Here Numismatic News readers pick what they think will be next year's hottest coins.
$1 million Canadian coin set to be hottest in 2008
Hottest coin in 2008? Definitely the Canada $1 Million 2007 100 kilogram gold Maple Leaf for its size (20-inches diameter, 1-inch thick), weight (220 pounds), gold value (over $2 million U.S. dollars), and the Royal Canadian Mint?s originality.
With a face value of $1 million Canadian it is made of .99999 fine gold. Just like the well-known Yap Island?s stone money (world?s largest coins), the Canadian $1 million 2007 100 kilogram gold Maple Leaf is the world?s largest gold coin ever created. Not only that, the world?s highest denomination coin ever minted. No doubt it is: Outstanding. Amazing. Unprecedented.
E. Ramos
Year for Lincoln cents will smile on key date
The year before the Lincoln cent is changed will see many collectors looking for Lincoln cents. The big coin of 2008 will be the key in the series: the 1909-S VDB cent.
Ginger Rapsus
Chicago, Ill.
Presidential dollars go cold in year of Lincoln
In my view, the hottest coins for 2008 will not be the Presidential dollars, the First Spouse series, or any of the modern issues by the Mint. I also think that while gold and silver coin prices will rise an average of four percent in 2008, the hottest thing will be the Lincoln cent.
Prices for this oft overlooked and somewhat underappreciated series, I expect, will rise sharply, particularly for gem quality MS and proof specimens from 1909 through 1958, though the entire series will benefit from the demand.
The reasons? As the nation prepares for the centennial celebration of the Lincoln cent (which, of course, is also the bicentennial of Lincoln?s birth), this series will heat up and, hence, command huge premiums.
This demand also will be influenced significantly by two other factors. The first is the extremely limited supply of copper worldwide, and to that end, it should be noted demand is not only outpacing supply, but also will outstrip the remaining copper veins worldwide. Closely related, the plans to find replacement materials for copper in U.S. coinage will make all pennies minted between 1909 and 1982 even more valuable.
Bill Davenport
1909 Lincoln, that is
Hottest coin in 2008 will be the 1909 Lincoln penny.
Gregg Van Oss
Rare VAM find a hot story for year 2007
This coin was discovered by me at a local coin club meeting, Ocala Coin Club, Ocala, Florida, on July 31. I was looking through another dealer?s Morgan dollar coins. I spotted this rare VAM variety and asked him how much he wanted for it. He said he needed at least $20. I paid him the $20 and then told him that he had a very rare ?IN? Clash, VAM 23A variety and it was worth about $30,000. I told him I would send the coin to Numismatic Guaranty Corporation for authentication and grading. I would then sell the coin and give him part of the profit. I could not take advantage of the coin dealer because of his lack of knowledge.
I contacted Ash Harrison, of the Society for Silver Dollar Collectors, and informed him of my find. I received several e-mails from both PCGS and NGC Registry members plus members of the SSDC, stating their dismay at the coin being found.
The coin was graded as an AU-58. I have done some research and found there is only one other coin, graded by PCGS as a AU-58. The is a record of two other coins being graded by ANACS as an EF-40 and -45. These are the only four coins known.
The other AU-58, graded by PCGS, was sold in 1999 for $20,000.
This is a rare find and a good story. It tells other Morgan dollar VAM collectors there still are rarities to be found.
Dwight Brown
Pick some personal hot coins for next year
There will be any number of ?hot? coins for 2008. It depends on what can be hyped the most. This includes modern commems that are ?first day of issue? or even ?pre-first day issue.? MS-70 issues (where there is only a population of 10,000).
For me a really nice Barber coin would be the ?hot? coin.
Fred Hopkins
Lincoln in a landslide
I believe the 1909 VDB Lincoln penny will be the most sought after coin in 2008 simply because the following year will be the 100th year of the Lincoln?s existence.
It should be within the reach of every collector budget.
Lucky me. I have one with some mint luster showing.
Howard Stegmann
Silver American Eagle looks to be hot in 2008
Definitely, the American silver Eagle. The interest of modern-day coinage was revived in 1986 with the Eagle and started a new line of collectors as well as old. Celebrating the art and romance of the Walking Liberty design by Adolph A. Weinman, the 2008 silver American Eagle continues to capture eye appeal, making it one of the most collected coin in modern day history.
