Commemoratives 2 2

[Chris Mikesh]

Hi,

What are your thoughts on Commemoratives?  You guys have been awesome helping me and others discern the intricacies of my latest restarted hobby.  But I'm still looking for more, (the itch I can't scratch).

I'm looking at several silver (and one gold) Commemoratives.  Many are fairly inexpensive - while others are $300+.  (ouch!)  (yes, I ordered the Purple Heart series from the Mint - not the inflated prices.)  Do you collect commemoratives?  why?

Booker T Washington and many others were over-produced, or the subject matter was not high on the social ladder at the time.  For me, it's a great way to teach kids history.

Is there a book you recommend on Commemoratives?  I hope this is not a previously covered topic that I missed.

God Bless,

Chris

[The Neophyte Numismatist]

US commemorative coins fall into two major categories, Classic and Modern.  The Classic series primarily focuses on half dollars the Modern series mainly consists of silver dollar coins and clad half dollars.  Opinions on the modern series are mixed among collectors, but the Classic series is widely considered to have some of the most beautiful designs in numismatics.  The beauty of collecting commemoratives is that you get a wide variety of designs and topics. Pick the designs that speak to you most.

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by The Neophyte Numismatist

[RWB]

There are a bunch of books about Classic Commemorative (1892-1954?). All are superficial and contain much copy-cat and unsubstantiated material mixed in with facts. The best book on this series is not published  -- yet.... It's by member LeeG and is far more informative, accurate and reliable than ANY of the others. For starters, get Taxay's old book -- should be available cheap. That will get you started.

On the modern ones, I'm not sure if there's anything other than dull US Mint press releases stuck together. Others here might know more.

PS: As for "great deals" you have to search, be patient, be critical of quality vs price for every coin  and --- did I mention patience?

Edited March 26, 2022 by RWB

[Hoghead515]

I like some commeratives. Depending on what they are. Some I just dont care for at all. I espically enjoy older commeratives. I like commeratives with eagles on them also. Such as the 2008 P  bald eagle. 

[Oldhoopster]

I have a small collection of classic commems and love them. However, I only have coins of which I like the topic or history of the event, such as Grant, Gettysburg, Antietam, and Stone Mountain (nice civil war subset).  

IMO, if you like the topic, classic commems can make a nice, small collection.  

Edited March 26, 2022 by Oldhoopster

[Hoghead515]

Sometimes you can get lucky and find them at online auctions and not get outbid. You may live close somewhere where you can go to a live auction. Unfortunately I dont have any where I can go close. Also certain brick and mortar shops. If your lucky enough to live close to a good one. All I have are pawn shops close to me and they have outrageous prices. Also sometimes you can find great deals on Ebay. Thats where 80% of mine has came from. Just beware who your buying from on there. Always check the feedback of the sellers and read the reviews people write. Sometimes scammers like to sell counterfeits on there so be careful and look the coin over good. If your not sure if one is authenic your going to buy then post it on here and people will be more than happy to help you out. 

[JKK]

You either like them or you don't. I don't, at all, but a lot of people do. If you like them, watch closely on value and do your research because many of the sellers overprice them. This is because they hope for impulse sales to people who have no idea what it's really worth.

[Walter Holmes]

I like the three 1936 Rhode Island commemorative half dollars  and the 1920 Maine Centennial half dollar. The Maine half compliments my Peace Dollar collection. It was engraved Anthony de Francisci from sketches. 

[Coinbuf]

I do enjoy some of both the classic and modern commemorative coins, but there are many that do not interest me so I have no interest in collecting the full series.   Many of the modern coins actually display very nice designs, as opposed to our circulating currency, and I very much like many of the gold coins.   This is one of my favorites.

 

[tj96]

I have four Classics in my Dansco Type Set, that's it.

This might help you.

https://www.money.org/commemorative-coins

 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 3/26/2022 at 2:39 PM, Chris Mikesh said:

Hi, What are your thoughts on Commemoratives?  You guys have been awesome helping me and others discern the intricacies of my latest restarted hobby.  But I'm still looking for more, (the itch I can't scratch).  I'm looking at several silver (and one gold) Commemoratives.  Many are fairly inexpensive - while others are $300+.  (ouch!)  (yes, I ordered the Purple Heart series from the Mint - not the inflated prices.)  Do you collect commemoratives?  why?

Booker T Washington and many others were over-produced, or the subject matter was not high on the social ladder at the time.  For me, it's a great way to teach kids history.  Is there a book you recommend on Commemoratives?  I hope this is not a previously covered topic that I missed.  God Bless, Chris

Commemoratives are "cheap" relative to other series.  Of course, they had 2 bubbles in the last 4 decades and that meant they could fall a long way -- on the order of 85% peak-to-trough -- to the recent lows.

Lots of commemoratives now sell for little more than spot value of the underlying metal.  Only pay a premium that is rich if you like/love the underlying coin.

[GoldFinger1969]

Peak-to-trough a loss of about 85%:

https://www.pcgs.com/prices/coin-index/silver-and-gold-commemorative

[J P M]

I shop commemoratives a lot and they were cheap about a year ago but in the last six months everyone is bidding on them and pushing up the prices more. I find I have to look a lot harder for good deals on any coins lately. 

