Memorial Cent

Indeed, I don't disagree with your definition, I'm just saying it goes both ways, we can agree to disagree. :smile

There's MANY "common" dates of Memorials that make me scream. As a serious Memorial collector I really enjoy finding coins like this one, 1982-D SDZ. This makes me scream!

 

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These make me scream too!

 

I'm working on a roll set of Memorial Cents. 1 roll I won't ever get is a roll of 1970-s small date. It runs about $2500. Another I probably won't get is the 1960 small date cuz I can't see me paying $200 for a roll of cents.The '86 & 86-d are $20 & $30 a roll,About the price of most common MS63 Morgans. A roll of 84-d is over $15. Single coins I won't ever get are the 1990 no s proof at $2750.00 a coin. If you want quality, like BadThad, the '83 & '84 doubled dies are , in MS65, $400. & $275. respectivly. Then you have the '72 DDO that is over $700 in MS65.Then the 1960 d/d is over $300 in MS 65.And the wide AM's. Are those semi-key enough???? .............................................John

 

Well gah-lee, rolls of anything will get expensive, FAST, if you are talking about rolls then we are in a whole new ball game.
Morgans are my thing, and you can't pay $20 for MS63 morgans graded or not.
All I'm saying is, when collectors look at numismatics, and the key dates, they don't just say "WHAT ABOUT THE 1986 D ROLL OF PENNIES" that might happen in lets say 100 years, maybe longer. They are high mintage, heavily circulated, and just un popular coins, and they are not at the moment, key dates in numismatics.
They are semi keys in their series, and the 72 DD' could be considered as a semi key in numismatics, but that is about it.

 

P.S.

good luck to you and roll set, sounds like a challenge.

 

When you speak of common collector coins the Morgan dollar is probably the most collected coin there is. YES you CAN get ms63 Morgans for $20 -30. You should start going to coin shows and get some experience in the dealings that go on at 1. One of my local dealers will sell me rolls of common (as most are) Ms63 Morgans at $20-30 a coin depending on if they are upper 63's or lower 63's. None the less when it's all said and done they are 63's .Some have gouges and are not worthy of a 63 but still get it.As for high mintages there are millions and millions of common Morgans floating around. As for Memorials if you think that they are not worthy of your collection then DON'T collect them. The challenge is to find them in a very high mint state. Not as easy as you seem to think.Ask BadThad. Morgans are everywhere. Even the Sears Store at my local mall has them. One of the things I've learned in 40+ years is that just because you or I don't like a series doesn't mean that someone else doesn't find it fun and challenging. Apparently Morgans don't move me the way they move you as just this past weekend I sold 95 of them (as Mr.CoinLover & JefLinc, who were there, can attest to) at the Clearwater Coin Show. Maybe next show I'll sell more. H*ll maybe I'll trade a crap load of them for an unc. roll of '70-S Memorial Cents. IF I can find one. I can always replace them, after all I can always find a common date Morgan in MS63....................................................................John

 

I agree. Sure, the Memorial series has relative key dates...but when compared to other series that just doesn't mean much. Memorial Cents are only valuable in registry quality condition or for error/variety collections. In my personal position, neither really appeal to me.

They are a great starter set for kids too.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a MS63 Morgan (in any date) in the $20 range. A few dealers may have bulk for that price, but that's probably it. I know these coins are common, but they seem to be a bit more expensive than that these days. A few years ago, sure...but today it's a bit harder.

 

Tell me now, where in my original statement did I say nobody should collect these. I am NOT encouraging anyone not to collect them, you said in your statement "DONT COLLECT THEM" like I was telling people not to collect them, John, I don't intend on ever collecting memorial cents.
Now back to morgans, $20 for a common MS63? I honestly want to know where you shop and go, because I can make a good money on those, to pick up some nice things for my type set, or heck even get me a new quarter eagle for my set.
The only way I can think of $20 per each common MS63 morgan, is if you buy in bulk, and I mean LOTS and LOTS of coins. The $30 range is more reasonable, as they can be found in the $30-$35 range, but $20, that is a stretch. If you can find them for $20 please tell me where, tell us all where, we are dying to know.

 

Bingo! :thumb:
Memorial cents compared to other series, are a joke. (Sorry this is how I feel) Camaro took the words right of my mouth here;

I agree 100%, if they are not top pop's, don't have nice toning, or aren't errors/varieties, compared to other series, the memorial cent might be near the bottom of the food chain.

 

I even said it sounds like a challenge...

