Many of those in coin talk do not collect "modern" coins. What year is considered the start of "modern" coins and at what grade (if you collected them) would you not go BELOW? Just curious.
Well for me...the moderns that I own are Gold, Silver and Platinum Eagles...all PCGS Minimum Grade MS and Proof 69. Same for select Modern Commeratives. With the quality of Modern coins these days it cost a little more for the higher grades but not too much unless you go with MS or Proof 70's. Big Bucks there and the average collector can not detect the difference between the 69 and 70. Thats all I have..others may very well add into it with more knowledge. That is my collecting guide that fits my own personal style.hya: RickieB
I think the general consensus is that moderns start at 1964. I only collect modern coinage from circulation, most of the coins grade around 64 or 65.
I consider any design still being struck to be "modern." It's sort of like the difference between a cemetary and graveyard.
I think the modern age starts with the introduction of all base-metal coinage so it varies from one country to another. It isn't the fact that there's no silver which causes the need for a new term for the era, it's the fact that in almost every single case collectors simply quit saving the coins. Millions and millions of coins were saved up until 1965 by hoarders, speculators, dealers and collectors. After this very very few coins were saved, and more importantly, people didn't collect the coins. When you see old time collections they usually end right at 1964 or 1965 even for the cents and nickels which were essentially unchanged from previous issues. The government and the mint had taken many steps to discourage collectors and they worked. This is about the same story in every country though in most places it happened years earlier. This started after the war and becanme extremely pronounced in 1950 so world coins might be considered modern after 1950 and US in 1964. With the introduction of the states quarters and the Euro people all over the world have gotten interested in coins again. But, more importantly, they are collecting them again and setting them aside for the future. This necessitates the use of the term "ultramodern" to differentiate these from the older coins. This varies a little from country to country as well. There are many millions of people in the world collecting ultramoderns and this demand is pushing many of the less available or more desirable coins to previously unimaginable heights. A few of these collectors also seek the older moderns which is pushing them higher as well. This is the next generation of collectors.
For me I think any coin that is still being struck is modern coinage, even if they bring back a old coin design like the silver eagle obverse to me it is modern. BRUCE "THE FRANK GROUP"
I know its probably not the standard but I consider anything that is not ancient or middle ages modern.
Ditto..I consider anything minted after 1800 to be modern..and if it's not at least 1,000 years old,it's not REALLY old.
this is what i think to be modern cents-1969 and newer nickels-1966 and newer dimes-1965 and newer quarters-1965 and newer that is what i think to be modern. i mostly collect coins that they don't make anymore.
As for grade it depends on what series you are talking about. I collect Jefferson Nickels. Franklin Half's, Kennedy Half's and Ike Dollars I will take a Full Step nickel in any MS grade. Non full step I try to stay MS 66 or better. Franklins MS64 , and Kennedys MS65 anything less is junk. In Ike Dollars it is even hard to find MS 65's Also a lot of years such as the 1970's and early 80's are hard to find in high grade. You can go to the NGC registry page and look at some of the registery sets and get an ideal of what is considered Higher grades.
Thanks all! I am just working on type sets for now. Taking it slow to learn about each one and wondered where "modern" started. An inexpensive mint set seems the best way to get a "type" version of the moderns in decent shape. (although just pocket change has yielded very nice examples so far.)
IMHO, For modern coins dated newer than 1970, I will not collect any more less than MS70 or PR70. The mint has gotten so good with minting coins that anything less than a 70 is sub-standard.
I agree, though it's changing a bit now with the new nickel design, and soon to be new cent. Ed, kindly send to me all your MS63 Franklin and MS64 Kennedy junk. I will dispose of it for you.:thumb:
I'm not currently collecting any coins, but I should mention that any coins after 1963, with the exception of silver proof kennedy halves, I just don't care that much for. I prefer the older designs.
