Franklin Mint Or Other Clubs... Every Worth It?

Thanks for your input; it's appreciated. I have tried to do some reasearch like looking on ebay for these and I do collect these by going to the banks in the area and asking them if they have any. I'm getting circulated ones but the condition is excellent as they are new...

I am not a serious collector, but would not mind collecting stuff as long as 1) I like it and (in this case, I do like them) and 2) as long as I can at LEAST get back what I put into them. THAT is the main quesiton for me personally. Looks like you're saying no. That's good to know.

I do have many albums and have been collecting only contemporary stuff mainly. I started so late and it's not my field of expertise so I don't want to get into buying. That limits me to circulated coins and things found/given to me. So not many rarer or older coins (though I do have some). All the help on this board is fantastic. I listen closely so thanks!

I agree with what has been said, unless you are extremely lucky anything you can get from places like this is a waste of money. The "layered" coins will never be worth anything to numismatists because no matter how you look at it these are altered coins and that is just about the fist thing any collector learns when they start collecting, "Do not alter or clean the coins in any way, and if you do so you will ruin any value the coin may have". These companies prey on the uninformed with their highly tactical way with super crazy sales tactics. There have been numerous stories (some even on this forum) where people thought they had this super rare collectible from the franklin mint (in most of the stories these aren't even US minted coins, they are their own minted coins)that their family member cherished all their lives and told them when they died this would go to them and would basically be able to fund their college or something else with the sale of these super rare coins, and its the collectors on forums such as this that have to give them the bad news that since these are privately minted coins instead of US minted coins they are not even worth face value and since they minted so many of them they will probably never be worth anywhere what their family member paid 20 or 30 years before they received the coins. This is a major problem because it can really turn new collectors against the hobby all together when they think they have something valuable (because thats what they have been told their whole lives from their family member they looked up to) and someone they don't even know sitting behind a computer screen tells the the harsh truth. I try to use compassion when this type of story comes onto the forum such as this but some people are just blunt and say it as it is (which isn't wrong, but I know how disappointing it can be when you have come to believe something your whole life and find out its not so). In my opinion I would avoid these type of sales pitches at all cost but some people just like the holders and how they can display them and if they have thought about it and know there is a very big chance that they will never be able to get the money they spent on the coins back if they ever happen to need to sell the coins and they enjoy them for some reason then by all means I will be the last tell someone not to buy something they may enjoy, just be sure you are informed that the resale value will probably never be what you paid

Check the US Mint's website. I remember when these coins first came out, you could 'subscribe' to receive a year's set for about $14 per year. That's $3.50 per coin. I don't remember if they're proof or uncirculated. They keep your credit card info and just charge and ship a set once a year. With a nice case, unaltered, direct from the source. If they still have a similar setup, that's a better deal.

WheatieFan

ps - I just checked and they're selling 4 coin sets (from one mint) for $9 and 8 coin sets (both mints) for $16. Still have 2007s in stock. They are listed under the "special collectibles" menu.

www.usmint.gov

About 90% of what you see from places like the Franklin Mint are extreamely overpriced, never to be a true collectable item. Yes they do have some elaborate looking items in plates ands painted coins. They do make good conversational pieces and many put them out on display in their homes. I've seen many of those decorative plates in homes with large cabinets with numerous shelves full of those plates. Many people really love those painted coins and buy them for just looks and for display purposes. Pull out folders with the states outlined and a coin(s) of that state in a slot in that state are also a nice display item and if you have kids, a decent educational thing. If your not a collector nor an investor, such trinkets are just that, trinkets. Lots of money that will never be recovered. Those types of folders may look nice but eventually the glues on the back of the slots will ruin the coins.
HOWEVER, remember there is little to no resale value on most of that. If you go to coin show, coin stores, art stores, art galleries or any place that sells items of value, you will not see that stuff or usually will not see it there. You will also not see such items on the Antique Road Show on TV either. Nor in antique shops.Those Franklin Mint types of items will show up at flea markets though and for a really cheap price. Like so many items for sale today, some are good for one thing or another but if your interested in value, those items are just overpriced nonsence. But as typical comsumers in this country, we sure do buy a lot of that stuff.
To sum it up note that no one here is really crazy about that stuff. But then your just listening to a lot of professionals and people that have been into coins for many, many years now so may be a little biased.

thanks all. I think I'll continue with the circulated items only... I have always found almost anything "limited edition" etc was overprice/overvalued and not as limited as they say either! Pocket change is the way to go for me.

LimitedEdition: Limited to every potential buyer in the world we can find.

I'll second that.

Foreign objects flowed from my nose upon reading it.