Larry LaCost
Herscher, Ill.
Cheap and challenging Jefferson nickels ready
The statehood quarter program ends in 2008. Now, what series would a kid want to collect?
Memorial cents are too easy, Wheat cents are too hard, and JFK halves are too expensive. Ah, but the Jefferson nickels are cheap and challenging, but not too challenging. This is the perfect series for a new generation of children.
Just like the Boomer generation longed to find a 1909-S VDB, the new generation will long to find (or buy) the 1950-D nickel.
Joshua Parris
Lincoln golden choice
I believe the Lincoln cent will be the hottest coin for 2008. It is the last year for the Lincoln Memorial reverse, as in 2009 (Lincoln?s 200th anniversary), four new reverses will be issued. Interest in both Wheat and Memorial reverses will become more pronounced, likely driving up prices on key issues like the 1909-S VDB and 1955 doubled-die. Also, 2008 will be the Lincoln cent?s 100th year of issue, and that is a first in American numismatic history.
Currently, the longest-lived coin design in U.S. Mint history is the Coronet gold eagle ($10), spanning 70 years of issue (1838 to 1907).
Leroy Vargas
Atlanta, Ga.
Hawaiian quarter makes last place the hottest
This would have to be the most important coin of 2008, the Hawaii state commemorative quarter. It marks the proposed end of a very successful commemorative state quarter program.
In July of 1995, thanks to Harvey G. Stack for suggesting, David Ganz?s perseverance, and Congressman Michael Castle for the strong arm. This marked the beginning of what would become the largest single most numismatic movement the hobby has ever seen. It is estimated that over 180 million people collect commemorative quarters. Not only has it generated profits for our Treasury, but also worldwide approval for our currency and artistic design.
Eric Barnes
Virginia Beach, Va.
Hawaii and Lincoln form great pair for next year
In my humble opinion, the hottest coins in 2008 will be:
1. 2008 Lincoln cent. It will be the 100th year of Lincolns and in my opinion the final coin with the Memorial on the reverse. 50 years with the Wheat ears and 50 years with the Lincoln Memorial.
While I do not have a crystal ball, it might be followed by a very special final year re-design production in 2009 and then retired fully. From what I read in Numismatic News, the cent has outlived it?s usefulness and what better way to say goodbye than with a real special production, as opposed to cheapening it any more that they did in 1982. The quality of today?s one cent coin has to be an embarrassment to the U.S. Mint.
2. The Hawaii quarter, which will be the final 25-cent piece of the statehood production.
3. 2008 five-cent piece because I feel the Mint director will change the composition to something less costly for 2009 and many will want to hoard the remaining costlier 2008 five-cent piece.
Roy Marques
Hebron, Conn.
Vote for ?W? uncirculated silver American Eagle
I have read your notice calling for coin hobbyists of all ages to name the coin that will be 2008?s hottest coin. In my opinion, after perusing many issues of periodicals about coin collecting, I truly believe that the 2006 U.S. silver Eagle ? ?W? (burnished or uncirculated version) will have the greatest shot in reaching the pinnacle spot for next year.
Right now, this coin is selling at $139 through $149 apiece. I suspect that the price for this coin will go a lot higher for two reasons:
1. The Mint has issued a limited supply of this coin (only about a quarter of a million);
2. There is great demand for this coin among coin hobbyists. The coin was issued as part of the 20th year anniversary of the issuance of the U.S. Eagle bullion series that began in 1986.
Julian Eng
Anything from first year of Lincoln series primed
I think the hottest coin for 2008 will be the Lincoln cent in general, but the 1909 (any version; plain, ?VDB,? ?S? or the ?S-VDB?) will be a hot seller. They have already picked up in sales and in price as the country awaits the 200-year anniversary of President Lincoln?s birth in 2009.
Name Withheld
Gold content helps Jefferson First Spouse
Gold, relatively affordable, a ?period? classic obverse design, all honoring the author of the Declaration of Independence and our third President, widower Thomas Jefferson, the First Spouse half-ounce gold coin just released by the Mint has every reason to be hot in 2008. Limited to a total mintage of 40,000 pieces in both uncirculated and proof finishes, this coin sold out in hours as had its predecessors, the Martha Washington and Abigail Adams coins.
