US Coin Blog: News and Updates
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Feb 08, 2020
Coin Value Tables Updated for 2020
Value Tables for the following coin groups have been updated for 2020:
-- Flying Eagle Cents
-- Indian Head Cents
-- Lincoln Cents
-- Buffalo Nickels
-- Seated Liberty Dollars
-- Peace Dollars
The Coin Value Tables show retail price trends for individual dates ina wide range of conditions. Value data from 1950 to the present isavailable, and includes percentage gains/losses to facilitatecomparisons.
The primary benefit of the tables is to illustrate which dates andconditions have increased in value the most over time, as an indicatorto predict future performance.
Access to all of our Coin Value Tables is available HERE.
May 09, 2019
May 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Continues Inching Higher
For the sixth time in the last seven months, the Rare Coin Values Index moved higher, once again landing in record territory. This is sounding like a broken record, I know (pun intended). For you Millenials who may be puzzled by the broken record expression, us old fogies sometimes use it to mean this.
The May Index score came in at 425.22, up 1.46 from April.
Have you heard about the Great American Coin Hunt? In observance of National Coin Week (April 21-27), hundreds of coin dealers and collectors throughout America dropped as many as 1 million old and collectible coins into circulation. Most common of the droppings (maybe another word had been better, LOL) were Indian Head cents, Lincoln steel cents, 90% silver dimes and quarters, Ike dollars, with some Barbers and Standing Liberty quarters mixed in. The U.S. Mint also got in on the act, sprinkling in a few somewhat rare 2019-W Washington quarters.
The goal of the Great American Coin Hunt is to get the general public talking about coins, generate some enthusiasm, and grow the collector base. A good number of local and national news outlets broadly publicized the event. It’s not everyday someone is giving away something of value, so it made the news. Word of discoveries have gone viral on social media. Expect more of the same in the coming weeks/months.
Some of the coin donors have had some interesting experiences while trying to mix numismatically advantaged coins into circulation. Writing on the Greysheet blog, collector Hal of the Denver area tried to hand over a pocket full of Indian cents, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, a dozen Morgan dollars, and a gold $2.50 Indian to a McDonald’s restaurant to give away as pocket change, but the manager flat out refused, fearing his customers would not accept them. In the end, Hal gave away some Morgan dollars to a couple of girls about 10-12 years old. They were delighted! Mission accomplished, Hal!
My website, US Coin Values Advisor, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "May 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Continues Inching Higher"
Apr 13, 2019
April 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Resuming Winning Ways
After a brief step back in March, the Rare Coin Values Index (aka the Index or RCVI) resumed its winning ways in April, rising 2.23 points, once again landing in record territory.
The majority of Index gains in recent years have been fueled by rare date gold coins, as was the case in April. This time around, however, we got a little bit of help from early date Large Cents. That’s something we haven’t seen in a while. This may not sound like much, but it could be significant. For a better part of a decade, non-gold coins tracked in the RCVI have weighed down Index performance. They’ve been racing down the track like a turtle with a couple of broken legs. From time to time over the years, I’ve pointed this out (e.g. 1793 Chain AMERI. Flowing Hair Large Cent), not to denounce their potential, but to suggest their price softness is not a harbinger of bad things to come, rather a buying opportunity at temporarily discounted prices. I’ll be watching them closely in the coming months to see if perhaps we’ve reached the inevitable inflection point.
Overall, the RCVI has climbed 8.16 points in 2019, computing to a 2.0% increase. Not anywhere near the YTD explosion of the S&P 500, but that’s not a valid comparison so I don’t know why I brought that up. Of the RCVI movers, the gainers have outweighed the losers by a 2.5 to 1 ratio.
For readers who may be new and have no idea what the RCVI is, it in an Index that tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index. All 87 coins tracked in the RCVI are equally weighted. Their values range from less than $100 to $65K. There are no ultra-rare dates.
My website, US Coin Values Advisor, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "April 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Resuming Winning Ways"
Mar 11, 2019
March 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Steps Back 0.55 Points
For only the third time in the last 12 months, the Rare Coin Values Index posted a loss, dipping a mere 0.55 points. This follows on the heels of the best month in three years in February.
