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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,294 |
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New Member
Canada
49 Posts |
My 9 year old son really loves the Colonial Tokens of Canada so we have started building a collection for him. I am thinking I am getting decent deals on them.. below book value. This is something we want to build so when he is older he can pass them on to his children or sell for hopefully a profit so he can use money for college if he chose to do so. Has the value of these been increasing much over the years? would there be much of an increase in value in 10 years? Just looking for more info. We can't afford to buy in the highest of grades but picking up what we can afford. I would love opinions on this topic please.
Melissa
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Over ten years I don't think you notice much difference in collectible unless the item is high end in the $1,000 or extremely limited with a increasing collectors base.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
Lots of money to be dumped in tokens..... if you don't love it... leave it alone... my best advice...
If you're looking for "investment" .... put the money into an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 or buy stocks that have approx 3% dividend in solid companies.... it's not as flashy.. but you'll do a whole lot better in 20 years and with less work than you will here...
In numismatics.. there's liars, cheats, crooks and theifs... and that's just the savoury characters!
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
Investments take time - for coins, decades, and the taxes on collectibles are fierce. Collect medals because you like them, and appreciation will be a nice bonus.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
You don't need to buy the highest grade - but anything below AU+ or MS won't grow in value like other investments might.
Today's mid grade $25 token will still sell for $25 10 years from now, but factor in inflation and you would've been much better off investing in something non coin related.
If you are stuck on tokens (can't blame you there) - then strictly for investment I think you would be waaaaaaay better off with 5 tokens worth $1000 each VS 250 tokens worth $20 each. But really there's not a whole lot of fun in that!
Either way there's still a chance that once he hits puberty the collection will get sold & re-invested in beer and girls (win win in the eyes of a teenager!)
That being said there is something in your post that rings pretty clear...
your 9 year old son loves colonial tokens...
if you can teach him to focus and commit to anything non-electronic, to be patient when making an "investment", and if you are spending time with him while doing so, then you are investing in, and will be rewarded with more than just a coin collection. as a parent myself I would consider these intangible rewards to be more important than anything that can be measured with a calculator.
tokens are tricky. learning can be expensive.
so bottom line: if you collect purely for enjoyment you will never be disappointed.
Wade
Edited by Wade
04/23/2016 02:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
 Very well said Wade.. the investment of time spent with your son will certainly pay great dividends.... although I'm not sure about the tokens themselves.... |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9864 Posts |
+1
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
937 Posts |
Wade: Could not have said it better myself.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1192 Posts |
Am I the odd guy out that never sold his childhood coins, just forgot about them in a safe during high school and college haha?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
840 Posts |
For the prudent collector, all coins / tokens can be a sound investment.
But foremost, collect what interests you and do not enter the arena with
the expectation of winning the lottery. In the long-run, wise and knowledgable
purchases will be worthwhile.
Avoid the hype and promotion of trendy coins. In order to avoid surprises, concentrate
on material that has been researched and population census have been established.
Someone may discover a currently unlisted variety and command an excessive price.
Promotion of this new rariety will cause collector to re-examine their hoards. Suddenly
fifty others which went unnoticed, surface. The 1949 A to denticle 1 cent piece comes
to mind, likewise with the 1950D US nickel.
And purchase the highest grade you can afford. One that you will not be upgrading any
time soon.
doug
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5589 Posts |
Don't think of any realm of coin collecting as an investment. It is a hobby, but careful collecting CAN result in some appreciation. Any time that you can break even with any hobby, you are well off.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
Quote:
And purchase the highest grade you can afford. One that you will not be upgrading any time soon. THIS I'm now finding myself replacing the tokens I bought while "learning", even after reading advice like Doug's, wish I had listened. But it's all part of the process I guess |
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Valued Member
United States
302 Posts |
In token collecting don't be surprised that for some types VF or EF is the best you can get. Knowledge of what is reasonably available for each type can be critically important.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I don't know much about tokens, but perhaps it's an opportunity to teach your son about investing versus enjoyment. My favorite example is that I bought a 1971S Eisenhower proof dollar as a kid when they first came out, for $10. That was a big "investment" for a kid mowing lawns. I can still find plenty on ebay 45 years later for... wait for it... $10. But I still love having that coin. If your son enjoys it, you enjoy it, it's something you can share together when he's 9 years old, and it costs you the price of a few cups of coffee, is there anything better in life? |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
Quote:
and it costs you the price of a few cups of coffee a few? thinking more like....  |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,294 |
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Posted 04/22/2016 10:40 pm
