Optimal Investment Grade MS-63, MS-64 Or MS-65

For investment--MS65 or better IMHO.

Bill,

I picked up a book on investing in Morgan and Peace silver dollars back in the late 70's. It touted mintage numbers as the basis for their predictions on future values. But the Morgan and Peace dollar release from the Fed and GSA in the 60's and 70's destroyed their predictions for the most part. But there was one bit of advice offered that is universally accepted for these coins if you are interested in investing ... Buy the highest grade you can afford!

Investment, in one context, is a relative term. A 63 coin is an investment. So is a 64. So is an XF. But in the strictest sense of "investment", the higher grades will always draw a better premium. Simply because the population numbers start to dwindle. From looking at value reports, a lot of things happen on many coins as you move from one grade to the next above 63.

From what I've seen (and I only see so much y'know!) "Investment Grade" on classic coins starts at MS65. Concerning Morgans, I have seen a lot of nice 64's, many really nice 65's, never seen a 66, but a smaller amount of incredible 67's! In fact, I've never seen a 67 I didn't like! The true art and artistry, the beauty, of a Morgan dollar comes to bear in an MS67 grade.

I have 11 NGC certified 64's, probably some raw, probably more raw 63's and below, but I have yet to pull the trigger on a 65. I doubt I will ever even raise sights on a 67, much less cock the hammer! That would surely be an investment. Much the same as I view the 65 that someday I will own, just because it's there, and more attainable for me. It's the top level "investment" I haven't made yet. My 64's are an investment for me, and they sit there, in their case, on the shelf, doing their appreciation thing, and with some regularity I pull that case down and open it and appreciate the beauty of the coin and the value it brings to my collection. But I know they will not appreciate in value the way a 65 will, or the saintly 67.

If you are really looking to "Invest", I think your safest bet would probably be 65 or above! How's that for committal?

Steve

The potential morgan bubble I'm talking about. Personally I think we are coming to another peak in prices. Might not be a realized peak for a nother 5 years. But, I think as people "get over" morgans again we will see prices dropping. possibly quite sharply.

In any collectible hobby, high quality is what you want.

I don't think coins are really a good investment, but if you MUST, MS-65 at least.

An example - people say sports cards are no longer hot, but I can tell you that if you have a PSA 9 or PSA 10 card (equivalent to MS-66-MS-70), you will have absolutely NO problem selling it.

The other point that hasn't been explicitely mentioned is that high grade coins will "maintain or hold their value" better. So they might not double or triple in value, but you can get something for them, even if the market tanks.

I have enjoyed reading all of the above replied posts which are all correct in terms of investments.
In our hobby, we are hitting 2 birds in one stone...
1. Old coin's value really increases as the demand for it increases. Its population remains as new generations of collectors grows thus law of Supply and Demand applies in our hobby.
2. We enjoy holding our coins as we admire our collections and leisure do we get while seeing its price increases over the years.
And an add-on in our said hobby, is that we gain a lot of knowledge be it economics, history, geography etc...
Getting the best coins you can afford at the highest possible grade would mean the lesser quantity it exist in auctions thus adding the degree of demand on them. If and when the demand on these high grade ones would be higher than its availability in the market, these ones will then be scarce if not rare on its present state.
We are all lucky because we all know numismatics
So make the shot and get the good ones in a mint state category if possible