Let me tell you right now prices for rolls of 2003 and earlier are creeping up a bit on Ebay. I can state with real confidence that demand for complete sets will be HUGE. We coin people tend to forget that there are 100's of millions of people who have barely noticed the state quarters and once the marketing machine ramps up they will ALL want a complete set (and one for each of their kids). Try asking someone who is not into coins if they noticed that the quarters have states on them, they will probably say "oh yea huh I did not notice that". All of these people will be clamoring for complete sets and these people have NO idea about stuff like mintages. In 2009 you will get $1 to $2 easy for common dates and $20 for better date proofs.
About the same as an uncirculated Bicentennial Quarter... 25 cents... You have to figure that billions and billions of these things have been produced. Just about everyone and his brother have set aside uncirculated examples. As they're issued, I set aside the first new State Quarter I find in circulation, but as far as investing in them... NO WAY!
They wiill never be worth much in the long run for two reasons - (1) Billions were struck and none were melted (as happened several times in the past) and (2) everyone started out collecting quarters. Hardly anything becomes valuable when it is collected from the start for the purpose of appreciation. This does not mean you cannot find some moron to pay big bucks for these things (they are unusual and even pretty) but the price will stay up about as long as the Jefferson nickel spike.
The '76 bicentennial quarter is probably the most valuable 25c coin in the world: 1976-D Clad - - - 10 ..25.. 50 ..165.. 3250 ... These are the values in dollars in grades MS-64 to MS-68 as reported by the PCGS price guide. To me the 64 price looks a little low and the 65 and 66 a little high but this should give you an idea of what these bring today. The Philly issues can be worth more probably but are not reported in as high a grade. There's also a DDO issue which brings a lot of money even in XF. Even though huge numbers of these coins were horded by the public the mainstream hobby has never taken them seriously. But high grade coins were rare when these were minted and the bulk of the mintage did enter circulation just as the states coins have. Over the years a large percentage of the saved coins have even gone into circulation when they are brought into coin shops and the owner is told they are pocket change. Typical uncirculated exmples of this coin wholesale at only 40c but then this is what happens when there are some 15,000,000 of a coin available and there is fairly substantial demand. It's difficult to predict what will happen with the states issues but there are already some better issues. The early Philly coins are rarely seen nice and there are several varieties including the two WI -D coins. While there are large numbers being set aside the fact remains that a lot of these issues still get into circulation without being checked for gems or varieties. Savings rates for each issue varies wildly and it's hardly impossible that something has or will be vastly under saved. It would be fool hardy to buy these coins with the intent of making a profit but if you like the coins and have fun with them it's entirely possible that you'll do fine whether you like AU's from circulation or more expensive slabbed coins. If the hobby is about having fun then how can you go wrong?
IMO uncirculated rolls will carry a modest premium,ie the KY especially the P and a few others. I don't think anyone is going to realize a big profit from SQ rolls but if you can get them at or near face value your certainly not going to lose money and may even make a small profit. Experianced collectors are not going to pay a premium for them but don't discount the millions of casual collectors who will want a complete set for the kids or even for themselves. Also people looking for errors or high grade pieces will be needing unc rolls to search thru. I get unc rolls from the bank at face so it's a no lose situation. Hey the bottOm line is TIME WILL TELL
