TIME MACHINE: COIN PRICES FROM 50, 60, 70 and 80 YEARS AGO!!!

Hey, I made a post about 2 months ago asking for information from the coin market in the past. I've acquired much data since then, and now feel the need to share with you the outrageously low prices which your grandparents may have paid had they collected coins:

 

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FIFTY YEARS AGO: (Numismatic Scrapbook, September 20, 1959)

 

SIXTY YEARS AGO:
(Numismatic Scrapbook, May 20, 1950)

 

You might also want to list those "outrageous" prices adjusted for inflation.

 

Of course, in those days, gold was $35/ounce.

 

SEVENTY YEARS AGO:
(The Numismatist, July 1940)

 

EIGHTY YEARS AGO:
(Quoted From B. Max Mehl's Spring 1931 Price List)

-1879 $4 Gold Stella Flowing Hair (Perfect Proof): $125.00
-1794 Silver Dollar (Good): $75.00
-1914-D Lincoln Cent (UNC): $0.35
-1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent (UNC): $0.35
-1895-P Morgan Dollar (Proof): $4.00
-1885 Liberty Nickel (Proof): $0.35
-1856 Flying Eagle Cent (Proof): 17.50/ (UNC): $14.00/ (Fine): $10.00
-1877 Indian Cent (UNC): $1.75/ (VG to F): $0.75
-1797 Half-Dollar (Good): $35.00
-1796 Half-Dollar (Good): $50.00
-1804 Cent (Good): $8.50
-1799 Cent (Good): $12.00
-1796 Half-Cent (Good): $50.00
-1796 Quarter (Proof): $50.00/ (Very Good): $9.25



I realize that inflation is a key factor when considering these prices, but they are still wicked cheep after adjusting them to today's dollars.

$4 Stella (PROOF):

1930: $125
1940: $185
1950: $500
1960: $2,400

1851 $50 Gold "Slug" (VG):
1930: $115
1940: $150
1950: $350
1960: $1,200

 

Yeh, I suppose I could do something like that, just give me a 'lil time to do some research.

Greg

 

Here is the 19XX to 2010 dollar ratio:

9-1959: $7.44
5-1950: $9.20
7-1940: $15.57
5-1931: $14.25

Hope this helps, I'll do some more research on the 1950-D nickel as promised.

Greg

 

My god, I just want to see a 1796 proof 25c let alone buy one for 50$

 

I'll take the UNC 1909-S VDB for $0.35!

 

Uhhh...can I have the 1895 Proof Morgan dollar for four dollars please?

 

I would ignore the Mehl prices. The other lists are retail prices, the Mehl list prices are his well below wholesale prices that he would pay to people that had no idea what their coins were worth. It is the equivalent of the sterotyped lowballing dealer offering the little ol lady pennies on the dollar for her coins.

 

Actually, he mentioned in the bulletin that these were the selling prices which he was offering them, though he was guilty of trying to obtain the following at the following lowball prices:

(Mehl was offering to pay these prices in 1936):

-1913 Liberty Nickel: $50.00 (Had sold for $500 in the early 20s)
-1894-S Barber Dime: $100.00
-1884/85 Trade Dollar: $200.00 (Were selling for anywhere in between $300 and $1,000 at the time)
-1901-S Barber Quarter (Perfect UNC): $3.00 (Was selling for $8 at the time)
-1804 Dollar T1: $800.00 (They hadn't been below a Grand since 1907!!!)
-1804 Dollar T2/3: $500.00

I doubt if he acquired any one of these in the 30s, especially at those prices!

And I know it's hard to believe, but those 1931 prices aren't the figures he's willing to buy them at, but are the actual prices in which you could obtain the coins from him through mailing him your want-list and a check!!!!

Greg B

 

Can I buy the 1885 proof V nickel for .35? Cheap!!!

 

Here is also a run-down of 1895-P Morgan Dollar Prices (Proof):

1915: $1.50 (Auction)
1930: $3.50 (Auction)
1940: $7.00 (Auction)
1943: $10.00 (Numismatist 3/43)
1945: $26.00 (Auction)
1947: $52.00 (Auction)
1950: $75.00 (Mehl's Golden Anniv. Price list Mar. thru Aug. 1950)
1952: $125.00 (Auction)
1955: $260.00 (Auction)
1957: $550.00 (Scrapbook 3/57)
1960: $800.00 (Auction)
1963: $2,200.00 (Auction)
1965: $4,750.00 (Auction)

 

Here is a price list from the late 1800s SILVER DOLLARS

DESCRIPTION Kline's Sale Levick's Sale N. York Sale
1855 1859 1859
Very Rare po. $5.50 fa. $7.50
Flowing hair, f. $1.70 f. $1.25 f. $1.15
do. variety f. $1.70 f. $1.25 vf. $2.40
Fillet head, f. $1.38 $1.25
vf. $1.50 f. $1.25 vf. $1.60
vf. $1.63 $1.38 $1.15

 

Those prices are from the Bowers book, right? I think the two prices next to "very rare" are 1794 Silver Dollars. Although very rare, those prices seem steep if they are only "poor" and "fair", but maybe what was considered "PO-1" in 1860 might be considered "AG-3" or "G-4" today...........


Anyway, I've got a lot more ads from the 30s thru the 50s, so let me know if you want me to post more, or do some price research for you, either by replying to this thread or PM-ing me.

Greg

 

Wow, I have received several requests to post more old ads, so here is a few more.....

This time the name of the publication and the month/(day if avail.)/Year have been typed into the images.

Maybe I'll add to this post regularly.....

Greg B

 

Hello, I don't remember if I first saw this price list in Bower's book. I copied this one a few days ago from a post on PCGS's forum.