Market Momentum Builds in 2026
Record-breaking sales, packed conventions, and strong bullion activity point to expanding demand—especially as some investors transition into rare coins.
Last year ended on a high note. There is evidence that this year has already started off strong, the market being fueled by lots of energy and enthusiasm. Stacks Bowers has reported record-breaking sales for 2025, the price realized being greater than one million dollars for five different coins they sold at auction. Overall, the auction house brought in $325 million.
Collectors aren’t the only buyers. Investors and those seeking “trophy assets” are among the successful bidders. The annual early January Florida United Numismatists convention held in Orlando is considered to be an important barometer of what is yet to come. The 2026 show drew record crowds. Just to illustrate, this isn’t just a phenomenon isolated to the United States; the annual World Money Fair in Germany that followed reported a record attendance.
The spot price of silver bullion is still trying to find its new trading range as this commentary is being written. Sales of both bullion and intrinsically valued yet collectible coins remain strong. Coin dealers continue to be challenged due to the massive amounts of silver being sold by the general public, coupled with the refineries' capacity to process the metal in a timely manner has been overwhelmed. The swings in the price of gold are not moderate, but percentage-wise, these swings aren’t as great as what silver is experiencing.
This suggests gold is approaching a new trading range, a range at which common date gold coin prices will likewise stabilize. There are strong indications that the growing interest in coin collecting will expand the demand for rare dates and rare condition coins, making them a good buy now compared to what prices they may command in the future. One dealer recently observed that about one in eight of his bullion purchasing clients has evolved into becoming a rare coin buyer.
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