[GoldFinger1969]

On 3/26/2022 at 6:38 PM, J P Mashoke said:

I shop commemoratives a lot and they were cheap about a year ago but in the last six months everyone is bidding on them and pushing up the prices more. I find I have to look a lot harder for good deals on any coins lately. 

Are the premiums up or just the overall price ?  Gold is up 15% and new buyers are coming in.

[J P M]

On 3/27/2022 at 1:14 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Are the premiums up or just the overall price ?  Gold is up 15% and new buyers are coming in.

 Like we talked about before unlike bullion when a older coin goes up in price it will stay up there for a long time unless something drastic changes, All of the Classic Silver Commemoratives are up, not so much the Moderns.  

[James Zyskowski]

I find the early commemoratives are too pricey but moderns I can do. I prefer high grade , nice coins ,so that don’t help being picky.  😎
I can’t repeat enough.   Buy what you like. 
When I started buying new issues from the mint it was easy. I liked it or not. With back issues a red book was helpful. I could study designs and check mintage. Several of us here grabbed the 2008 with the sweet bald eagle issue.  Moderns can be found for cheap (under $40)    Silver, to boot 
As always my 2 cent 😉🙀🦫

Edited March 27, 2022 by James Zyskowski

[JKK]

By the way, there are ancient commemoratives of a sort, from the Constantinian era. The bronzes are very common and not tremendously fascinating to me, as much as anything because Constantine and Constantius are this ocean of different types and one sees them so often one fatigues of them.

[J P M]

I have been looking for two coins Lexington and Pilgrim both coins are from my home state and I passed on both coins last April at a MS 63 . I find those two commemoratives like others are a poorly stricken coin so I have been in search of something that actually  looks like a 63 instead of a AU 55 which most do, and now they are respectfully much higher in price than what they were last year. I always say I will wait and something will come along but I may have missed the boat on those coins. 

[tj96]

On 3/27/2022 at 3:12 PM, J P Mashoke said:

I have been looking for two coins Lexington and Pilgrim both coins are from my home state and I passed on both coins last April at a MS 63 . I find those two commemoratives like others are a poorly stricken coin so I have been in search of something that actually  looks like a 63 instead of a AU 55 which most do, and now they are respectfully much higher in price than what they were last year. I always say I will wait and something will come along but I may have missed the boat on those coins. 

So many times I would see a coin I wanted or needed and would sleep on it overnight.  The next morning (that's right) it was gone. 

Trust me, others will come along!  Have you checked here?

https://www.northeastcoin.com/inventory.jsp

[Hoghead515]

On 3/27/2022 at 3:24 PM, tj96 said:

So many times I would see a coin I wanted or needed and would sleep on it overnight.  The next morning (that's right) it was gone. 

Trust me, others will come along!  Have you checked here?

https://www.northeastcoin.com/inventory.jsp

I hear ya. Im always a day late and a dollar short. 

[J P M]

On 3/27/2022 at 3:24 PM, tj96 said:

So many times I would see a coin I wanted or needed and would sleep on it overnight.  The next morning (that's right) it was gone. 

Trust me, others will come along!  Have you checked here?

https://www.northeastcoin.com/inventory.jsp

Yes I go there a lot. Thanks tj96........I got this coin from NE just because I thought it was the nicest looking ,ugly coin I had ever seen.I have to say there is just way to much stuff going on the obverse

Edited March 27, 2022 by J P Mashoke

[tj96]

On 3/27/2022 at 5:42 PM, J P Mashoke said:

Yes I go there a lot. Thanks tj96........I got this coin from NE just because I thought it was the nicest looking ,ugly coin I had ever seen.I have to say there is just way to much stuff going on the obverse

Yes, the obverse is busy but it's all there!!  👍🏻

Edited March 27, 2022 by tj96

[BillJones]

Don Taxy’s old book gives a lot of information on how the designs were developed. I have greatly enjoyed the book by Anthony Swaitek, but it was expensive and probably hard to find now. David Bowers also wrote one years ago that is large and comprehensive on the old commemoratives and the new up to the time of publication. 

[Chris Mikesh]

All good info guys.  But I looked at those prices up there and they are higher than Apmex.    I'll give it a try and put a couple of bids out.  I know it will take practice, and simple - stick my head out and see what happens.  As yet, I haven't seen anything I really want yet.  I'll keep you posted if I get something.

GB,

Chris

[Just Bob]

Lee's book, that RWB mentioned above, will be THE Definitive Work on classic commemorative coins. In fact, it may end up being more than one volume; he has amassed so much information that one book may not be able to hold it all. I am very curious about how such a work will affect collectors' perceptions of commemoratives, and what may happen to the popularity, and therefore the prices, if the book does well.

[Woods020]

On 3/30/2022 at 8:10 AM, Just Bob said:

Lee's book, that RWB mentioned above, will be THE Definitive Work on classic commemorative coins. In fact, it may end up being more than one volume; he has amassed so much information that one book may not be able to hold it all. I am very curious about how such a work will affect collectors' perceptions of commemoratives, and what may happen to the popularity, and therefore the prices, if the book does well.

When is he thinking it will publish? I want a copy. 

[Just Bob]

I don't want to derail the OP's thread, but I don't know if a publication date has been set yet. I am not sure he has even finished researching all of the coins. I do know that the excerpts that he has posted were chock full of all kinds of information, photos, and extensive documentation. When he does get it ready, I want to be in line to put in my order. 

He pops in over here from time to time. Maybe he will see this thread and give us an update.