As regular readers already know, the RCVI tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, US Coin Values Advisor, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "March 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Steps Back 0.55 Points"
Feb 11, 2019
Morgan Dollar Value Trend Report Updated for 2019
We've been publishing this report for 10 years now. The 2019 edition is now available.
Continue reading "Morgan Dollar Value Trend Report Updated for 2019"
Feb 11, 2019
February 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Enjoys Best Month in 3 Years
February 2019 was the best month in three years for the Rare Coin Values Index, leaping 6.01 points. This is getting to sound monotonous, but the Index has landed once again in record territory, hitting 422.09.
There are no high-profile indicators suggesting we are about to enter a frenzied bull market in rare coins, but things are definitely on the uptick. Over the last 24 months, the Index has climbed 6.74%. For you statisticians, this computes to a 3.31% annual compounded gain. Over the previous eight years, 2009-17, the Index plodded along at an annual compounded percent gain of a meager 0.88%. Has a shift in market dynamics occurred?
Some (perhaps many) experts in the field believe 2019 is going to be a great year for rare coins. One of the foremost numismatic authorities explains his reasons for optimism in this video.
Showing signs of strength are key date gold coins and other upper end rarities. But not everything is moving higher, yet. Some very good collector coins (e.g. 1793 Flowing Hair Chain cent, 1877 Indian Head cent, etc.) are now available at prices lower than a few years ago. Many coins favored by the collector base move in cycles pricewise, and there are some bargains to be had at the moment. History suggests this situation will eventually correct itself.
As regular readers already know, the RCVI tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, US Coin Values Advisor, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "February 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Enjoys Best Month in 3 Years"
Jan 15, 2019
2019 Updates Uploaded to US Coin Values Advisor
It’s a new year, meaning fresh data is being uploaded to US Coin Values Advisor. In 2019, Coin Value Tables for the following coin groups has been updated:
- Mercury Dimes
- Standing Liberty Quarters
- Washington Quarters
- Walking Liberty Half Dollars
- Morgan Silver Dollars
- Ten Dollar Gold Eagles
Also, our US Coin Types & Key Dates section has been fully updated for 2019. All regular series US coin types from Half Cent to Double Eagle are covered. You’ll learn about the historical legacy of US coin groups (e.g. Shield Nickels) and study key date value trends. Collectors seeking coins with the best likelihood of rising in value will want to spend some time researching here.
Continue reading "2019 Updates Uploaded to US Coin Values Advisor"
Jan 12, 2019
January 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Rises Again to Start New Year
The Rare Coin Values Index (henceforth known as RCVI or Index) started off the new year by gaining 0.48 points to settle at 416.08. Once again, this is the highest reading ever for the Index. Over the last 18 months, the RCVI has hit record highs 11 times. Although an impressive feat on the surface, a deeper look at the data reveals the RCVI climbing a modest 5.2% during this time.
In past boom cycles, we might have enjoyed double digits gains over 1.5-year period, so today’s market activity isn’t as hot as we’ve seen in the past. The good news is that the overall impetus is steadily upward and is based on fundamental collector demand, with key date gold coins providing most of the jet fuel. Some of these remarkable coins are tracked in the RCVI (see last month’s blog for the leaders of the parade).
As rare gold dates continue to surge, some of the more traditional non-gold rarities fantasized by us old-timers as young collectors (e.g. 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent, 1916-D Mercury Dime) have lost some ground in recent years. In reviewing price trends from decades ago, a drop of 20-30% for a key date rarity, only to be followed by another round of robust price increases, has been the norm. Although past performance is no absolute guarantee of the future, I view these current setbacks as temporary discount buying opportunities.
Since going online in 2003, the people I hear from frequently are finders of a 1943 steel cent, hoping to learn they’re sitting on top of a goldmine. Upon being informed there were over 1 billion of the steel wartime cents minted and have no enviable value, many react rudely as if I was personally responsible for their dud.
It would have been a lot more fun had I been contacted about a 1943 bronze cent. On January 10, one such specimen sold for a whopping $204,000. The seller received the penny in change at his high school cafeteria in 1947, not realizing for years its extreme scarcity (the Mint officially denied its existence after he inquired about it).