Even more than the issues which preceded it, this coin honors both an era and a man whose accomplishments deserve our homage to this very day.
Robert Bair
Denver, Colo.
1995-W American Eagle set to soar in 2008
I think the hottest performing coin in 2008 will be the 1995-W silver dollar. If you are talking about the hottest new coin issued by the Mint, what are the choices?
Dino Cerutti
Upcoming Jackson issue will be big
In my opinion, the hottest coin of 2008 will almost surely be the First Spouse coin representing the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Jackson served as President during the years 1829-1837. Rachel Donelson Jackson, his wife, died in 1828 before his inauguration. Due to Andrew Jackson being a widower during his administration, the U.S. Mint must use a symbolic rendition of Liberty from a coin of his era as the model for his First Spouse coin to be in compliance with the law.
I believe that a half-ounce, 24-karat gold coin with a Capped Bust design by John Reich will be an almost instant sellout upon its release. The interest this coin will generate makes it a can?t miss to be in the top 55 hottest of 2008.
David Carten
North Andover, Mass.
Pick the Denver Mint Lincoln rarity in 2008
I think the 1914-D Lincoln penny will be the hottest sought after coin all around.
Robert Halpern
Spanish colonial coins hot and have history
The coin is of Spanish origin dated 1770. It is an 8 reales of Carlos III. It came to Empire of Kanem Bornu through trade links of that era.
The olden Empire of Bornu, which is now located in Nigeria as Borno State (home of peace) had trade activities with Spain. So, this coin has spoken a lot of the long history of the great cities.
Thanks for your relentless efforts in promoting numismatics.
Baba Shehu Umar
Maiduguri, Borno State
Nigeria, West Africa
Final five statehood quarters atop ?08 list
After much pondering I have decided the most popular coins for the upcoming year would have to be the last of the statehood quarters. Since its inception, the statehood quarter series has catapulted the hobby to new heights.
I can imagine when I?m gone from this earth how people will be explaining: When I was a little kid way back in ?99 I remember searching all my parents? pocket change for the states I needed, etc. It is remarkable how when you are involved in this hobby you don?t always realize that we are living in what could be the golden age.
The last five coins are Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii, which really should be some of the best due to the magnificent beauty of Alaska and Hawaii alone.
So far it does not seem to me that the new Presidential dollars will generate the same excitement, probably because no matter what they try, the dollar coin just won?t circulate in the United States. It will be sad to see the quarters go, but more importantly the effect it may have on the current strength of hobby interest. The wonderful people of the U.S. Mint will surely come up with something interesting like the 2009 Lincoln anniversary project, even if they don?t, coin freaks like me will still find something fun to spend my bill money on.
Jeffrey Esposito
Philadelphia, Pa.
As long as it?s gold, it should have a good year
Uncertainty in the 2008 U.S. housing market may cause shock waves in the U.S. financial markets, then through the U.S. economy, which in turn may cause ripples throughout the world.
There will be one coin that may buck the trend in 2008 and maintain its numismatic value and collectibility during uncertain times: the U.S. Mint?s gold Eagles in proof and the burnished-die, ?W? mintmark.
Gold has always been a primary and back-up investment during times of stock market downturns, inflation, recession, natural and civil unrest.
Gold has always been the ?standard? and ?backbone? for all precious metals to gauge on. Platinum, although desirable does not hold the allure like gold does ? looks too much like silver.
Gold Eagles are tangible and marketable to all investors around the world, so what better time for the U.S. Mint to showcase the gold American Eagle than the world?s biggest stage, the 2008 Olympics.
When the Mint offers its commemoratives for the Olympics, the gold Eagles will be right next to them and there are many options to choose from. Regular issue Eagles will be fairly plentiful and easy to obtain directly from the Mint (unlike some issues with fancy features like the ultra-beautiful reverse-proof gold Eagle). This should spur the secondary market interest in the Eagles, such as online auctions and home shopping TV shows.
Despite wonderful and uncertain times ahead, the American gold Eagle will show the world its timeless grace, beauty, quality and value that most investors and collectors have known for years and will be the pick coin series for 2008.
Chris Tadokoro
Bellflower, Calif.
