Whats the market like for the medals the US mint sells? like the presidential ones and all. Why are the 3 inch medals much more expensive then the 1 and a half inch medals?
If you're wondering about potential profits - I'd quit wondering and move on. They can be neat collectibles for those who like them. And for some of older and more rare examples - they can be rather expensive. But even the market for these is quite small. There just are not that many who collect them.
My guess is that bigger medals are larger, but I'm a newbie, myself. Seriously, take ancients, for example. Large tetradrachms (diameter of a quarter, two to three times thicker) sell for much, much more than small silvers, two of which would fit on your little fingernail, or a Greek drachmon or Roman denarius about the size of your index fingernail. Everyone wants "eye knockers," big, impressive objects with arm's-length details. So, too, with the US Mint medals. The larger ones are more popular. They are the "traditional" Mint medals. The smaller ones are newer sets and series. As for the prices, they recently went up. Until about 2000 or so, these were $20 items. I bought several as gifts, as well as several for my own collection of aviation materials. However, remember that the US Mint owns the dies. They can make as many as they need to, whenever they want.
The prices are higher for the 3" when buying from the mint because it cost more to make big than it does to make small. Also - the 3" medals are more popular among those that collect them, whether they are bought from the mint or on the secondary market. Popularity means higher prices.
Along these same lines, it seems that large coins are always more popular than small coins. Any idea why that is?
Well, in my case, the larger coins are easier to see. It sounds pretty superficial, and it is, but I can see and appreciate the detail on a silver dollar better than on a dime. I also take the largest piece of cake or pie, but probably for different reasons.
If you saw the medals in person, you would see the difference instantly. The smaller ones are made like coins – and have a relatively low relief. The larger ones are proper medals – deeply (multiple) struck, with very high relief. Plus, the small ones are just bright color, while the large ones are usually antiqued.
When many years pass, I'm sure memory is effected to some extent. However, I'm pretty certain that when I bought my first Presidential medals, the 3 inch ones, I paid $5 each. Now they are, what...$30 something. I remember buying TR, Wilson, JFK, Lincoln, and Gerald Ford on the very day he became President. Bought them all at the U.S. Mint in Denver. Sad thing is, that collection will now never be finished. Way too expensive.
