I’m guessing that a lot of older people’s estates are being sold right now. The odds aren’t good after passing 80. My dad was 84. I bet a lot of people in that age range collected these coin sets during their lives. The market will be flooded for awhile.
Keep in mind that like so many other things, what was once collectible is now less so. People have many more options for their free time and although I have no statistics, I would guess that there will be fewer people collecting coins in the future. We may be near the peak of most coin values.
This is my first post so excuse me if this is slightly off-topic. The previous reply made me think that now may be a good time to sell my coin collection. I stopped collecting before 1985 although I did collect a lot of the States quarters. I wonder how I can find a reputable and honest coin dealer either locally or nationally? I keep hearing stories of how people get ripped off on their coins so Id like to know what to look out. Any suggestion is welcome!
That Numismatic site listed several Arkansas dealers. Thanks.
My mom reminded me that they received some sort of Numismatic guide every year that gives current prices. they have them all saved going back thirty or so years. Someone told them they were collectible too.
Also, I learned my dad started buying these US Mint sets in 1950. Not 1960. Mom said some years they bought multiple sets.
It is going to be a nightmare cataloging and packing this collection.
I’m almost tempted to leave most of it in the safe and sell the contents with the house. I won’t but would be very tempted. I’m going to be overwhelmed enough when I eventually lose my mom. Thankfully Shes healthy right now.
Some of the 50s sets have collectible Franklin halves, especially if they have a good strike and full bell lines (FBL). The '55 is desirable, selling now on eBay for between $15-$30 in BU condition. Also, any pre-65 silver coins are actually mostly silver (except for the nickel, of course). You could just throw your fate to the winds and list the entire collection as a lot on ebay. Start the bidding at $1.00 and see what happens. Be sure to give a complete description and plenty of photos. People get into bidding wars over these kinds of collections, especially if they haven’t been sorted, i.e., “unsearched” (use this exact word, if you do this). There could be double dies in there or other errors that people would be willing to take a chance on finding.
But how are coins doing in general? I can’t help thinking that with high unemployment, lots of people have been selling their collections. So is it a buyers’ market? I don’t mean precious metals, but just the coin market.
I really appreciate everyones comments and suggestions.
There’s a lot of mixed emotions dealing with these coins. I didn’t realize dad had started collecting even before getting married. He had a lot of fun with it and it would be nice to pass it along to someone that has a similar passion. At a profit of course. Making some money was the purpose in collecting in the first place.
If you’re collecting anything with the intention of making money, so is everyone else.
You ain’t going to see a decent profit. Sorry.
If you’re collecting something because you’re a nut about it, on the other hand, you might actually make bucks. I’ve got 4 (2 “C”, an “E” and a “+”) Apple II’s. I got one for $10, another for $25, and the other 2 for free. They’re all going for about $600, last time I looked. I think it’s time to decide which one I want to keep, and the rest, Sell!!!
My childhood coin collection, on the other hand? I could spend them at face value, and save myself the time and trouble of finding someone who’ll buy them at much more than that.
I figured I’d piggyback on this thread (as others have done) to ask about some silver coins. I have a 1999 and a 2003 US Liberty silver dollar coin. They’re been in their original flip-pouch plastic packing since I bought them (not airtight). They both have two spots of tarnish on the edge milling (the face and obverse are flawless). Is it worth having anything done to stabilize these against further tarnishing, or is their value going to remain only slightly over the melt value for the forseeable future?
Making some money was the purpose in collecting in the first place.