Thoughts on a commem set?

Well I've been in a collecting funk lately. Not sure why. Could be my wife has had some serious health issues the last 18 month, fact that my LCS closed up shop all of a sudden (good thing I didn;t have anything on consignment) or that I'm not sure about the future of coin collecting (wondering if it will go the way of stamps), anyway I have really been thinking about putting together a set of older commems and really am thinking about trying to find nice ones with good eye appeal in old fatty ngc holders.

What's everyone's thoughts about a set like that, or on commems in general? I hear they have been in a bear market for years now.

 

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They look to me like they've gotten cheap, I'd be adding to my 25 or so if I didn't have so many other wants.

 

The market is a trifle 'flat' at the moment so you can add to the collection thriftily, but be assured that comely examples with excellent eye appeal are going to fetch more. Don't get cheap on me Dodson......

 

1. Old fogey's have been proclaiming the death of coin collecting for at least 120 years. It's still doing okay.

2. Classic Commems are probably one of the deadest sectors of coin collecting. Buy them because you like them, but don't expect a whole lot of movement in that area.

3. Stick to quality, original, eye appealing examples, and you should do just fine.

4. Buy what you like, and if that means starting a new collection to get you excited again, I say go for it!

 

What @physics-fan3.14 said!

And if you like the look of commems, then go ahead and start the set. Be picky and choose the ones that look best regardless of grade (i.e. you may find a nice MS 63 that looks better than a 65). Also don’t feel like you need to complete the whole set; a type set of your favorite designs could be a good way to start.

 

I've got half a dozen or so that are raw and have bought ones that I like or mean something to me. I have been looking at buying a white label NGC holder and have noticed some really nice commems in 65 to 66 for 250- 350 each in old fatty holders and they kinda have me thinking about it. The thing holding me back is the potential resale if I decide to go a different route or if wifey needs to liquidate.

 

Resale can always be an issue and it's unclear what the bottom may be for the commemoratives. Sticking to coins with great eye appeal will help offset losses as quality should stay in demand. Older holders have been gaining popularity as well, but they can already be quite pricey (so these can be more risky).

 

I'm biased as I love the old Half Commems. I'll even give you a list to work on/look at if you want one. With that said ... GO FOR IT !!

 

send away I'd like to look at it. I think I have a San Diego, Getteysburg, Lincoln, and a few more that I can't think of right now. All raw right now but I might send it in to NGC. It is nicely album toned with some color to it. I bought it in Omaha about 10 years ago. It was my first commem.

 

My favorites - the dates are the starting dates for some. Some have varieties:

1934 Texas Independence - if you can afford only one .. get this one.
1926 Indian trail - both sides
1935 connecticut tercentenary - both sides, Obv same as $10gold
1922 Grant - reverse detail is amazing
1918 Illinois - eagle reverse better than 1921 Alabama
1935 Hudson
1936 San Fran bay Bridge
1920 Pilgrim - I like the boat
1946 Iowa
1932 Columbian - the boat
1936 Delaware - Rev ship
1937 Roanoke - just great detail both sides

this excludes modern commems of which I have mostly gold commems

 

I do have the pilgrim and yes for the boat.

 

Some unique designs and amazing stories behind many of them. I like that part of collecting them.

 

A future project (it keeps getting delayed for other coin priorities) is a complete 1934-38 Texas commemorative set. So far, I have one for every year.

 

Not sure how anyone could leave the 1915 pan pac half out of a want list...

 

Buy the ones you like, and buy them in "bang for the buck" grades at the top of the flattish part of the price curve. No sense buying an MS63 Iowa, for example, when a 66 costs the same. There are plenty to choose from, so learn how to reject coins and cherrypick for quality. I finished a set of these a couple years ago, and I'm probably buried in it now based on price movement, but it was a fun set to do.

 

I love the 1915 Pan Pac gold dollar. Hope it’s doable for me one of these days.

 

I have the $1 gold. I sniped an ungraded one on eBay quite some time ago for a good price. you just have to be patient.

I wasn't even thinking of the 50cent piece on my list above which is nice too and should be on it.

although, I really like the $2.50 gold one though ... and the octagonal $50 gold piece especially.

 

FYI, there's tons of places to research the Commems. The US MINT actually has pages dedicated to this too as they increase their educational programs ==> https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coin-a...tive-coins/commemorative-coins-from-1892-1954

 

I wish today’s US Mint would go study its educational materials and realize how potentially popular those design types would be today.

Sure would beat some of the schlock being minted today.