Maybe one of these days I’ll get lucky and someone will send me a photo of a 1943 bronze cent discovered in their late grandma’s piggy bank and eventually get my name mentioned in Coin World magazine. More likely is someday I’ll vacation on the surface of the moon.
Continue reading "January 2019: Rare Coin Values Index Rises Again to Start New Year"
Dec 14, 2018
Dec 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Closes 2018 with 2.91% Gain for Year
The Rare Coin Values Index (aka RCVI) closed out the year by inching forward a microscopic 0.07 points to finish the year at 415.60, its highest level ever attained. This was the 7th record setting month in 2018. As impressive as that may sound, the Index gained only 11.76 points for the year, calculating to a 2.91% increase. Still beats most money market funds, these days.
Of the Top Ten individual performers in 2018, nine of them were gold coins. I won’t list here the numbers for all 87 key date coins tracked in the Index, but the Top Ten are:
1) 1821 Capped Head $5.00 Half Eagle Up 116.7%
2) 1859-O Coronet $20 Double Eagle Up 73.9%
3) 1930-S Indian Head $10 Eagle Up 40.4%
4) 1861-D Coronet $5.00 Half Eagle Up 23.3%
5) 1841-O Coronet $10 Eagle Up 22.2%
6) 1796 No Stars Capped Bust $2.50 Quarter Eagle Up 17.3%
7) 1795 Capped Bust Small Eagle $5.00 Half Eagle Up 12.5%
8) 1848 CAL. Coronet $2.50 Quarter Eagle Up 10.0%
9) 1808 Capped Draped Bust $5.00 Half Eagle Up 7.1%
10) 1865 PF-65 Three Cent Silver Up 5.7%
That gold coins did the best in 2018 should not surprise anyone. IMHO, genuinely rare U.S. gold coins (like those above) are the most consistent subset of solid advancers in the numismatics universe. I’ve got a website chocked full of long-term pricing data demonstrating this effect.
With scarcity, high demand, and historical significance, a collector simply cannot go wrong in purchasing key date U.S. gold. One big warning: Never, never, NEVER buy a valuable coin from someone whose integrity might be questionable. There may be more clever con artists today than ever before selling evermore convincing fakes, so stick to dealers with sterling reputations. My site has advice on finding honest dealers.
On the other end of the spectrum, there were only four of the 87 RCVI coins that lost ground in 2018. The Bottom Four are:
84) 1953-S MS-65 FBL Franklin Half Dollar Down -5.9%
85) 1875-CC Twenty Cent Down -8.3%
86) 1918/7-D Buffalo Nickel Down -11.4%
87) 1861-D Type Three Gold Dollar Down -32.9%
I wouldn’t shy away from any of these, despite their recent slump. If anything, today’s prices represent an opportunity to buy at a temporary discount.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and see you in 2019!
Continue reading "Dec 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Closes 2018 with 2.91% Gain for Year"
Nov 11, 2018
Nov 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Hops into Record Territory
The Rare Coin Values Index hopped 1.39 points higher in November 2018 to close at 415.53. While no one should confuse this for a kangaroo leap, (it was more like a little bunny hop), it was enough to land the Index at another new record high.
What is the goal of this Index? In a nutshell, the Index tracks the combined monthly performance of 87 key date coins in an effort to gauge the overall price movement of the United States rare coin market. In other words, are rare coin prices in general moving up, down, or staying the same?
Regular issue dates from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are included in the Index. The baseline of the Index is January 2000, so this month's reading of 415.53 indicates the combined prices of all 87 coins in the Index are about 4.16 times what they were in January 2000.
As readers of this blog already know, I do not advocate rare coins as a primary investing strategy. HOWEVER, a well informed coin enthusiast can build a collection destined to rise significantly in value over the long haul. It's like you can have your cake and eat it too! That's the basic gist of my website https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/. (Please forgive the cheap plug!)
At the risk of sounding like a crooked coin telemarketer from the 1980s, it might be fun to compare the Rare Coin Value Index (a.k.a. RCVI) performance to the DJIA.
Let's imagine all 87 key date coins tracked in the Index were somehow equally weighted in a mutual fund of sorts called RCVI. Over the last 10 years, RCVI gained just under 15%. Not good, especially when juxtaposed with the Dow, as it powered its way to a 190% improvement over the same time period.
