Where Is The Numismatic Market?

I would be buying everything I could find right now, had I the money. Of course this opinion is only valid for the Classic issues I'm familiar with.

I agree with Dave right now is a much better time to be a buyer then seller. Overall most things seem to be down from even a year ago. Using ebay as an example check out some of the completed auction listings for things. There's enough examples where your first reaction is I wish I had seen that or there's no way a seller was happy with that price that it seems to become more of the norm. There was a period over the summer it seemed like things were going for half of what they should as the norm.

Simple put in a bad economy people just have less money to spend. No matter how much you love coins they don't feed your family or keep a roof over your head. Unnecessary expenses are always the first to be cut when money is tight.

Dencos right too the elite items market looks very strong right now as well. There's always going to be people who are so rich they have more money than they know what to do with isolating that market from economic factors. Lower priced items seem to sell well too right now since most people can save a couple bucks to scratch and itch or treat themselves.

It's those middle/upper middle grade items that seem to have taken the hit from what I've seen. The average Joe won't spend a couple hundred dollars lightly pricing out anyone where money is tight, but at the same time they aren't quite good enough to generally attract the huge money buyers that can afford four, five and six figure coins. To me the three figure coins are the ones taking the biggest hit as thats the buyer base that seems to have been most affected by the economic conditions.

I noticed that some of the key dates have gone down in the last few years. Compare prices on heritage from 2009 vs. 2013 for low grade 1916-D Mercury dimes. They are cheaper now, and by more than a little bit. 1921-P&D Walkers look to be steady or maybe a bit down since the last time I looked at them several years ago.

I actually disagree with a lot of purchasing now. And basically for the same reason as to those quarters. That Quarter stuff started a massive amount of new collectors but not reaslly collectors. Sort of the same type of people as with Beanie Babies, Hot Wheel Cars, Sporting cards, etc. Lots of people that just jump on the so called band wagon. This has made most all coin prices sort of climb unnessarily. Then as the Quarter stuff sort of fades off, so will this new batch of so called collectors. They will slowly drop interest with those Quarters and allow what they have to sit on a shelf and collect dust. So many new companiies have started to make all sorts of Folders and Albums lately and mostly just for those Quarters. They'be been advertised on TV, magazines, newspapers, etc. This has made many, many people with no knowledge of coins run out and start collecting but mostly just stuff like those quarters. Those are the same ones that lost interest in all other temporary collections. They will slowly just stop and loose interest. As this happens the real coin prices will slowly stabilize and possibly drop.
Even companies that started to make those USA Folders for the State Quarters have stopped making those since not easy to make a folder for all the stuff now on the rear of the Quarters.
It is always a decent idea to purchase coins for a collection but right now is not a good time to get carried away with excessive buying.
I suggest you look into area coin shows and visit them. Best place to learn and discuss coins.