American coins are boring and overpriced.

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by riff, Jan 9, 2020.

  1. wxcoin

    wxcoin Getting no respect since I was a baby

    I collect US coins and haven't had much interest in foreign coins. I guess US coins were a big part of my generation before credit and debit cards. My goals were and still are to put together sets; whether a particular series or type set. I have learned a lot of history along the way and will until I die. As long as I find collecting US coins enjoyable I'll continue to do so.

    From your avatar my guess you are part of the younger generation where cash hasn't been the only show on the road. So putting myself in your shoes I can totally understand your interest in foreign coins. Yes, if I was your age I'd probably be bored with US coins because I'd probably focus on variety instead of building sets.

    Boring is in the eye of the beholder. Do whatever you enjoy.
     
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  3. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    Define "overpriced"?
     
    Paul M. likes this.
  4. Ana Silverbell

    Ana Silverbell Well-Known Member

    My collection is primarily U.S., coins, with the lion's share being from the 1800s, and the rest mostly pre-1965 coinage. I am NOT a World Coin collector but I do dabble lightly in World coins. I have Greek and German coins from the 1800s and early 1900s. Well, I do also have coins from Switzerland; oh, wait, quite a bit of Great Britain and Canada also (but Canadian coins are "American") but that is it with my World Coins- I don't really collect World Coins; unless you count the coins I have from Norway, Netherlands, Cyprus, Russia, Poland, Latvia, France, Spain, Mexico, Peru, - Never mind, ignore what I was just saying.
     
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  5. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter



    Stuff you can't justify spending money on......
     
    Kentucky likes this.
  6. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

  7. Andrew McMenamin

    Andrew McMenamin Nerva You Mind

    I agree with riff, and I know that coins here in the USA are categorized as US, World, Ancient, etc. - so the remarks to the US is part of the world doesn't cut butter. While there are several beautiful US coins, the trash the US mint has been spewing out for 20+ years is boring, poorly designed, and over-priced. That's why I gave up on my US collection and have been collecting ancients for the last two decades. I'm in your corner riff - go get 'em!
     
    Paul M. likes this.
  8. calcol

    calcol Supporter! Supporter

    I think there is a difference between overpriced and high-priced. Overpriced is when someone asks more than fair market price. There is plenty of that among U.S, world and ancient coin sellers. However, it's a lot easier to determine fair market price of U.S. coins compared to world coins. That's because of good and pervasive third party grading, numerous price guides, and easy availability of auction prices realized.

    High-priced is self explanatory and exists for all coin groups. You can easily put US$30K into a 1889-CC Morgan dollar or a William IV proof crown ... take your choice.

    I do think world coins have more potential for price appreciation than U.S. coins, and for multiple reasons. The internet and publications have made it easier to obtain info on world coins ... things like mintages, historical data, and sale prices. Median incomes are rising in many parts of the world, and more folks are getting disposable income ... income that can be put into non-necessities like coins. These folks will want to collect coins of their own country or region.

    Another factor is that third party grading is becoming more accepted and common in the rest of the world. Third party grading gives folks more faith in the authenticity and grade of coins. We love to criticize TPG companies. But I remember things before TPGs became established in the 1980's. I gave-up collecting U.S. coins for a couple of decades and switched to ancients because grading by dealers and auction houses was so inconsistent. Compared to the chaos and chicanery that existed back in the old days, problems with TPGs are near trivial.

    I collect both U.S. and world coins. There is plenty to admire and be of interest in both groups. I could spend several lifetimes learning about both and more money than I could ever earn acquiring both. Go for what interests and pleases you ... and if you fancy one group, don't put down the other.

    Cal
     
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  9. Chip Kirkpatrick

    Chip Kirkpatrick Well-Known Member

    In all honesty, I believe the US has turned the corner in regards to coin design. Morgan dollars were pieces of art. Many of the state quarters look like a 9th grader drew them. Living in Florida, our state quarter is an embarrassment. The new nickels are atrocious. And the durability of the new pennies and nickels are laughable.

    Just my humble, unasked for opinion... 61977112-B209-4AE1-85A9-801FD61F4416.jpeg
     
  10. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I think much of it is also due to the relief of our coins being so low now. There is hardly any, where before it gave the coins some depth and made the designs better.

    It amazes me how quickly other countries can change their coins and currency so quickly whereas ours it takes "years" for a change to occur.
     
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  11. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    What problems are you having with nickels? Their composition hasn't changed recently.
     
  12. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    When most collectors on this board (United States predominantly but not exclusively) think of "Foreign" or World coins, I think an image of that giant $0.25 or 5/$1 bowl comes up. Actually I love those and have spent hours entertained by plowing through them. If you like the design on coins and the thought of an object from an exotic place, World coins is your province. I still love United States coins and find it hard to pass up a deal on a Bust Half or a Half-cent.
     
  13. Corn Man

    Corn Man Well-Known Member

    Still in my opinion United States currency is still superior to collect because if you know how to play your cards right you can get it for face value or for a bit under base price. Or buy a key date for melt value and get a 1932 s Quarter in a junk silver bag. :)
     
  14. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    I refer to coins as U.S. or non-U.S. coins. "Foreign or World" are ambiguous and somewhat xenocentric.
     
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  15. Hiddendragon

    Hiddendragon World coin collector

    There are far greater opportunities for this with world coins if you know what you're doing. Most dealers literally don't know what they have and don't care to know. You can easily get $5, $10, $20 coins for 25 cents in most dealers' junk bins if you know what you're doing. And I don't mean once in a great while, I mean every time you look.
     
    Paul M. likes this.
  16. juris klavins

    juris klavins Well-Known Member

    The key dates are few and far between in bulk 90% silver coin bags - I've purchased many and the lone 'good one' I found was a 1924D mercury dime in AU55 condition in a $50 face value bag of mercs from APMEX three or four years ago - the search always continues :cool:
     
  17. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    Overpriced is an opinion.
    They hold their value because the demand has remained high.
    I have some foreign coins. (Old ones, & silver ones.) But there's just too
    many countries, too many coin eras/styles and denominations, and that waters
    down the price/value because there's just way too much product.
     
  18. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    You're trying to catch fog, but you mist! :p;)
     
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  19. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Boy you really stepped in it
     
  20. BuffaloHunter

    BuffaloHunter Short of a full herd Supporter

    If we are talking modern coins, then I agree mostly. There have been a few modern coins that I liked the look of and added to my collection. When it comes to the classical coinage, that's a different story. You'll have your fight if you say my beloved Buffalo Nickel is boring.
     
  21. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Wear one of those cameras. Bungee only. We want you back
     
    green18 and wxcoin like this.
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