USA Commemoratives

O.K. Toast, you ask for it and I'm going to let you have it:

No 1...It all depends upon your point of view, So prior to 1982 = Yes
After this date my answer wouold be = No

No 2...The collecting public got burned out on the number of issues each year and quit buying. No customers = No need to produce coins.

No 3...Yes When people quit being the suckers they are now days, and refuse to buy their junk they are producing.

No 4...Each individual is different, my limit was hit shortly after they started production again in 1982.

No 5...Variety? Don't really care any more.

No 6...The proof coin has and will continue to bring greater profit to the mint for the total amount of labor and material to produce it.

No 7...The uncirculated coins in some issues has and will continue to be valued higher than the proofs. Most proofs are housed in collections from the day they are produced whereas the uncirculated coins are not necessarily housed in as good a condition. So good uncirculated coins are more scarace in some issues.

No 8...Most of the older (pre 1982) commemoratives have very well value wise.

No 9...Fraser's Oregon Trail closely followed by the Old Spanish Trail

No 10...Most commems are relatively easy to find, if you are willing to pay the price and be satisfied with the condition of the coin.

No 11...Don't have any idea about ebay, as I have never used their services. Any dealer worth calling themselves dealers will usually have or can get all the commemoratives you would want.

Nope this helps, and you decide to start a collection of commemoratives.

We collectors, here in the U.S. see two different kinds of commemoratives. Commemoratives are listed from 1893 to 1952. MODERN COMMEMORATIVES started with the Washington half dollar in 1982 and have continued since. Most, and I did NOT say all, of the old classic commemoratives held their value with a few bringing extremely large sums of money. I can't say the same for modern day commemoratives. While a great number do represent historical times or events many, such as the Olympic commemoratives, lose favor with collectors very quickly. In many instances overkill by the Mint doomed the series but also, at the same time, created a few modern scarcities as the coins weren't well received or purchased and most were melted back down. The Olympic overkill of 1995 and 1996 are prime examples. After buying quite a few options in 1995 collectors turned their back on another huge round of Olympic commemoratives in 96 thus creating very low mintages and the prices have soared. Getting them today takes a major effort with deep pockets.
I might suggest you consider the half dollar commemorative as a GREAT starting point as there are not near as many to locate and buy and most are quite affordable. After completing those you may look into modern silver commemorative dollars? I do suggest the 2001 Indian/Buffalo silver dollar as it was the fastest sell out in the history of the mint due to its classical design and should run in the $120 range for either the proof or BU coin.
The American collectors tend to favor the proofs for their mirrored and flawless fields but many of the unc, or BU coins, tend to rise in value quicker due to limited mintages.
I sold two proof 1982 George Washington half dollars just today, for my dealer, and the purchase price was a mere $5.50 for a commemorative that is almost 25 years old so as you can see some are still affordable.
In the end it is your decision what you wish to collect so do a little research in the old RedBook and enjoy your hunt! If it pleases you then your efforts will be very rewarding and I am sure there are collectors here in the states that would be more than glad to pick them up for you. I know my dealer has a nice selection on hand at this time, which is kind of unusual, but none the less they are there! Good luck!

Snooba, you need to get a RedBook to see them all. There are very tempting. Some are cheap and others expensive.

I like commemoratives also. Thats one of my main coins to collect.

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Originally posted by AuldFartte

I thoroughly agree with the majority of what OldDan and crystalk64 have said here. I personally enjoy collecting some of the "early commemoratives" but I think the newer ones are a waste of money. Having said that, there are huge numbers of people who just love to collect the moderns. I strongly suggest you do two things: first, get the RedBook, and second, collect what makes you happy !!!

My personal favorite commem. is the Oregon Trail. That design is, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful commem. ever minted by anyone anywhere.

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While I do agree with AuldFartte as to the significance and desirability of the older commems as opposed to the modern ones, I would like to encourage Toast or anyone else with an interest in the modern series to collect them. The reason is my struggle over the past years putting together a still incomplete set of the early commems, both in terms of finding them and also paying up for them. I thought to myself, " what would a set of the early commems in high MS be worth today for a person who put the set together as they were released by the mint?" And then a second thought, "who would have done such a thing?"

Sooo, you all can understand why I recommend that anyone interested go for it, after all the modern commems are unlikely to ever be cheaper than they are now.