Slight Dip in Collectible Coin Market
What is generally assumed to be “the coin market” is actually a group of specialized areas that often go in their own separate directions. The scarce-to-rare market continues to perform well, this performance being particularly visible through the seemingly endless parade of high-profile auctions. This is also the side of coin collecting the non-collecting public typically gets to see.
The market for somewhat more available but collectible coins is where the majority of collectors spend their time. This segment is currently showing some signs of slowing as some people become more economically challenged than perhaps those who bid at auctions to do their buying and selling. This market sector continues to perform well, but there is a difference from where it was a few months earlier. Some of this is likely due to less discretionary money being available, and some of it is likely due to higher interest rates should the collector plan to buy using credit.
Sales of new coin products being released directly by the Mint to collectors have not slowed; however, the secondary market for these, especially for mint and proof sets, is not performing well. A surprisingly challenging area to collect right now is modern non-circulating legal tender commemorative gold coins, many of which are very difficult to find. Despite the recent decline in the spot price of gold, many of these $5 and $10 coins have increased in price due to a lack of supply to satisfy the demand.
Much of where the coin market goes from here will be determined by outside forces, including interest rates, inflation, and the performance of equity markets. Don’t misread this. Coin collecting remains a strong and popular hobby.
