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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,954 |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Hi everyone, I recently (about 8 months ago) began a quest to collect every classic silver commemorative (50 in all) in PCGS (for sake of conformity) MS65 or higher. This is what I have so far: 1 Pilgrim with 1921 added 2 Maryland 3 Connecticut (MS66) 4 San Diego 5 Bridgeport 6 Elgin 7 Long Island 8 Oregon Trail 9 Rhode Island (MS65+) 10 Texas 11 Iowa Yesterday I purchased three more: 1. Lexington / Concord http://www.ebay.com/itm/15158972836...RK:MEBIDX:IT2. Delaware http://www.ebay.com/itm/30126745003...RK:MEBIDX:IT3. Illinois (Lincoln) http://www.ebay.com/itm/33139771925...RK:MEBIDX:ITI am curious though as to why commemoratives run so cheap? Take the Lexington for example. PCGS has this coin listed at $625 and I was able to grab it for $325. When I purchased the Connecticut commem I paid $535 and PCGS has it listed at $900! Is this just not a popular market for collectors and dealers? And if not, should I speed up my acquisition rate before the market picks up and prices start to rise? Any opinions / thoughts would be greatly appreciated |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
12261 Posts |
Congrats on your latest pickups!
The prices that PCGS publishes on its web site tend to be higher than typical retail prices for US commemoratives. (They may also be high for other series, but I do not follow them as closely so I won't comment.)
A more reliable pricing source is the Coin Dealer Newsletter ("Greysheet"). On this price sheet, a Lexington in MS-65 should sell for about $350, a Connecticut in MS-66 should go for about $550.
Classic US commemoratives are not "hot" in today's market, so prices are a bit soft. From what I can see, the prices you have paid recently are basically in line with the Greysheet and current market conditions.
Hope that helps!
PS Good luck with your quest! It should give you a great amount of pleasure! I know it did for me!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
15400 Posts |
 to the commemorative forum ... and hopeful that your continued contributions allow knowledge sharing amongst us. We are here to support you any way we can ... in that spirit I offer the following comments .... Fully concur with commems comments on PCGS price guide being an 'optimistic' method to value these coins ... Greysheet Bid/Ask is the way to go for current market pricing IMHO. Humbly suggest that you avoid my (expensive) mistake of many years ago ... acquiring examples when my set goals and coin aesthetic were not yet crystal clear. Seems that you have a clear goal ... PCGS MS65 ... however the three recent ebay acquisitions have dramatically different surface conditions ... blast white to quite toned. Looking forward to your new coins ... and anyway we can help you. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
Actually it could be a little of both but I really can relate to Commems because I have found that to be true even with NGC as well. I've managed to get the complete set of Booker T. Washington's at or below FMV in MS64-66 but it took me 3 years to do so.
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Valued Member
 United States
161 Posts |
Edited by MrMorgan
02/16/2015 8:45 pm
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Valued Member
United States
100 Posts |
Looks like your off to a good start! Wish I had the cash to do that. One of my collecting goals is a complete 144 piece commemorative set in PCGS MS65. Right now I am a broke college student but maybe one day (and a crap ton of cash later) I will be able to complete my goal. 1 down so far, 143 to go!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
Commems have been out of favor for over 20 years. Prices are weak, so take your time to accumulate them, be picky, and go for the high grades. Personally, I like the gold ones, which also have been out of favor.
Best of luck.
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
An impressive accomplishment so far.  |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Thank you all for your comments. It has taken me almost two years to save enough money to start this quest. I think commemoratives are incredible works of art. The only thing that scares me is the price of some of the more coveted pieces. I have no idea how I am going to buy a MS65 Lafayette or the Hawaii.Yikes! I might have to just start hitting the Power ball really hard!
As for the differences in patina; I initially was going for a complete blast white collection but found it almost impossible to find some pieces, such as the Illinois in blast white condition. Also, I find with the right toning, a coin really stands out.
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
Quote:
The only thing that scares me is the price of some of the more coveted pieces. You are not the only one. I would really like to build the fifty coin set, but it will have to wait until I have fewer financial obligations. |
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Moderator
United States
15400 Posts |
I fully respect your individual decision to pursue this tremendous set in any surface condition that appeals to your personal aesthetic. Blast-white ... toned ... muddy ... whatever. That choice is up to you. Just be mindful that you are chasing relatively expensive coins ... and 'lessons learned' about yourself as a collector after the fact can perhaps be costly. I made that mistake ... acquired a number of these tremendous coins that at the time I was happy with ... subsequent knowledge acquisition and development of my own aesthetic led me down a different road ... with a costly adjustment. I'm hopeful that you will not follow that same path! BTW ... truly white and lustrous examples are available for all 50 type coins ... it does take some patience to find them. Not to steal your thread ... but as an example of patience ... took me 4 years to find this Illinois that you refer to as 'almost impossible' 1918 Illinois Centennial Half Dollar - PCGS MS66+/CAC Blast white and exceptionally struck ... a tremendous coin. Proceed as you need to meet your own collecting interests ... consider at least the possibility that a 'rush' to complete the set might perhaps end you up someday where I was years ago. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
Welcome to the forum. A lot of folks who know their stuff here. I feel its best to have a little patience and find the right coins. Quite a bit of dollar difference in the same grades. I see most of your examples have been bought off of ebay. By doing this you are more than likely paying too much. It would save you some money to find a quality coin dealer who specializes in the Commemorative series such as Pinnacle Rarities and even auction companies like Heritage Auctions. Wish you well on your quest, just some things to think about.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
@ LeeG I myself disagree with you because 90% of my commemoratives I have bought on ebay and I have personally bought most of mine below FMV for whatever grade I purchased. On my moderns I only buy MS69/70 and my classics my lowest is MS62 and the majority are MS65 or better. I will say sometimes one must wait and strike when the iron is hot with ebay. |
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
I really happy that things have worked out for you on ebay. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
Thank You! Thank You! Very Much!.....me Best Elvis for you! .............he he...Life's too short not to have fun!
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I agree with the ebay statement. I have been collecting for many years now and most of my collection has come off ebay and all have been purchased well under FMV. Not really sure why people think ebay is a rip-off. If you are patient and spend the time on auctions, great deals can be had. Usually I find better deals on the bay than at my LCS. BTW, recently added the following to my Commem set: 1936 Arkansas Robinson Centennial Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1925 Stone Mountain Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1936 Boone Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1936 Cleveland / Great Lakes Commemortaive Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1938 New Rochelle Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1946 Booker T. Washington Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 1952 Washington-Carver Commemorative Silver Half Dollar PCGS MS65 |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,954 |
Posted 02/16/2015 8:25 pm
