1921 Canada 50 Cent Coin

Pennypincher is talking about the 1921 half that sold today here: https://auctions.canadiancoinsandpa...rcna-auction

Lot 1333

I believe they used to fetch more before, but I haven't really kept track of them

So not a question of good or bad investment, or even questionable timing. Just file under category, Not Investment. Kinda like Debeers' admonition to its customers: 'these are luxury purchases, not investments'. But I wonder if the outcome of the sale process doesn't impact our view of what is or isn't "investable?" That is, it sounds like an after the fact bit of advice to not invest in x because y did better over the same frame. How about, Canadian bank shares only go down 40% from here over next, say, dozen years, but are still not down as much as the half dollar, which falls 45%. Hypothetically speaking, of course. In this improbable but not impossible future the view that Canadian banks are better investments than coins is still valid. So I guess you will always be right after all? Hey, wait a minute...

There are limited buyers for such a coin and the fact there is higher graded versions out there, just collector bargain hunting even for highest top end.

For people who plop a quarter million on a coin, you also have to look at their bigger picture. In the US anyway, you're happy to take a big loss here to offset a big gain over there. It's not like these people are "all in" with coins. Not to be too cynical, but the bragging rights among their buddies out on the golf course might have also gotten them 10 times as much as they lost on owning the coin.