 

Right now I have no interest at all in Memorial Cents. But someday in the future, I believe high grade Memorial cents, especially the early dates will be worth much much more than they are going for currently.

For example, the 1909 VDB Lincoln in PCGS MS67RD (a $1200-$1700 coin) has an available pouplation that exceeds just about every Memorial Cent from 1959 to 1980 or so in the same MS67RD grade.

While I realize that the VDB is highly demanded as the first wheat cent and as a one year type, it is probable that some day in the future people will be looking back to the high grade Memorial Cents in a similar way that many of us look back at the wheat cents, but in their case they will not find as many high grade examples available.

Similarly, in the early 20th Century, folks just didn't collect Barber coinage. Now, even VF and XF examples command significant premiums. The very few folks who collected rolls of BU Barbers at the time made out pretty well and those same coins today can trade for crazy money.

Those folks who are buying up the high grade Memorial Cents now and who are hoarding rolls of BU Memorials may be rewarded someday... but whether that big payoff comes in 10-20 years or in 100+ years is the gamble.

 

I have at least one lincoln cent ever produced except a 09 s vdb and a 14 d. I will continue to collect them. Will it be a good investment? Doesn't matter to me as I love collecting, this is my hobby not my profession. Perhaps someday I'll get those last two.

 

Exactly! Even if it never does, I'm still enjoying collecting them individually and by the roll.

 

Five parks per year for eleven years, and in the ninth year the Secretary of the Treasury gets to decide if he wants to do a second round for another eleven years.

 

There's no question this set will have a strong collector base in the future. As was said, there are many people who collect what they are familiar with, what they grew up with. Not everyone, but enough that you can be sure it will be collected.

It IS inexpensive and that is the attraction. I don't even consider the wheat backs because of the prohibitive cost to get anywhere a complete collection (and that's what this thread was asking).

If we're going to slam the Memorial series as an investment, I'd also like to say that MS-63 Morgans aren't going to be zooming up in value anytime soon. It's probably a good investment for the great-grandkids, though.

 

I think calling them a joke is a little far fetched. There is nothing wrong with them...they just don't have the value that many of sets have. Also, unlike many other sets...they have a limited way to collect them for value. But, we don't collect for value. I have a BU set of memorial cents I put together and I like them. But, they will never be worth much and that's OK.

 

I appreciate all the comments. I guess anytime a discussion of coins takes place the "investment" factor always comes a part of it. To me this is a coin that is just simply very fun, interesting, and inexpensive to do. I was truly was amazed how beautiful this set looks to see all these red "copper" coins cartwheeling in the light. Although I don't think they will pay for my retirement I'm glad I obtained them now with their prices so very reasonable. It never entered my mind to look at these coins from an investment angle, but after reading the comments here I have to think they only have one way to go and that is up. Even if they do go up they will still be very affordable for many years to come.

If I was a young collector I would look at this coin differently. They are a lot of fun and who knows in thirty or forty years where they will be. I understand why most young collectors don't appreciate this coin. I absolutely have no doubt they will someday wish they had. There are literally thousands of posts scatterred throughout Coin Talk where older collectors comment about coins they (we) wished they would have saved during their youth.

 

I think this set is very popular among young collectors. I imagine that most people who collect US coins began with pocket change and Whitman folders. The cent is the easiest place to start because the face value is so low it's not much of an income hit. For this reason, the cent will remain highly collected by new and young collectors...no matter what design it has on it.

More advanced collectors (for the most part) look at this set as not being worth their time because of the lack of rare coins. Other sets are the same way (Jefferson Nickels, Statehood Quarters, ect.) in may people's eyes. But, some people specialize in these sets and like ultra high grade examples or varieties. There is nothing wrong with that.

There is nothing wrong with collecting these sets even though they aren't worth much. Hobbies are for fun, not to make money. If you like these sets then collect them. But, the Memorial cent is among the least likely to be a good long term investment IMHO.

 

Camoro,

<QUOTE FROM ABOVE>
More advanced collectors (for the most part) look at this set as not being worth their time because of the lack of rare coins

"Advanced collectors". Who the H double tooth picks is that?

Rare coins? I guess you've decided to totally ignore CladKing's remarks. And if you don't have any faith in his opinions - please state that.

 

Unfortunatelly I have to go to work, but I just wanted to add something else I had forgotten. What dready says about what took place at the coin show in Clearwater is true, my son and I were with him. Had a very good time, and as always John great to see you.