Over a longer time frame, the favorability rating flips. Since its inception in January 2000, the RCVI has increased by 316%, outshining the Dow, which rose "only" 144% during the same period. Most of the RCVI's gains occurred during the rare coin bull market of 2003-09. It is important to note the RCVI has NOT surrendered those gains, unlike previous run ups in the late 1970s and again in the late 1980s. That is because the 2003-09 raging bull was fed by sound fundamentals (more consistent grading and supply vs. demand forces impacted by true scarcity), whereas earlier booms were fueled by speculator activity and over hyped expectations.
Bottom line: Enjoy your coins, read up on them, choose your purchases wisely, and you'll end up with an enviable, valuable collection. For retirement planning, follow the advice of a good financial planner.
Continue reading "Nov 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Hops into Record Territory"
Oct 10, 2018
Oct 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Resumes Moves Sideways
The Rare Coin Values Index took the month off in October, remaining unchanged from September at 414.141
A change of 0.00 might seem like a bit of a statistical oddity, but of the 223 months this Index has been tracking rare coin market activity (dating back to January 2000), there have been 36 instances when there was no movement from one month to the next.
Most generally, the Index does not move rapidly in one direction or the other. But there has been a bit of volatility in the tracking history. The biggest point drop ever occurred in January 2015 when the Index lost 7.48 points, or 1.95% of its value. The best month was June 2008, when the Index exploded for 28.46 points, or 8.89%.
As regular readers know, the Rare Coin Values Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, www.us-coin-values-advisor.com, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "Oct 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Resumes Moves Sideways"
Sep 13, 2018
Sep 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Resumes Winning Ways
The Rare Coin Values Index rebounded from a couple of moribund months, rising 0.86 points in September to 414.14. Isn't that number kinda like a palindrome? Don't know what a palindrome is? Google it, or better yet, use Duckduckgo.com (where they promise to respect your privacy).
I am sometimes asked why I didn't include more top grade MS or PF coins in the Rare Coin Values Index. After all, don't coins in the highest grades rise in value faster when compared to their well worn counterparts? (or so some say)
When creating the Index years ago, I purposely featured many key date coins in lower grades (G and VG), because that is where most of us ordinary collectors are. Rare, key date coins in the highest grades are priced above what most of us can afford. However, many of us can relate to same coins in G and VG.
As for value appreciation, yes, key date coins in the highest grade will increase in value greater in terms of raw numbers, but not necessarily in terms of percentage. For example, a coin valued at $1000 in a high grade that increases 40% over a 5 year period has a value increase of $400. If the same coin in a lower grade worth $100 increases in value by $50 over the same 5 year period sees an increase of 50%. So while the lower grade coin has a value increase of $50 versus $400 for the higher grade coin, it actually does better in percentage comparison.
This sort of thing is very common. If you study the coin value tables on my site (gateway to the tables is https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/US-coin-values.html), you will see the higher grades for a given key date do not necessarily appreciate at a greater percentage rate compared to its lower grade counterparts.
Speaking about high grade stuff, did you hear about the August 15 sale of the finest known (PF-66) ultra rare 1913 Liberty Head Nickel? It went to a new home at a cost of $4.56 million. Sounds impressive, but when you learn the exact same coin (called the Eliasberg specimen) last sold in 2007 for $5 million, it shows even stratospheric rarities are not immune to stumbles. FYI, the Eliasberg nickel sold for $1.485 million in 1996, so that's is still a 5.67% gain annually over the last 22 years.
As regular readers know, the Rare Coin Values Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented.
Continue reading "Sep 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Resumes Winning Ways"
Aug 12, 2018
Aug 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Takes Half Step Backwards
The Rare Coin Values Index did something it hasn't done since March-April 2017, and that is to lose ground in two consecutive months.
The August 2018 Index came in at 413.28, down only 0.55 points from July and 1.09 from its most recent record high in June. Really nothing to wax concern over, so put away your Paraffin for now.
Because the United States rare coin market is but a minor player in our overall universe, it doesn't get heavily politicized, thank goodness. Otherwise, with this speck of negative news, there'd be people pushing innocent bystanders out the window to create a climate of hysteria in an effort to convince you to jump out of the window too.
