By Q. David Bowers, Chairman Emeritus
As I write these words I have finished reviewing many of the lots that will be coming up in our auction in connection with the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore in June.
I was reminded of a curious fact:
Today in 2012 there are many Gem MS-65 silver commemoratives of low mintage that sell for much less than they did 22 years ago in the spring of 1990! Some are available for half or less!
Why is this? One reason is that few if any dealers have sizeable back-up stocks and do not promote them.
By their very nature many of these are rare. Can you imagine what would happen if today in 2012 the Mint turned out a silver commemorative with a quantity of fewer than 3,000 pieces? Fireworks would explode and lickety-split they would be worth over $10,000 each.
With this in mind compare these sample pieces with 1990 prices and with the current Guide Book price, all in Gem MS-65 grade:
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1939-P-D-S Arkansas Centennial set of three coins. Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 2,104 Philadelphia, 2,104 Denver, 2,105 San Francisco
Spring 1990 MS-65 price for set of three: $6,000
Spring 2012 Guide Book price for set of three: $2,700
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1939-P-D-S Oregon Trail set of three coins. Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 3,004 Philadelphia, 3,004 Denver, 3,005 San Francisco
Spring 1990 MS-65 price for set of three: $3,550
Spring 2012 Guide Book price for set of three: $2,000
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1938-P-D-S Boone Bicentennial set of three coins. Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 5,005 Philadelphia, 5,005 Denver, 5,006 San Francisco
Spring 1990 MS-65 price for set of three: $3,200
Spring 2012 Guide Book price for set of three: $1,600
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1938-P-D-S Texas Centennial set of three coins. Total quantity minted (including assay coins): 5,005
Philadelphia, 5,005 Denver, 5,006 San Francisco
Spring 1990 MS-65 price for set of three: $2,650
Spring 2012 Guide Book price for set of three: $1,350
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What do you think?
Best wishes,
Dave Bowers
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