With the 2010 ASE out soon should i exspect to pay more because they are new? If so should i assume that buying older ASE coins is the smart play since i can get them cheaper? Or does it go the there way,where as the older the minted coin is the more you pay?
Most prices I have seen are spot-plus, but it's a very small sample of dealers. If you are just looking for ASEs for the bullion value, then yes, I would suggest looking at dates that don't have any numismatic premium. The 1996 costs significantly more than the bullion value. I was fortunate to get one at about 2 1/2 times what was spot price at the time, but I needed it for a birth year set for someone.
We have every reason to believe 2010 will be another banner year for ASE mintage. So, you shouldn't be paying any significant premium for 2010's over what you would for 2009's, new or not.
As far as the BU ASEs go, the best time to buy seems to be the year of issue. As pointed out, the 1996 carries a significant premium. I have also seen other years carry a premium over the current year as well. TC
just a quick question following up on this thread. where do you buy ASE generally, from the mint directly or from other dealers?
Mostly I buy from dealers at coin shows, that's where I get my best deals. If you want to order from the US Mint then you have to have loads of money b/c they only sell large amounts as far as I know.
Another question: Is there a preference for raw or slabbed ASEs? Is there any benefit to slabbing an ASE if you are primarily using it for its bullion value, or is this mostly for the sake of collectors?
There are some that prefer them slabbed and others that prefer them raw. I collect ASE bullion coins raw so that I can buy them as close to spot as possible. I do not want to pay the huge premium to acquire a slabbed bullion coin but can understand why many people do it. I simply try to pick the best ones and place them into intercept shield holders to reduce toning. So far, all are still bright white just like the day I bought them. TC
If this coin is to be used soley as a "bullion" investment then I would not recommend getting it slabbed. Simple reason being that "slabbery" adds nothing to the bullion price when you go to sell these items..... As a collector I tend to shy away from slabbed examples of these issues. Most of them would grade out in the '67-'68-'69 range anyway.
You can't buy the bullion ASEs from the Mint. You can only buy the w mint versions when they decide to make them. They didn't make any in 2009.
At the Whitman coin show in Baltimore last November I saw 2009 ASEs selling $2-$5 over spot. Shop around.
