I was reading in some coin books on price and mintages on some Peace Dollars and was amazed that there is a big difference in an odd way on some of the dates and mintages. Two Questions. MS 60 1928-360,649 $525 1934S-1,011,000 $2000 Now the lower mintage is selling for less than the higher one. Any answers? MS 66 1924S-1,728,000 $45,000 1927S-866,000 $45,000 These are the highest. The 1928 is $15,000 The 1934S is $20,000 The 1928 & 1934S sell more at the MS 60 level but the 1924S & 1927S are quite a bit higher at MS 66 My question is why are coins selling low at MS 60 but jump past the higher coins at MS 66 and the 1928 is the lowest of all mintages?
It's the availability of the coins. The '34-S is the real key because you just can't find them. Same story with the high prices for higher grades - it depends on how many in that grade are available.
I collect these and as my "neighbor" mentions a lot has to do with availability. There was a higher melt on the later coins which has made them scarcer. The older coins (1922 - 25) are found in "rougher" MS-60 shape from being in coin bags during storage (as not too many people wanted them because they are heavy compared to dollar bill or could afford them) and getting nicks dents and marks. The older BU's that a lot of coin dealers sell on-line or in the various magazines are in this shape. When I first started collecting these I ordered a lot from dealers on the Internet but I don't do that now. I prefer to look at them in person as they have can have an "orange peel" look and still make the MS-62 grade. We don't have very many coin shows in Reno so I have to rely on my local dealers. My collection is MS-62 (mostly slabbed) and above except for the 1934-S, which will be AU-55 or 58 when I can save up for it.
