What is everyones feeling about "general" coin prices compared to one year ago or two? IMO I think it is a good time to be buying coins which I am. Wish I had more to spend though. I sure think this is a good hobby. Translated as "nerd" to the rest of my immediate family.
I think that you are right. The prices for everything other than silver or gold is lower. It is a good time to buy.
Buyers market Yes it is a buyers market. The trend in coin values (20th century coins) has been going down ever since November of 2008 and still dropping. Gold and silver as a commodities are rising but the coins are not quite keeping up. The six month average on Morgans is gaining and seems to be the only coins fetching top dollar now days. But like anything else, the more there are (graded and encapsulated) and minted, the less they are worth. Source: PCGS3000index
Do you think it may be a wise consideration to sell some silver and gold now while high and use that money to purchase other coins since it is a buyers market then?
I am not a commodity guy, but my first question would be, what are the short and long term trends for gold and silver. I have no idea on that point. Maybe some risk for you.
I think so, just last week I purchased a small collection for $300 and turned around and sold the silver for a profit, $304. So I got a descent nickel and wheat cent collection for zilch. Made me happy...
For me it's been a good buying market for the past few years. While the economy has ruined spending indexes in every consumer market because of growing unemployment, my income has increased in a time when coin dealers are having to reduce prices to try to move anything at all. Older copper has been silly cheap lately and I've been using that to my advantage to fill in a lot of holes. Guy
I've been looking for Indian Head cents on eBay to fill my collection, and so before I did it I made a list of the coins I need and the book price for that coin in good condition (I'm just trying to fill the spots for the more expensive coins, not going for high grade). I've found that I can get most of them for about half of what the book value is. I've noticed this also to a lesser extent for buffalo nickels. I've noticed you can get some large cents for pretty good prices too. But any silver coins I need (like barber dimes) are selling for as much or more than the book value.
