Buying coins today is definately different than even 3 months ago.

There has been alot of talk about the economy. Well, is that an understatement, or what? After competing for mid range priced coins on heritage, teletrade, ebay, as well as auctions held here in Canada, I must give my own personal review.

To start with, those who don't know me, or what I collect, let me introduce myself, relating to what I collect. I collect, Canadian coins primarily. Right now concentrating on PL coins. While these coins are quite common at the lower grade ranges, I try to strive for the best, more precisely, the best that I can afford. These coins, I would say are mid way in the dollar scale. Some times commanding $4000.00 to $6000.00. For the silver dollars, anyway. That is why searching and buying on all available auctions is important. To try to get coins for "in the hundreds" instead of the thousands.

Now, even up to four months ago, I was able to get top coins for give away prices. Sorry, to the sellers, but their loss is my gain. Two coins that I have in mind, are a 1956 PL-67, and a 1959 PL-67 dollar. Both of these coins I practically got for free. About $410.00 for both, bought over two different weeks by two different sellers, incuding shipping. Even these coins should have gone for 3-4 times this amount normally. I also got a solidly, consistantly priced coin. Value? $900.00 to $1200.00, for $220.00 from last years Long Beach auction. In the last two months, What has changed? When I bid, I get out bid very quickly, prices ending up, allthough still low, much higher than I would figure. I recently down loaded an auction list for an upcomming auction, here in Canada. I had always thought that maybe, I was pricing my collections high. Then I see the coins up for auction and the expected price ranges that they expect. Now, I need to reasses even what I had thought was a little impractical for prices. Coins a grade lower than what I have in my collection are expecting returns 2x higher than I have expected for my coin. I certainly will watch the comming months and actions. If this trend is what I think it is we had better expect to have to pay more. I believe the recession is coming to an end. Buy now, because the way I see it, not only are our collections worth more, but we are going to see radical price increases when trying to buy.