I took a look at the link below and I'm trying to understand why some nickels are more valuable than others. For instance, according to CoinTracker.com, the 1951 nickel has a minimum numismatic value of $3.95, yet the 1958 nickel with more than 10 million fewer produced has a minimum numismatic value of only $0.75. Why is that? Thanks in advance. http://coins.about.com/library/US-coin-values/bl-US0005-Jefferson-Nickels-1938-1964-Values.htm
That site is not the best place to get reliable price information for Jeffs. Here's a more worthy site to guide you along but be warned.......this is a guide. No price is set in stone. http://www.numismedia.com/fmv/prices/jefnkl/pricesfull.shtml
OK thanks. According to numismedia.com, why is the 1950 D nickel worth more, while some nickels are worth much less? I see that fewer than 10 million were produced, perhaps that's one factor, but are there other factors besides rarity and errors like D/S (or is that the primary and vast majority reason?)?
The '50D was heavily hoarded in rolls by speculators and at one time commanded a huge premium. When I was a kid back in the sixties I couldn't find this coin in circulation to save my life so I had to resort to buying one. Discribed as BU, the coin cost me $24. Today you could pick the coin for less money in the same condition. When there is large availability the price of the coin is impacted. Once folks found out that the 50D was readily available the prices for them dropped like a stone.
Also, certain years are more difficult to find in decent condition. Those coins are gonna cost you more..... Oh, and welcome to the forum.
It's all supply and demand...like the pricing on anything else. One thing you have to remember too...is don't take mintages to heart. Like green 18 said...the 1950-D is a great example of this. Low mintage, but everyone knew that at the time. Everyone "knew" it would be valuable so they were saved. As a result, they are probably more common today in high grade than other years with 10x the mintage that weren't saved. You have to think about "supply" as being the number that still exist in a given grade, not the number that were minted. Another great example is the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent. Mintage of only 484,000 and quite valuable today. However, because the 1909 Lincoln's were a first year issue...a lot of people saved them back then (not just the S VDB but all 4 1909 cents). As a result, a disproportionally large percent of 1909 Lincoln's exist in higher grades than other years. Now, the 1909-S VDB is still very valuable (in part because it is SO popular so the demand is very high). But, compare it to the 1914-D cent...produced 5 years later when people where no longer saving the "new coin." Mintage was 1.4 million, roughly 3x that of the 1909-S VDB. In low grades, the value reflects the difference in mintage...the 1909-S VDB is more valuable. But, as the grade improves, the 1914-D eventually becomes far more valuable since the supply dwindles.
It also explains the low cost of the 1931-S cent. It had the second lowest mintage of any wheat cent but is far less valuable than the 1914-D. Everyone at the time knew that it was low mintage and saved them.
It's not all supply and demand. Lots of Hype involved also. That's what still keeps the price up on them. Perfect example is the 50d more than enough supply for the demand but the hype keeps the price up.
Shoot 'Jester. When I think of how much $24 was back in 1964 and compare it with what $24 will get ya today I get hives. This is why one does not invest in coins........
I looked for a 50D also, thinking it was a good bet. Never found one, later in life I bought 3 in BU condition for I think $8 each.
