 Indian/Buffalo dollar. They increased rapidly after selling out and have remained very strong in both Unc. and proof.
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
2001 Indian/Buffalo dollar. Is this a commerative? What does it commerate, American Indian culture?
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Replies: 13 / Views: 20,081 |
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Posted 06/13/2007 10:11 pm