Personally, I think the most negative thing happening in the world of coin collecting is counterfeiting. While I get a few readers sending me pics of amateurish fake coins, there are some con men globally that have gotten highly talented at fabricating replicas of rare coin dates. Some of them are encased in counterfeited PCGS and NGC holders!
Thankfully, we have pros on our side who have commensurately developed their skill sets to keep up with the fraudsters.
Don't be afraid to purchase rare coins for fear of counterfeiters. The best advice to avoid this and other potential pitfalls is to deal with reputable coin sellers. I have a section devoted on my site where you can learn more about finding reputable dealers: https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/coin-buying.html.
For those of you who may be new readers, the Rare Coin Values Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, www.us-coin-values-advisor.com, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "Aug 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Takes Half Step Backwards"
Jul 16, 2018
July 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Stalls
The Rare Coin Values Index took a bit of a breather in July, dipping a measly 0.54 points to land at 413.83.
Over the last year, we've become accustomed to pale green arrows pointing up, so this month's reading is somewhat of an anomaly. A minor irritant, kinda like what happens when you bite into a sandwich not knowing there is a jalapeno pepper hiding in there (at least for me, it's that way). Or maybe it's just the doldrums of summer.
Some people have asked me about the future of the coin hobby. There is some concern the demographics of the collector base (seemingly mostly older guys) does not bode well a couple of decades down the road.
Sure, its the old guys doing the lion's share of numismatic buying and selling, but that has always been the case because that is the group with the largest amount of discretionary income. Plus, in general, America is becoming grayer.
There are more young people enthusiastically involved in coin collecting today than meets they eye. Hobby leaders are actively engaged in outreach projects designed to get teenagers interested in coins. And they are having success. The AmericanNumismatic Association recently completed their summer education program for Young Numismatists. All sessions were well attended by motivated kids hungry to learn. Don't believe me? Check out the Seminar Report Page and scroll down a bit. See what I mean?
It's not just the ANA that is making inroads with younger folks. Social media is crammed with coin collecting bustle. There are tons of organizations and individuals involved, too many to keep track of. Facebook alone has millions of self identified coin collectors. These aren't all just a bunch of old fogies, either.
Gone are the ubiquitous coin shops and neighborhood coin clubs and shows. They didn't vanish due to lack of interest, they've simply been replaced by more modern means of communication. And that's not to say brick and mortar shops don't exist anymore; they do, but in smaller numbers than 50 years ago.
Coin collecting will NOT be extinct one generation from now, but the hobby HAS changed compared to when many of us were kids. Today, collecting interests are connected through the Internet. On balance, numismatics may not be as personable as it once was, but cyberspace has literally opened up an a new world of opportunities.
Jun 14, 2018
June 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Moves Higher for 10th time in 12 Months
The Rare Coin Values Index moved higher again in June, climbing 2.82 points to reach yet another record high at 414.37.
The Index has been positive 10 out of the last 12 months. If a baseball team wins 10 out of 12 games, we'd be talking about a potential contender for the World Series... unless the team was, say, the Cincinnati Reds, in which case we all know this is a temporary aberration that will quickly correct itself back to consistent mediocrity.
I have a confession to make. Last month, I made a mistake for the first time ever. More specifically, I erred for the first time ever in computing the Index score. In May, the Index score was reported at 411.92. In actuality, it was 411.56. Not a major blunder, but a goof nonetheless.
I'll blame the miscalculation on my computer. This keyboard has been funky for some time now. Not all the Excel formula cells were highlighted before copying over from April to May, leaving out a few data points that should have been included in the calculation.
I dunno, maybe if more people visit my website www.us-coin-values-advisor.com, I could afford another keyboard (a new computer would be even better!).
New readers may ask what exactly is the Rare Coin Values Index? Let me explain, in the briefest of terms... The Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
Continue reading "June 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Moves Higher for 10th time in 12 Months"
May 14, 2018
May 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Has Best Month Since 2016
Although the Rare Coin Values Index had its best month since 2016, it's not as if it thumbed a ride atop a Saturn V booster rocket. Read on.
