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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;HawkeEye, post: 3085452, member: 86305&quot;]I could come down on either side of this discussion for a number of reasons.&nbsp; I live in a remote location and without the internet I would have given up on collecting long ago because of travel restrictions.&nbsp; I have problems believing I am unique and I think the internet has probably increased participation.&nbsp; But the days of the local coin store may be passing other than a storefront for an internet operation.&nbsp; When the world is your market a store on Main Street has no particular value.</p><p><br /></p><p>I contend that our greatest challenge will come as more and more currencies go electronic and the younger crowd will grow less interested in coins.&nbsp; So the historical nature of coins grows in importance in my book.</p><p><br /></p><p>But on the supply side I think it is tougher for dealers.&nbsp; Coins which we thought were rare may only be rare within our geography and the internet pretty much erases the geographical boundaries.&nbsp; Also with PCGS and other TPGs tracking auction sales you are less likely to over pay or pay full retail for circulated coins.&nbsp; I believe rarities will continue to exist but may be more in the camp of die varieties and grade.</p><p><br /></p><p>As interest wanes in current issues the rarity of top grade coins increases.&nbsp; Sales at the US Mint are <u>way</u> down and that may just be a short term trend, but maybe not.&nbsp; I believe that they have become their own worst enemy because of a lack of understanding of markets.&nbsp; As their sales slow they raise prices rather than dropping them to increase item profit and not overall profit.&nbsp; A 25% to 30% premium on an item from the Mint is just too high and they are helping kill off younger collectors.&nbsp; We see the same logic at the Post Office, but they are just on a faster track.</p><p><br /></p><p>As the great philosopher Waylon Jennings said &quot;If you see me getting smaller, I&#039;m leaving.&quot;&nbsp; Our challenge is to not get smaller and kill off demand.&nbsp; I am always interested in the history of a coin, why it was created, and why it was replaced.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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