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 Replies: 22 / Views: 7,127 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
When inflation is taken into account, are the silver dollars, as a group, from 1935-1956, cheaper to buy now, more expensive or about the same? What do you think before you read on? I recently read on coinscan.com an interesting "book" about the Canadian Silver Dollar - - " many facts and tidbits in history. At the end is a chart from 1961 giving values for the dollars at the time in various states of condition with varieties. Of course everything is more expensive now, but when inflation is taken into account, are the coins pricier? I decided to do some research. I used the grading of EF. Why not higher? The chart only listed UNC at the high end. And I did not want to have to interpret that as MS60 or MS62 or who knows what. I felt that EF would be less variable for interpretation. I gauged my EF40 prices for 2013 on an average of Haxby, Charlton, Trends, and two retailers so I feel that number is pretty fair. Silver dollars were made up to 1968 but this publication was written before then so I could not include all silver dollars. The chart went to 1960 in EF but I cut it off at 1957 as I feel it takes a few years for a new coin to establish itself in pricing after the initial year or two of release when prices are set somewhat arbitrarily. My inflation factor of 7.83 came from the Inflation Calculator on the Bank of Canada website; not some number I picked from mid-air. I was quite surprised to see that those coins as a group could be had for almost the same price as in 1961 (only 1% more after inflation). I just started collecting silver dollars this year so waiting 52 years has not hurt me financially. I was only eight years old back then and probably had an allowance of a quarter a week so it would not have really been an option to buy back then anyhow! I also found it fascinating how many of the varieties have lost value over that time. I wonder if it is because someone had underestimated the quantities that were out there, or if collectors over the years have found them less desirable so the price went down. As we know the only coin to make big money was the 1948. It was worth 17% more than the '47 Maple Leaf in 1961 and now in 2013, a 1948 is worth 346% more than the 1947 ML. EDIT: Thanks for edit advice - now have the chart inserted properly.  Edited by punman
12/21/2013 6:16 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9862 Posts |
punman,in 1961 AU was not yet popular for Canadian grading.EF in early '60s pricing tables usually encompassed everything from EF45 to AU55 by today's grading standards.
You're still in the right ballpark,coins generally have not performed well as a long term investment.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
Edited by DBM
12/21/2013 5:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
849 Posts |
Quote:
punman,in 1961 AU was not yet popular for Canadian grading.EF in early '60s pricing tables usually encompassed everything from EF45 to AU55 by today's grading standards. Had I factored that in, would my results be significantly different and if so, in what way? |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
punman, You could take a snapshot of the spreadsheet, paste it into an image editor and upload the picture. There are lots of such tools; I use Zapgrab and Irfanview for such functionality. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3234 Posts |
Take a large clear photo of your chart and add it as a pic. I do that all of the time..  All CH BU dollars were just a dollar at the bank when I picked up mine....... There were deals then...and there are deals now.....just ask the many dealers..  |
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Pillar of the Community
710 Posts |
The totals are almost the same, so in general that should give you the answer.
What about the price of silver of the same period? Do the coins track the price of silver or track inflation?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
Quote:
My inflation factor of 7.83 came from the Inflation Calculator on the Bank of Canada website; not some number I picked from mid-air. Is this wage inflation or retail price inflation ? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9862 Posts |
The title of this thread got me thinking. If you had bought 371 shiny new silver dollars in 1961 for face value you could easily sell them today for $5G net on ebay.And if you shopped carefully on the same site you could buy two complete sets of EF dollars up to '67. "Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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Valued Member
Canada
127 Posts |
I have the 1960 Standard Catalogue by Charlton. Two dates that showed a large deviation from the data presented here, were the 1950 Arnprior (EF worth 7.50 compared to $20) and the 1952 NWL (worth $6 compared to the $9.5). All other silver dollars were about 20% lower in 1960 vs 1961. The 1947 ML and Ptd showed no price difference over the one year. Looks like 1960 was a good time to buy in. Silver was about $0.90 an ounce in 1961.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
If you used the top grade like most coins it would show more the real value of appreciation if investment was a goal. I am guessing a 1960 unc 48 dollar was around a 100.00 today a ms 63 3000.00 or a ms 64 6000.00, unc 1935ms 65 today 400.00 and so on, EF or coins below unc. rarely beats inflation.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
Another good example, the Heritage Fun Auction Jan 4 will have a PL set of Canada silver dollars each year if they sell for minimum bids or more it would show more accurate values and inflation.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5394 Posts |
Canadian coins as an investment.................not recommended! You do far better with many other investment vehicles. The Canadian coin market is too thinly traded and too easily manipulated. Collect coins for fun and history and if you make a few bucks all the better.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
785 Posts |
In 1961 couldn't you have gotten many of these coins for face value?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9862 Posts |
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.. a PL set of Canada silver dollars each year if they sell for minimum bids or more it would show more accurate values and inflation. PL dollars were the "money coins" 52 years ago.Comparing their prices for the two eras is truly an apples to oranges exercise. In 1961 ALL PL dollars sold for more than their MS counterparts. Today a typical post '54 PL65 would sell for only a fraction of the price of it's MS 65 counterpart. "Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
Quote:
Is this wage inflation or retail price inflation ? It is the consumer price index - based on a basket of goods. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
Thanks pfrien for checking out the old catalogue. I'm not sure what my article was using for its source of 1961 prices, although at the end of the chart it said "Canadian Numismatic Publishing Institute
Rupert Avenue â€" Winnipeg, Canada".
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Replies: 22 / Views: 7,127 |
Posted 12/21/2013 5:22 pm
