Early Commemorative Collecting

I enjoy collecting early commems and enjoy the history and beuaty of these coins. I was noticing in the greysheet that in general prices for early commemorative coins are dropping. I've seen this for the New Rochelle, Columbia, Delaware, Roanoke, etc. Could anyone specuialte why we are seeing such a drop?

 

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I've been watching this trend also. The May 30th greysheet says "Prosperity is far from embracing the Classic Silver contingent as several move to yet lower ground." The gold commemoratives however are stable.
Certain ones like the Silver Bridgeport are always costly. But now is a good time to jump in with Lexington, Stone Mtn., Grant, Pilgrim, and many others.
My speculative guess is that collectors are putting their money into other areas. This leaves the silver commemoratives sitting in dealers showcases and not moving.

 

Some are selling for way more than expected. A MS66 1892 columbian sold for over $3000 and 2 grant with star MS64 sold for over $4000.

 

For the moment they are out of favor.
Fine by me. I've just started a set.

 

I'm glad that they are lower. I enjoy them but only have a few because of the prices. I some of the ones Victor mentioned as well as a Long Island and a Bay Bridge. Hoping that a higher grade Oregon drops so I can grab it.

 

The Bay Bridge IMHO is the best early commem design. The profile of the bear is awesome. Others I like include the Wisconsin, Grant, Pan-Pac, New Rochelle and Norfolk. The Oregon is great too and very popular.

I am lookng to buy a Columbia, SC or a Delaware, now that the prices are dropping.

 

This is off topic, but where do you purchase or download this greysheet. Is it like the redbook just more up-to-date?

Thanks,
Greg

 

Greg:
You have to subscribe.

 

It's real name is the Coin Dealer Newsletter.
Surf it up with Google and you'll find a number of options.
I personally have a monthly subscription.
With that I get:
- one CDN (greysheet) a month (it's a weekly)
- the CDN Supplement
- the 3 Quarterlies
Probably the best balance between cost and content.

 

This is good news for me. I have the Oregon but I want to get the Texas, San Diego & Bay Bridge for my 7070

 

www.greysheet.com

You can subscribe and either receive the printed version or the on-line version.

I have the full subscription and receive something every week. Most weeks I only receive the Weekly Newsletter. Other weeks I receive the Monthly Suppliment and Quarterly Newsletters. There are three different Quarterly Newsletters and I get a different Quarterly each month.

Each publication addresses certain coins. The Weekly Newsletter addresses coins that are either the most popular or have the most volitility in price - Morgans & Peace Dollars, Commems, Type Coins, Mercury Dimes and Walker Halves. The Monthly Suppliment covers Gold Type, Gold Indians & St. Gaudens, Flying Eagle, Indian Head and Lincoln Cents, Two Cents, Three Cents, Early Nickels, etc., etc.

Quarterly I covers Half Cents, Large Cents, Half Dimes, Early Dimes, Twenty Cents, Early Quarters, Early Proofs, etc. Quarterly II covers early Halves, Early Dollars, Trade Dollars, Gold $1, Early Gold $2 1/2, Gold $3, etc. Quarterly III covers gold Stella, Early Gold $5, $10 and $20.

There are several different ways you can subscribe. You can get the full subscription, only the Weekly Newsletter or (like kanga) one Weekly per month plus the Monthy and the Quarlerlies. There may even be other plans available.

 

Last year , the Roanoke Commem Half at MS65 was at $270 on the Gray Sheet. It is now down to $225. That's a big drop for a pretty rare coin. What's up with that?

 

Early commems are my weakness. Whereas, most times I will stay strong when buying any other coins, but with early commems, I tend to pay a tad bit more if I find one that is nice looking. I am currently bidding on two at my local coin shop's weekly bid board auction. One is the Columbia, SC and the other is.... (well heck, I can't remember) Time to go to bed. Will share pics if I win, but I haven't won one in a while. Apparently, I found out this weekend that there is a local politician who is buying up all the early commems around town at very high prices. Kinda ticks me off, but what's a poor man to do? I only outbid him twice. Maybe he will be on vacation this week.

 

how is it rare?

 

Sen. Byrd does get around, doesn't he? :whistle:

 

Nah! He was able to buy those coins when they were first released - and that included the Columbian Expo one too! :mouth:

 

Well, I landed the Columbia, SC half! I have to wait til Friday to pick it up because that is when I get paid. That politician has apparently ticked off some other regulars at the coin shop because of his agressive bids. He wasn't around at the end of bidding, so I don't think he came away with too much this time. The other comm that I was bidding on was the 1936 Elgin, Ill. It was a nice frosty UNC, but had a weak strike. For the money someone paid, I would like a nice strong strike. In addition to picking up a few UNC Wash quarters, I picked up a very nice UNC 1944 walking liberty half. Pics will be posted this weekend of the Columbia half. Joe

 

Good time to buy if you like them , this year I've picked up ,
1. Lincoln-Illinois -MS-64
2.Boone MS-64
3.Oregon Trail , MS-62
all at reasonable prices .
rzage

 

IMO, the commem market is always going to be a bit softer than the market for other sets of coins just because the nature of a commemorative. Almost no one is going to try to put together the 144 coin set from 92-54, because of the cost prohibition and undertaking of such a task. A complete set consists of 50 (if you include the isabella and the lafayette) but some of those pieces are very much out of the average budget (think old spanish trail, hawaii) so they will only collect a few specimen of their favorite examples, if they collect any. They will also be more wary about how much they spend on what is basically a one coin type set, which makes it much easier to dispose of for further funds for buying other coins. This keeps the prices soft overall.