As it stands, we are seeing a strange paradox: Mints are rapidly expanding the number of modern commemoratives that they issue, while the modern commemorative collector market is just as rapidly contracting.

I have spoken to many modern coin dealers this year, and I hear the same refrain: "barely getting by"

The continued drop in the price of silver, and the overproduction of silver commemorative issues, have driven many collectors out of the modern coin market. This has left a lot of dealers with a lot of overpriced inventory, and very little demand for it. Although we have seen continued strength in PF70 modern commemoratives, modern commemorative coins that do not make a 70 grade can barely be sold at cost (not to mention shipping and grading fees).

In a few cases, dealers have told me that they have been attempting to clear inventory at a loss to free up cash-flow, and they still can't unload.

The modern coin market desperately needs the price of silver to move higher to bring more collectors into the market. As it stands, we are seeing a strange paradox: Mints are rapidly expanding the number of modern commemoratives that they issue, while the modern commemorative collector market is just as rapidly contracting.

I enjoy Canadian commemoratives, and I will keep going with my sets. On that note, however, I have seen the majority of the big collectors of these sets sell their collections online ... with only about 5 or so of us still very active in the Canada Modern Commemoratives Registry.

Best,

J.

To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.