Coins For My Son

Historically the price of silver goes up and down. Since 1980 it has been quite a roller coaster ride.
Using the "Dollar cost averaging" strategy, over the long term you should do very well.
IE: If you were buying a $100.00 a week for 20 years. You would buy 5 oz a week when silver is at $20.00 and 20 oz a week when it is at $5.00. Over the long term you will do well.

If you just looking at buying common, but high grade coins, it can only be a guess what that market will be in 20 years.

But if you buy the highest grade coins you can find in key coins, this also has done very well historically.

For long term investing, I favor key date coins (09-S VDB,16-D mercs,01-S Barber 25C etc.) These coins will only rise in value as collector demand is very strong on these coins. That's where I'd put my money :-)

IMO, the PF/MS 70 coins will not hold up in value. I'd focus on older rarer coins. I recently wanted to get an 1886-S Morgan (mintage 750,000) and had trouble finding one at a coin show with 35 coin dealers. That tells me that it's worth buying. People love Morgans and the rarer ones will always move. That's certainly not to say that you have to focus just on Morgans. Just my opinion.

In my opinion, buying high grade modern proof coins for a investment, would not be a good idea.

There may be some possible good buys in modern business strike coins, if they can be had for the right price. I am thinking that Washington quarters from 1999 and up, will end up being one of the top collected series for many years to come. New and young collectors will want to put sets together, Boy Scouts will be putting them together for their merit badge. Grand parents will put sets together for their grand kids and so on.... High grade examples of many of these, in business strike are hard to find. Try finding a Georgia or Tennessee in MS-66 or higher .. and you will see.

If you were wanting to get high grade proof coins, then possibly the older proofs if bought at the right price could be a good investment, early proof Lincolns, Indian Head cent, Seated coins ect...

Still, I think, most on here would agree that for investment, buying the "key" coins from series that are most collected would be the best chance of seeing a good profit. Of course you have to buy them at a good price to start with.

Keys coins like

Lincoln cents
1909 S vdb, 1909 S, 1914 D. Semi key like 1931 S.

Jefferson nickel
1939 D, 1942 D, 1950 D

Washington quarter
1932 D, 1932 S

1921 ... nickels, dimes and half dollars

Of course there are many Morgan dollars that can be a good investment.

These are just a few examples.

My suggestion is to just put the money in a bank's saving account with your son's name on it. Or if you want something that may grow, try some type of mutual funds or stocks with a decent broaker if there is such a thing. If where you work has a 401K, just put as much in there as you can.
The reason I mention this is you really have no idea of what your Son may want, like, etc. in the future. As an example, my Som could care less if I had Bullion, Gold Bars, millions in coins, a Uranium Minee, etc. Way, way back I tried to interest him in coins but that failed as with most kids today. Note the very few younger people at a coin show or coin store? If in the future my Son should get my coin collection it would probably just end up in a bank. Maybe some dealer for one lump sum.
If I were you I'd wait until he is old enough for you to see what his interest really are. Ostherwise in the not to distant future you may go into shock when you see him dump all that bullion, coins, etc for some electronic equipment, hot car, girls, etc.

I agree with just carl, coins are usually not a good investment, especially since most new collectors get ripped off at the beginning and it usually takes years of research to really understand the market. There is definitely no "magic investment" in numismatics. If you have to, I agree with most with the key date idea. Always remember to do a lot of research and gather up some knowledge of coins and the market before buying anything.

Many people think the older coins gt, the more expensive that becomes, but is very rarely true.

Laimbeer4452,
I am collecting silver bullion as well for my 2 daughters to deve up when my time is right . I collect ASE, bullion bars and rounds when the price is right.