For the sake of fostering ill will, er, respectful discussion, what do you think is the most overrated coin series? Most underrated? I'll start with an underrated series: copper nickel 3 cent pieces. It's a nice design, but it's overlooked as evidenced by the fact that coins with mintages in the low thousands can be had for less than $1000.
Overrated: Morgan dollars, but of course collect them if you like them Underrated: Washington quarters, the workhorse of our circulating coinage
Pre 1964 non-silver Jefferson nickels receive very little love. Also shield nickels don't seem to get a lot of attention. Morgans seem overrated to me. So many out there in MS grades and everyone has them. I just overlook them at coin shows and shops.
I'd have to agree with Morgans being overrated. They're definitely nice looking coins, but they just never "did it" for me so to speak.
I base my statement on what I see at coin shows. I see more Morgan Dollars than any other series of coins by a huge margin, leading me to nominate them for the overrated title. Underrated in my opinion is Half Cents, look at their mintage's....
I'm gonna have to take the same stance as everyone else saying Morgan Dollars are over rated. And because Morgan Dollars are so overrated Peace Dollars get very little attention.
Morgan's are definitely common but are an impressive looking coin with lots of history and plenty of demand. Modern NCLT coins are a lot more overrated than Morgans IMO, especially when they are slabbed. The "First strike" and other various cheesy labels are destined to go the way of Beanie Babies. As for underrated coins, any number of 19th century series would qualify, some of which have already been mentioned. One of my prized coins is an 1806 Draped Bust half which is certified F12 and still only worth 400 bucks at the most, even though total estimated survival for the series is less than 15K. Plus it is a larger silver coin with some bling, unlike 3 cent pieces, half cents and other under appreciated denominations. For long term steady appreciation I'm betting on the classics, the earlier the better, because most of us like coins that there aren't very many of. I'd take a boring 3 cent piece over a reverse proof dime any day of the week.
Overrated??...any coin graded MS/PR 69/70. Any coin that was made yesterday. Underrated??...mint state S & D Buffalo nickels from 1913 Ty2-1927, MS63-65 Barber & seated coins.
That's what I like about classic coin collectors believing any of them are underrated - they are persistent in their beliefs. To belief any coin that's been around that long has not seen its potential, well, all I can say is keep on believing. As for actually underrated, any uber low mintage coin issued in the last 20 years that is part of a special set that holds the key dates for modern series. I'll even throw the uber low mintage P-Mint Pucks in there, as they're holding their own, given the decline in PM's.
Of the coins I purchased during the 90's, the best performing ones by far are late 18th/early 19th century classic type coins. For example the 1806 half I mentioned in my earlier post has tripled in value in less than 20 years. I agree that there are low mintage moderns with potential, I just don't like the fancy labels.
It is an interesting question asked several times before. Me - personally I believe Morgans and Modern Commemorative and Eagles are over-rated. Not that I don't like them - I really like some of them. I did make a nice penny when selling all my modern stuff. I think they are overrated because nice ones are readily available and I do not expect that to change. Nor do I expect the demand to go down. I think there are several classic series - 3 cent silver or nickel, shield nickels, barber coins(Frank owns most of those) - that are under-rated. Again I do not expect that to change - while the designs are nice I just don't think collectors in general like the series. That could be for several reasons - keys are too hard to get in a grade they like, don't like the design, etc. Whatever the reason I expect it will stay the same for years to come.
Most over rated Morgans by far, I do love them and have a collection of them. But what I have will not be added to. Underrated nickels 3 cent nickels, shields, and Jefferson series . There's something about half dimes that lore me also to spend my coin budget. But I'm a Sucker for a shield nickel as well as a 3 cent nickel. Now will agree with Alan on US half cents as they are the coppers I will spend to obtain a needed date.
