http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=4000 I wonder if those low mintage commems will skyrocket any thoughts? these are going to be the lowest mintage modern commem half and they are still cheap http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...odkw=&_osacat=253&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
Thanks for the info, quick question. Why haven't the prices been reduced for the 2010 silver proof sets?
here is my case that the unc Army half is a buy at current prices: uncirculated Half Dollar Commemorative mintages 2011 Army 38,464 1996 Olympic Swimming 49,533 1996 Olympic Soccer 52,836 2003 First Flight 57,726 It has the lowest modern half dollar mintage BY TEN THOUSAND! The next lowest goes for $100+- http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...+-ngc&_osacat=253&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313 any unc Army half for under $50 seems like a stellar deal. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-S-SWIM..._Individual&hash=item5890d9ef89#ht_500wt_1180
The only thing I don't like about the halfs (and don't get me wrong, I collect 'em all) is that they're not coined in silver. The only two silver halfs are the George Washington and Bill of Rights. Clad stinks in my opinion. Check out those mintages on the MOH and Army $5 uncirculated pieces.
I agree that the 2011 gold unc commems are amazing deals (though they are not the lowest mintage in their series) but I am not sitting on 5 bills just now. I think that most of us could spare 20 or 30 dollars though on that half- it will almost certainly be the key to the modern commem halfs. I strongly encourage everyone here to grab them while you can.
I like the design of the MOH $5 gold. I am not as impressed with the low mintages because the demand for these items is not very good. TC
Down the road though, who knows? Look at the Jackie Robinson ('97) $5 piece. Very little interest back in the day and very pricey today........
I have some commemoratives, but collect them only if I like the theme and design. In the commemorative arena, it seems if you want to improve demand for the coins by collectors, they have to be made relevant and interesting. Congress and the Mint have been pretty uninspired in this regard over time. Do we really need to keep pumping out commemorative coins with dead politicians and the war theme on them? Is that really all that is important in this country? What about the many other people who have made this country better? Musicians, entertainers, athletes, scientists, businesspeople, etc.? I'm just tired of the really uninteresting themes the coins represent and I don't think I'm alone. If the Mint and Congress would think outside of the box for a change and try to be a little creative, they might actually come up with ideas that collectors would find appealing. Jackie Robinson is probably the only athlete ever to be on a modern U. S. commemorative coin. Why is that so? Call me crazy, but I just can't see the commemoratives of 2011 (or 2012, 2013 and 2014) ever generating much demand, given their themes. I'm not saying what they represent isn't unimportant; I'm saying the horse is dead, so let's move on. From a price appreciation perspective, most commemoratives are not a very good bet at all. My guess is that situation won't be improving in the foreseeable future.
I don't know, I think they've covered a lot of areas other than politicians and the war. Granted there are quite a few. Sometimes the commemorative program serves as a fundraiser for different things. Like the Gettysburg commems were sold to raise money for battlefield restoration. I think the 2008s raised money for a Bald eagle program. Sometimes they're made just to commemorate anniversaries which I think are very reasonable. The 99 Washington $5 gold commem in honor of the bicentennial of his death is a great example. A MS one (22,511 mintage) is next on my want list. I just finished reading "Being George Washington" and it gave me a whole new perspective of the way he carried himself, on his life and how much he actually sacrificed for the country. It's lost on most of the population now. In this day and age with our short attention spans and sound bytes, most people think the Revolutionary War (assuming they even know it happened) lasted a month or so and we were free! In reality, it lasted about 7 years and the sacrifices and risks taken at that time are like none other before or since. To understand why they felt it necessary to place "another dead president" on a commemorative 200 years after his death, you need a full understanding of the man himself, who he was and all that he did. I love sports as much as the next guy but I don't think athletes are worthy of being put on US commemoratives. If MLB wants to come up with a minting program, let them do it. To put Brett Favre on a commemorative after say a George Washington commemorative, just trivializes the program and I think would be disrespectful to all and everything that was worthy of being on them. I know other people will have different viewpoints and would love to see a Brett Favre commemorative. I just don't think it's the US mint's place to do so. Everything would become worthless if they turn into a free-for-all, anything goes type program. I'd rather see them come out with nothing for a year or two, if there isn't any subject matter worthwhile to commemorate.
why not also talk about proofs while you are at it some of us ( me and harvey ) can only afford proofs and not expensive unc coins
IMHO its already a free for all but who cares they will keep selling i will keep buying. who cares what the subject is
Yeah, to an extent I agree. It's getting there. Another 20 years and we'll be commemorating the election of Obama and the Great Southwestern horned toad. They should end the program. Take a break for 30 years like they did before and maybe something new and worthwhile will come along again.
