I absolutely agree with you about the likely high premium (and also the potential storage issues noted in an earlier post). However, the initial lack of interest makes me want to consider buying even more so. There may be factors that create a potential sleeper series here as well. For example, if the US Mint issues the ASE burnished and proof coins this year, many may want to buy multiples after being deprived last year. The US Mint will also issue silver commemoratives in 2010 (especially the BSA) that will draw a lot of attention away from and potentially resources to purchase away the 5oz silver. I do not know if I am in for the log haul but will likely get those issued in the first few years. I am not sure about the legislation for the 5oz. silver (if the USMint must produce them by law like the actual National Park quarters), but if they do not have to produce them and the 5oz. is discontinued at some point I will definitely be glad to own a few. TC
I think yo may be on to something there. If you do decide to take the plunge, I wish you all the luck! I am just hoping to finish at least one series in my out of control coin collection this year... a goal I failed to achieve last year.
5 oz silver coins are nice, the have intrinsic bullion, as well as collectible, value. Storage can be a hassle though.
So what is going to have a higher mintage, these big 5 oz hockey puck Parks coins or the even dumber kilogram-of-gold coins being put out by the Canadians?
I think owning one of the early releases might be a good investment, but like others have said, "it depends on the premium." I'd be willing to pay about $4 an ounce more the spot, so $20 over spot, which would put them at $125 today.
I think for me it's all in the design and execution, what they'll look like in silver, how much detail they put in them, etc. I'll probably spring for the home state one and some of the civil war battlefield ones might be interesting, again depending on how they're done. Don't think I'll be much interested in more flora and fauna. The state quarters had plenty.
You raise an interesting point about design that I think will also add to their collectibility (maybe even among the non-serious coin collectors). Think of your favorite Statehood Quarter reverse design and then picture it on 3-inch diameter silver coin. If the US Mint had done this for the SHQ series, they would have made a mint. I still believe that the 5 ounce silver version has potential even for those who do not collect the entire series across the 10 years. TC
They should have done this to the Presidential dollar series. I bought one of the bronze medals and feel they are great looking in that size.
It'd look hideous. The only state quarter designs that'd work well in 3-inch format are the ones that have far too much detail to begin with for a 1-inch quarter. This National Parks program is required to use the same designs for the 1-inch coins as for the 3-inch coins. Thus we're guaranteed that, for every single state, at least one of the two will just plain look silly. And from the sample art that's been in Coin World and such, they seem to be leaning toward high-detail designs that'll make the 1-inch coins unrecognizable--so perhaps some of the 3-inch coins will be attractive. Too bad hardly anyone will ever see those, relatively speaking....