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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,517 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Need some wisdom here. Let's say I had around $300 to spend on a coin once or twice a year and wanted it to steadily increase in value over the coming years. My interest lies in silver/gold coins not copper due to possible green death.  That leaves Sovereigns/FLorins/1938 Crowns mainly. Is it better to get a more common coin in Uncirc condition or a more rare coin in VF or similar condition? Or doesn't it matter? For example in Maccas the coin value of an Unc 1931 florin is $365 and the coin value of a 1912/13 in Very Fine is $375. Let's assume for sake of argument that the above examples have the same coin value. Which is better for investment, the more common better condition or the more rare more worn coin? |
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Moderator
 Australia
16849 Posts |
Conventional wisdom holds that it's always better to "buy the best grade you can afford", but if supply and demand for an Unc coin of one year is the same as supply and demand for a worn coin of another, the prices are likely to be similar. This is demonstrated by comparing the catalogue values in an old catalogue with those today. For the two coins you give as examples, here are the catalogue values from old catalogues (1981 Seven Seas, 1994 Prior and 2005 Maccas are the ones I have):
1981 Unc 1931 Florin: $250
1981 VF 1912 florin: $275
1994 Unc 1931 Florin: $300
1994 VF 1912 florin: $300
2005 Unc 1931 Florin: $365
2005 VF 1912 florin: $375
As you can see, these two coins have pretty much kept pace over the past two decades.
Mind you, until fairly recently "Unc" was "Unc", with little attempt to boost profits by rigidly defining just how "Unc" a coin was. A "plain old Unc" bought in 1980 might well grade "Choice" or "Gem" now.
Future trends? Demand for the florin series seems fairly steady. I suppose it depends on whether the new collectors who are coming in will "want the best" (pushing up Unc coins) or "want the full set of florins" (pushing up circ. stuff). If they're both, then the prices should stay similar.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
Australia
161 Posts |
The best returns are had from quality coins. Average grades should be avoided unless it's an extremely rare coin. If need be save that bit longer to get the highest grade and not settle for second best.
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
655 Posts |
Thanks Sap and Secretsquirrel, that was very helpful.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1079 Posts |
I agree with Sap.
I would also like to add go for a coin or set of coins that is popular at the time of buying it. This increases your chances it is still popular when you sell it.
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Valued Member
Australia
122 Posts |
Less than 50% increase in 24 years hardly clarify for a good investment. $250-275 was a weekly wage in 81.
You have to find what is hot at the time. Right now metal prices are going crazy. I bought few thousand round 50 cents in December for 3 dollars each. I could sell them double that price now, only 4 month later.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
Yeah I noticed that about bullion. This is probably a better time to sell rather than buy but I'm buying anyway. Might be half the price next year.
So what's "hot" in predecimals atm? I was thinking predecs were more stable against wild swings like decimals have and easier to predict.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1079 Posts |
Scarce or hard dates are always popular.
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Valued Member
Australia
122 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Learjet
Yeah This is probably a better time to sell rather than buy but I'm buying anyway. Might be half the price next year.
You must be joking. The US government had billions of ounces of silver, but the emperor has no clothes anymore. They used it all up to keep prices unchanged for 25 years, and guess what the world still use up more silver than it can produce from mining. Matter of fact the world probably has more gold aboveground than silver. Edited by projack
04/14/2006 5:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
655 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1079 Posts |
one with actual money in it.....that is becoming rare these days aswell........LOL
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,517 |
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Posted 04/14/2006 12:52 am
