You had better believe it! http://www.wards.com/Gifts-and-Toys/Collectibles/50-wheat-pennies.pro?omSource=SLI&
50 cents in a little pouch sold by Montgomery Wards... and you're surprised why? These, and the few other coin-related offerings I glanced at, are clearly not intended for the serious collector, but are novelties and priced as such. We've been through this many times before; there is nothing jaw-dropping or announcement-worthy about it.
Furryfrog said what I was going to, I'm surprised to find a website for Ward's. Someone must have bought rights to the name.
The original Montgomery Ward went out of business in the early 1990s. This outfit must be some group that bought the rights to the name and trademark so they could sell under that name. And like the original MW this one seems to be of the same vernacular. Indeed, from the website:
Ya, I get their catalogs under various names from swiss colony, all over priced crap, including a 32" no name TV for $700. What I find odd is that a lot of companies including shop nbc and the like are awfully gougy on coins.
You are surprised? This is typical retail markup for many industries. When you go to the store think about how much the retailer is purchasing the item wholesale for. Comparatively speaking coin dealers margins are quite reasonable.