In May 2018, the Index climbed 4.47 points to hit another all time high of 411.92. That's the best one month point performance since September 2016, when the Index improved by 5.09 points.
Although May's jump of 4.47 points (that's a 1.1% gain) is a welcome deviation from the rather mundane (but steady) performance of the rare coin market over last couple of years, when put into perspective, it rates nowhere near the best in the history of the Index.
The Rare Coin Values Index tracks the combined price movements of 87 key date United States rare coin since January 2000. In the 220 months since then, the biggest one month jump occurred in June 2008, when the Index catapulted 28.46 points (an increase of 8.9%). The second best month was May 2006, when the numbers were 17.98 and 7.3%.
In fact, 11 of the best 12 months in the history of the Index happened during the boom years of 2003-09, the last big run up for the rare coin market. In terms of points gained, May 2018 ranks 25th on this list. Now you understand this is not a Saturn V rocket booster month.
Once again, the Index was pushed higher in May by advancing key date U.S. gold coins. If someone asked me if I could provide just one piece of advice for aspiring collectors seeking coins destined to rise in value faster than average, I would steer them toward key date U.S. gold coins. Some examples of good dates to acquire are found in the roster of 87 coins tracked in the Index. These are listed on https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/rare-coin-values-index.html. From there, you can branch out to study individual coin charts in detail. As you'll see, most have an impressive record of price hikes, some spectacularly so.
Another good place on my site where you learn about rare gold (as well as other key dates coins) is here: https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/U.S.-Coin-Types.html.
As you will quickly note, the price tag for high demand/low supply gold coins is quite a bit higher than stuff you'll find in the dealer bargain bin. Consider this: It is far better, IMHO, to buy a rarity like a 1861-D Coronet $5.00 Half Eagle for $15K than 150 common date collectible coins for $100 each.
That's all for this month. I'm heading down to the launch pad to see if any Saturn V rockets are getting fueled up.
Continue reading "May 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Has Best Month Since 2016"
Apr 14, 2018
April 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Stubs Toe
Have you ever stubbed your toe? Hurts, doesn't it? But there are varying degrees of "toe stubbness". Sometimes it hurts so bad you see stars and cut loose with a string of expletives. Then there are times where the pain spikes for a few seconds and then subsides quickly. And then you get on with life as if nothing happened.
April was like a nuisance toe stub for the Rare Coin Values Index, falling just 0.28 points, from 407.72 to 407.44. Meh. One of the most boring months in the history of the Index.
While this month's decline was but a minor event, it did have the consequence of ending the five month Index winning streak. Thus, the record of 14 consecutive months hitting an all time high (set from September 2003 to October 2004) is safe. In fact, that mark is as unattainable as Cal Ripken's legendary feat of playing in 2,632 consecutive baseball games (didn't they say the same about Lou Gehrig's streak before Ripken?)
New readers may ask what exactly is the Rare Coin Values Index? Let me explain, in the briefest of terms... The Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
The Index is a but small slice of what my website US Coin Values Advisor has to offer. There is voluminous data on long term coin value trends, key date analyses, numismatic basics, advice, and non-PC historical references. The website went online in January 2003, so its not some "Johnny come Lately" endeavor. [Full Disclosure: I sell advertising and earn commissions to earn a few bucks. Sometimes I wonder if its even worth the effort -- Thanks, Google (NOT) -- good thing I enjoy coins.]
If you've got a few moments to spare, could you maybe mosey over to my site and check it out? Here again is the address: US Coin Values Advisor. Better yet, if you discover the site to be useful, please tell your coin collecting friends about it. I need all the help I can get!! Thank you! (My theory is Google punished me for my non-PC stance and I lost more than 90% of my traffic)
I'll update the Rare Coin Values Index again in May. Until then, watch out for stubbed toes!
Continue reading "April 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Stubs Toe"
Feb 12, 2018
Feb 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Stays on Winning Streak
Ho ho ho, it's four in a row! That is, the Rare Coin Values Index has risen in four consecutive months, reaching yet another new all time high in February at 407.44 when it added another 1.46 points.
To be sure, these are baby steps. Maybe not even a crawl. Over the course of the four month streak, the Index has advanced 2.2%. Over the last 12 months, it has improved only by a measly 3.2%, so at least we can say the gains are picking up the pace a little more as of late.
