My First Significant Coin Added in 2012 Keeps My Set #1.

2011 was a difficult year, though not necessarily from a coin collecting perspective. The poor economy continued to take a toll on the 99% of us. Lower income and home values have devastated many families. Vacant store fronts and foreclosures are common in most neighborhoods. I cut back on my own coin purchases in 2011, but did buy several coins in 2011 from collectors that needed to sell for economic reasons.

Despite the terrible economy, coin prices held up pretty well due to high bullion prices and increasing interest in hard assets (but not homes) and coin collecting. In fact, the rarer the coin, the stronger the price trend. The more common coins did not hold up as well as the rarer dates, so the 1% must be propping up the hot coins.

I can't say I am sorry to see 2011 go, and am looking forward to better days in 2012. To celebrate the new year, I am today adding a Pop 1 coin to my GSA Soft Pack Peace Dollar set, a 1935-P graded XF45. My set is currently #1 and this addition should keep me there a little longer.