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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,462 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Poll Question
Hi all, I was contemplating possibly getting back into collecting a single set (right now, I am primarily buying/selling, helping my mom with ATB quarters/lincoln wheat cents). I have always been a type collector, but the 7070 seemed too difficult an endeavor for us right now financially so I sold that off. So now I am thinking about collecting either 1 oz silver bullion (primarily Pandas, since I already have 5 or 6 years' worth) from my birth year on OR a classic commemorative set (love the designs, historic, and quite a few examples relatively cheap at my LCS right now). On the one hand, silver bullion will always be bullion, but Panda's can get pricey in the 90's and are heavily counterfeited coins, sadly. Classic commemoratives can be also pricey, and some may be hard for me to find. Both Pandas and commems have very nice designs. Anyone have anything to input that I haven't thought of? Better "investment" (I know coins aren't an investment, but appreciation is still nice)? Thanks for any input and votes! :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Starting the voting off right with a CSC!
You can get LOTS of the 50 types in AU for great prices.
We just finished that topic on another thread with over 66 pages of information. Find that and fall in love!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1494 Posts |
Kind of a hard choice for me, since I collect a bit of both. But I favor the classic commemoratives just a little more than the bullion for the reasons you mention (designs, historicity).
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Sadly... if the 7070 is too big for you, then, unless you were trying to go for MS grades even on the scarcer types, so would be the classic commemorative type set. You can fill half the 7070 on a budget, and most of the rest on a budget, some luck, and an acceptance for lower grades; and even the really tricky holes (early large cents and Half Cents, Seated dollars, bust quarter; probably a few others I missed) appear to be both easier to find, and cheaper to get, than many of the classic commemoratives. OTOH, I really don't want to recommend collecting silver bullion to anyone (especially the kind of silver bullion that is only worth buying already slabbed), even if I have to agree that Chinese silver bullion, in particular, is probably very likely to only appreciate more. So, my inner romantic says classic commemoratives, my inner Vulcan says Chinese bullion, and overall I want to say "how about a 7070 in lowball grades?" or something similar. I voted for the commemoratives, however. (I myself have considered a US classic commemorative type set. Then I looked at the prices on Numismedia - just now, when compiling this post - and went all "wait, what? nope, no way I'm going to get that kind of money, not unless I win the lottery, and probably not even then". I still think it would be an excellent idea... if I ever start earning $1000+ per month, after accounting for immediate living expenses. Which currently doesn't sound likely.) |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1911 Posts |
Well actually I guess I worded it incorrectly I could do the 7070 with enough time and a small budget. It would just take forever. Same with the classic commems, I could get them eventually. This is going to be my main collection for a long time and either will take many years on my budget. I just like either of these options better than the 7070 (at least until I change my mind again). Most people are saying commems, but will wait for a few more comments. At least with the pandas, it would be stacking silver as well (albeit expensive from a stacking perspective). Thanks for the input!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Whoever voted pandas I would love to hear your reasonings. Comments and votes are overwhelmingly CCs
Edited by Mister Kairu
06/14/2018 10:50 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
I'll admit it. I voted for the pandas. It was a tough choice, and I'm certain I'm biased by what I've collected so far.
I have ... 8? of the classic commemoratives. There are only a couple others on my long list but I have other priorities. One of those is pandas, which I've only just started collecting because I fell in love with my first (2018). So naturally I'm already leaning in the direction of the pandas.
But I also considered the "investment" part of the original question. Several of the classic commemoratives are on the expensive side, so I'd be paying a huge premium over the base metal value. Pandas, at least the more recent ones, have a much lower premium for base metal content. Over time, I question the "investment" potential of the classic coins. As public interest in numismatics is perceived to be lower, numismatic premiums seem likely to drop, except for higher grades. But metal prices have potential to go higher. In that case, bullion is the better choice.
And that's my 3 cents (adjust for inflation).
Edit to add: I should also note that I have not fully researched the prices of the early silver pandas, so the premium for those might make a big difference. I just went with my gut.
Edited by Alpha2814
06/14/2018 11:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Very good opinions, thanks!
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Moderator
 United States
188061 Posts |
Classic Commemorative Half dollars is running away with it. It is how I voted because it is what I prefer.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9395 Posts |
I voted for the classic commemorative half dollars.
I don't know how good an investment they are, because they seem to be generally declining in value for the past couple of decades. Perhaps this is a good time to get them, or maybe not.
There's nothing that says a set of coins needs to be complete. I have quite a few of these half dollars, but not the more expensive ones. I have only a couple of classic gold commemoratives.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,462 |
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Posted 06/14/2018 6:08 pm