To put things into perspective, during the first 12 months of the big rare coin bull market of 2003-09, the Index shot up by almost 54%, absolutely dwarfing the 3.2% gain over the last 12 months.
No one should be discouraged. In fact, might be a good idea to add more coins to your collection.
The force pushing prices higher, albeit slowly, is coming from bedrock coin collectors. They are the salt of the earth in numismatics. Back in the late 1970's and again in the late 1980's, it was these collectors who were elbowed aside by herds of speculators trying to make a quick buck in coins. People who didn't know the difference between a Flowing Hair Large Cent and a Barber Dime were dropping millions into US coins, pushing prices to stratospheric heights, unsupported by fundamentals of supply and demand. When the bubble popped, coin values plummeted, in some cases by 90% (though rare key dates weathered the storm the best).
Outside speculators were not much of a factor in the boom of 2003-09. The impetus behind that surge was rank-and-file coin collectors, many of whom entered the hobby after finding interest in the 50 State Quarter Program. When the inevitable correction occurred, prices did not crater dramatically as they did in the previous two cycles. By the middle of 2010, the Rare Coin Value Index had drifted softly downward by about 5%. Since that time, The Index has been very stable, moving up ever so slightly.
For those new readers, the Rare Coin Values Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, www.us-coin-values-advisor.com, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
Continue reading "Feb 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Stays on Winning Streak"
Jan 11, 2018
Jan 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Opens Year Moving Deeper into Record Territory
Lately, the Rare Coin Values Index is behaving like it thinks its the Dow Jones. That would be an exaggeration of course, because the Index is not climbing at THAT meteoric pace, but it has now closed at a record high for three consecutive months. This was last accomplished in late 2016, so its not that big of a deal, but are we at the beginning of another boom cycle?
The most consecutive months of closing at a record high is 14, occurring in 2003-04. This coincided with the beginning of the last great bull market in US coins, lasting from 2003-09.
The January 2018 Index score settled in at 405.97, up 2.13 points from December. Once again, strength in US rare gold coins fueled the rise. It's not just gold coins that folks are getting excited about, however. A 1793 Chain Large Cent in MS-63 grade (one of the dates tracked in our Index) sold last week at the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention in Tampa for an astounding $300,000. That price was so startling it generated media headlines throughout the world.
The Rare Coin Values Index tracks the price movements of 87 key date United States rare coins, then combines their overall performance to arrive at a composite score, in an effort to gauge the direction and strength of the U.S. rare coin market. The Index uses January 2000 as its baseline (i.e. the Index score that first month was 100.00). Regular issue coins from the Half Cent to $20 Double Eagle are represented in the Index.
My website, www.us-coin-values-advisor.com, publishes price trend data going back to 1950 for a large number of collectible United States coins. Many collectors dig through this data to identify which coins have the best chance of increasing in value over a long period of time, based on historical performances.
I also have a "Coin Types & Key Date Analysis" section (https://www.us-coin-values-advisor.com/U.S.-Coin-Types.html) highlighting some of the best performing dates across the entire spectrum of regular issue United States coinage.
Continue reading "Jan 2018: Rare Coin Values Index Opens Year Moving Deeper into Record Territory"
May 22, 2016
Sleeper Coin Report Released
For those who may not be familiar with the term "Sleeper coin", think of it as a highly collectible, rare coin being sold temporarily at a bargain price, generally due to normal fluctuations in supply and demand. Sooner or later, it will reassert itself and jump in price, but at the moment, it is being sold for less than what it normally does.
The problem most Sleeper coin seekers run into is how do they know when they've found a coin temporarily depressed in selling price? Without value trend data from the past, the selling price of today cannot be put into historical context.
Because I have many years of numismatic value trend research under my belt, I can recognize a Sleeper coin when I see one. That's why I've produced the Sleeper Coin Report. With this data, collectors can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in their quest to add quality dates to their numismatic holdings.
To learn more about the Sleeper Coin Report, click the link below and visit the info page on my site, US Coin Values Advisor, where you can get more details and see a sample Sleeper Coin chart and supporting data.
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