FroggyHopper

I know this is an old post, but felt the need to chime in, mainly due to the possibility a new collector may happen to come across this blog entry - an opposing opinion may prove beneficial. To open… I was a Financial Advisor for several years and I’m currently a Mortgage Legal Compliance Officer. I have been in the banking/finance industry for over 20 years, and survived within that industry throughout many market bubbles and the mortgage crash. I invest in stocks and also have retirement plans (investment alternatives highlighted in the above posts). I also started collecting coins when my parents introduced me to the hobby when I was 6 years old. Now in my 40’s, it has been a lasting foundation of my life. Now to the meat and potatoes… I respectfully disagree with the opinions of OP. In order for this industry to remain healthy, we need our collection values to increase significantly BUT steadily. You mention affordability, if your current collection has increased in value, you can sell a couple of pieces and purchase more while maintaining your core collection and its value through proper planning. With a continual, steady increase in prices, your overall long term risk will be at a minimum. Stagnant prices damage the industry as a whole by forcing collectors out of the market due to the high risk, minimum gain, and strong likelihood of loss due to the current prices/fees set by the mint, dealers, and grading companies at the bottom, outside of numismatic collection value - a growing problem. We are currently seeing a significant drop in the numbers of coin collectors due to that very fact. This has brought about, and will continue to lead to, diminishes of the liquidity of our collections, which in turn, leads to lower prices, continuing to spiral downward and until coin collecting as we have seen it the last 30 years, finally becomes extinct. Having a hobby, especially one that involves collecting and preserving our history is wonderful, but having a hobby that is also an investment in the future, is even better. During times of economic inflation due to an over abundance in our fake paper currency - hard assets are real, more valuable, and will always be of a scarcer supply. The higher the demand on precious metals, the greater the numismatic value of precious metal coins is realized due to hoarding and scarcity, making the hobby a prime investment target. Solely depending on stocks, 401ks, and the imaginary value of the common dollar itself for retirement, is just not the way to go nowadays - you have to diversify and support a healthy market - it is an absolute must! One day you’re going to wake up in a world where a cup of coffee and a bagel will cost you $70 at the discount market (it’s coming within the next 40 years). The dollar will inevitably falter, that is a fact. Next opposing point from the posts above… Some may argue that high numismatic collection value will hurt newcomers to the hobby, but the opposite is true. The high values of collections attract new people to the hobby. The high numismatic collection value also regulates newer collectors from driving prices up or down artificially and/or erratically, due to fads and bulk purchases/dumps based off their inexperience (which is taking place today). However, with high numismatic collection prices, it creates a bottleneck, forcing most of the newbies to build a collection slowly, one step at a time, creating a healthier market, and gaining the needed experience on the way. Steady, yet significant gains in our collection values is a win/win for all - it is crucial for the hobby to survive. A stagnant (or break even market), will, in the end, kill the hobby. The Future of coin collecting,.. At this point in time, I am deeply concerned for the future of coin collecting, the history it preserves, the joy it brings, and the jobs it creates. The groundless increases on premiums for freshly minted coins, gimmicks, plus over abundances of quick-flip dishonest dealers, and high fees for grading, are very real, and arguably, the most significant contributing factors to the decline. When you see entities grabbing/snatching from the bottom as a priority over maintaining service, dependability and value to the individuals that feed the industry, this will always stifle value/earnings from the top (the collector’s realized investment) - a typical red flag of a failing, or soon to be failing, market. A lose/lose for everyone! When the opportunistic vultures circle, death is approaching. Thank you for reading. Those with opposing points of view are appreciated and welcomed to counter. Enjoy your weekend!

That’s just people in general, whiners. Most people want it easy, the rest realize you have to prepare ahead and fight for anything worthwhile. Their gripes are the same as any business who deals with high traffic customers. So, like those they despise, they’re whiners… If they aren’t appreciative of the job security, i’m sure there are many willing to take their place. Plus they have excellent insurance benefits at the US Mint, better than 90% of the rest of us, so they won’t get any sympathy from me.

I doubt this. Collectors & dealers are a massive money generator for the mint. They just don’t want to deal with “people” in general because...well they’re government. Not too big on the people skills.

Found a fake 1943 penny today! LOL Fascinating find! The 4 looks like it’s been soldered in. Found it in my parents 80 year old penny jar.

Perfect! Thank you

Hello NGC, With all the recent thefts taking place with shipping companies - are you checking contents upon delivery or do we have to wait the month it takes you guys to open the box before we are alerted that our coins and sensitive information on our submissions forms have been stolen? Thank you!

Yeah, for sure. I don’t think i’ve received a set with such obvious issues in years. Anyone else having similar issues with the mint lately, with this set, or just one of those things?

Hello All! I decided to buy some more 2021 Silver Proof Sets. I took two pics under the scope of two separate 2021 Tuskegee Quarters, one is fine - the other has noticeable problems. Anyone else having similar issues with this set and/or have an opinion on this? The sets are still sealed. I appreciate your feedback!

These will be sent off in my next batch to NGC. 👍👍

Too much in the field unfortunately. I don’t think these will go. I typically only send 67+ coins for CAC.