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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GSDykes, post: 3938720, member: 73321&quot;]Just reread Jeff Garrett&#039;s article in the 5th editon of the Mega Red. He mentions several reasons why the coin market seems stagnant. (1) aging demographics&nbsp; (2) intervention of and ease of on-line shopping (3) a supply imbalance. Indeed all three are at work, but I suspect that aging demographics is primary. Many collectors, such as myself, began in the early or mid-sixties. Back then treasures could still be found in pocket change, and silver was everywhere. Finding a 1913 cent was a thrill (who, cared if it was only a VG-10 or whatever). Families could even coin hunt together.&nbsp; Since then over the decades, a full collection of Buffalo nickels or Liberty dimes cannot be accomplished unless each coin is purchased. Purchasing is not a challenge per se, rather grading looms large. Much of the fun is lost, hours sitting on-line, or walking the bourses can be interesting, meeting folks et al. It now boils down to a matter of disposable income. Garrett mentions several billionaires who spend 100&#039;s of millions of dollars per year on coins! [And that they see the coin business as a wise investment!].</p><p><br /></p><p>Another reason, I suspect, is the lack of education most youngsters have. Who wants history, when you can choose a class on building hot rods, or cultivating mind blowing plants? Without a sense of place and history, coins are just base pieces of metal. Not to mention a probable lack of economic understanding, not knowing that coins can be an investment as well. Many kids today cannot even use a cash register, as they shunned math classes.</p><p><br /></p><p>So the generation which really enjoyed coin collecting, for fun, for history and even for investment purposes is leaving the scene. Selling their collections, or passing them on family members or charities. Thus the supply side increases, as the demand side diminishes. Something must change, or coin collecting will follow the path the stamp collectors (or butterfly collectors, et al) followed. A slow death, at least for the time being, stagnant! Or is this just a slump, in which it is a good time to buy???</p><p>Any other thoughts??</p><p>Gary in Washington[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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