I like buying modern silver coins, Try to stay away from clads but if you can pick whats hot and turn for a big profit such as the LP1 Boxed Lincoln Log Cabin 2 roll sets and take your profit and buy gold and silver. I wonder what the LP4 cents will go for that are being released today once they are on the secondary market.
New guys ain't so much getting ripped off by the mint as much as they are by HSN, QVC and other assorted types like that.
For the devil's avocate viewpoint: Interestingly, we know that 2009 have lower than normal mintages of dimes and nickels and quarters (compared to the state program). The economy has resulted in many people turning in their coins to their banks and to coinstar overflowing the Fed with coinage. In fact, we have yet to see any 09D nickels or dimes. Why, because of all the coins being turned in. So, with a month and a half to go in the year, they haven't released the D dimes and nickels.....what does that say about the 2010 mintages? Will they be lower? If they don't change George (strongly believe they won't) from the quarter, the interest in the Nat'l parks will wane and the mintages will go way down due to the lessened demand from both collectors and from the economic reasons of the coin return. One could argue, that in the long run then, the Nat'l Park quarters may be a better investment, and the 10 dimes and nickels may have lower mintages than 09.... Or, maybe I'm completely wrong.
CSN, Coin Vault fun to watch and for me learning about the coins on nights when nothings on TV, Even the Treasure Hunter could make more money if he didn't ramble on so much. But I dont buy coins off TV total rip off.
If the interest wanes, and the coins are not collected then they will not carry much if any premium as evidenced by CN 3¢ pieces. Low mintage, no interest, no premium.