Collector Coins
in Spotlight By Debbie Bradley,
Numismatic News | May 23, 2013
Move over gold and silver,
collector coins want their day in the sun.
With gold prices dropping under $1,400
and silver hovering around $22, bullion coins have lost
some luster. Not so for collector coins.
“Collector coins are shining because
the demand has remained constant for many years and they
are no longer being overshadowed by bullion-related material,”
said Harry Miller of Miller’s Mint.
“Also, many people have come to the
realization that negative metals do not necessarily affect
scarce coins while positive metals do because they provide
more liquidity in the market.”
The lower prices for precious metals have
a good impact on numismatic coins, said Steven Musil, a
dealer in Kearney, Neb.
“While gold and silver prices were
going gangbusters, numismatic material suffered some,”
Musil said. “Now I think it’s just the opposite.
“It’s time for collector coins
to shine.”
Peter Goydos, a buyer for L&C Coins,
said scarce coins in a good collectible condition are selling
well.
“For us, nice higher grade circulated
coins in Very Fine to nice AU and the lower end Mint State
grades, there is certainly demand and they are easy to sell,”
Goydos said.
“And we are always lucky with Barber
dimes, quarters and halves, Mercury dimes and Morgan and
Peace dollars.
Miller said demand is constant for semi-key
Indian cents from Fine to Mint State and all Barber coins,
especially halves in Very Fine to Mint State, plus all key
dates in Very Good to Very Fine.
“Premium quality raw or CAC stickered
coins bring substantial premiums,” Miller said.
“Many scarce issues simply do not
exist in premium quality for the grade.” Musil said
a scarce Seated Liberty in Very Good condition, even if
damaged, will still sell very easily.
“Nice Mint State grade no-problem
coins are always high in demand and hard to get,”
he said.
Goydos said L&C is selling more certified
coins.
“More and more people want circulated
and lower value coins in certified holders,” he said.
“You are certain the coin is genuine and you’ve
got some security in the grade as well.
“What I hear from customers is if
the coin is graded by PCGS as Extra Fine-40, then there
is no argument that it’s Very Fine and not Extra Fine.
It erases some of that.”
The scarcity of good quality coins means
that overall, it’s still a seller’s market,
Goydos said.
“I think people would rather live
in their car with their coin collection and let the house
go than sell their coins,” he said.