Passing Down Max Value To Your Grand Children

Why?

let's play...

May I please try to have it both ways ... or at least try?

Buy low ... sell high

Enjoy your hobby

Try to gain along the way

I want it ... even if I can't have it

Nothing short of a crystal ball can tell you what would be a "good" investment choice. The mintage figures have been too high for the past 50 years for any modern coin to have any real shot at growing in numismatic value ahead of inflation. Just look at Roman coins--insane production figures mean that 2,000+ year old coins have only marginally more numismatic value than they had buying power as a contemporary release. Likewise with the 400+ year old Chinese "cash" coins which can be bought at tourist shops for a dollar.

Even if you find something that is worth more than face value, nearly every coin goes through a price bubble before crashing down to a more stable price. In mid-2009, boxes of the bicentennial cents regularly sold on ebay for $250-350 each--today they struggle to sell for more than double face. Godless dollars similarly went for hundreds when they were first found in 2007; now they go for $50-75. I can't think of a single modern release that is worth more (adjusted for inflation) 20 years after release than it is 5 years after release.

If you want to pass something worthwhile down to your grandkids, pass down memories and good stock investments. Educate them and tell them stories from your time. A zinc penny with a story is worth more than a double eagle without when you are nothing but a memory.

Most inheritors don't care what happens to your crap after you die, they just care about the money... my entire collection will be sold unless one of my descendants shows a strong interest in the hobby.