1960s Cents

I was thinking while I was roll searching, and I realized that if my dad had hundreds of coin from around when his dad was born, it could be worth a decent amount of money. So I decided to try to get ahead so that by the time I'm an adult some of the 60s cents will be worth more. Meybe cents will be eliminated or at least changed type and early memorials will be like wheats are now. Any thoughts?

 

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The later memorials are far scarcer.

None are likely to be scarce in typical condition though so look for choice and gem coins.

There are numerous varieties as well which deserve more recognition.

 

Dont you think that that is what people thought about wheats when they were being rapidly produced?

 

The only difrence between now and when they were making wheats is that then they were making millions now thy're making hundreds of millions. Look at the newer wheats you can get MS-65s for $10-20.To be valuable they'd probably have to be MS-67 and higher . Just my opinion . rzage

 

I think it's a great idea.

You know how very few people talk about hoarding copper cents now that they've switched to zinc (or steel here in Canada)? Well, I'm sure it was exactly the same when they stopped making silver coinage, and we all know how THAT turned out.

Probably not a great example, but I'm sure you get my drift...

 

I think thats exactly the case. It's true, they may have been making only a fraction of the cents they are now, but the population was only a fraction of what it is now. I would bet the ratio of cents to people is the same, or close to it. That tells me the cents lost, destroyed, or otherwise non-collectable won't change percentage-wise, even though more are being produced. I always pull any gem looking coins from circulation when I find them. There will be a demand a premium paid for them in the near future.
Guy~

 

Name your stakes. I'll take that bet!

Using population numbers taken from the US Census Bureau and production numbers taken from the Red Book, it is apparent that for decades, (with a few blips) the trend has been decidedly upward! In 2000 each US resident could gather 48 times as many newly minted cents to hoard, spend or whatever as his ancestor could grab a century earlier.

......................................Cents.........Cents
Census......Population....Minted............. Per
..Year........(In Millions)..(In Millions)...... Person
1900........... 76.0........... 66.8 ........ 0.879
1910........... 92.4........ 152.8 ......... 1.654
1920.......... 106.5........ 405.6 ........ 3.808
1930.......... 123.0........ 221.8 ........ 1.803
1940.......... 132.1........ 800.1 ........ 6.057
1950.......... 152.3........ 725.6 ........ 4.764
1960.......... 180.7..... 2,168.9 ...... 12.003
1970.......... 205.0..... 3,585.6 ....... 17.491
1980.......... 227.2... 12,558.3........ 55.274
1990.......... 249.5... 11,778.0........ 47.206
2000.......... 281.4... 11,868.0........ 42.175

Yeah, and George W. Bush will be elected to a third term.

 

It doesn't matter how many coins were made any longer. Really it never was the most important thing since small mintages could be saved enmass like the 1883 NC nickel and large mintages could be all destroyed in circulation or lost in storage like the '04-O dollar. But this is much more true in the days of large mintages. Some coins are saved in the tens of millions like the '76 quarters and other coins with huge mintages were simply overlooked. Many of the varieties now days don't even exist in unc because no one saved any!!! Try latching onto a few rolls of nice '86-P or '92-D cents if you think coins made by the billion are so easy. Try finding a nice original roll of '69 quarters.

A lot of the moderns are pretty scarce in unc and when the coins in circulation are melted in a few years they might be tough in any grade. Many of the mmoderns are far scarcer in nice condition than even the old key dates but people aren't paying attention so you can pick them up cheap... ...if you can find them.

 

Have to admit, Hontonai, I didn't have the free time to compile a partial spreadsheet on US population figures. But, at just 40 coins per person as late as 2000, thats not much of a spread from the nearly one in 1900.

As far as this is concerned, I'll just keep saving them, and selling when others want them. Try finding an uncirculated 1985 Quarter today. I bet if you find one you're paying more than 25 cents for it. That'll be my future profits and someone elses loss.
Guy~