Fourth-Party Certified Coins Command Significant Premiums

The recent American Numismatic Association convention is now history, but as with past ANA conventions, it has kicked off the new ‘season’ for coin collecting. Since summer’s end is at hand also, this is a time when many people interested in outdoor activities as well as coins get their chance to head back indoors to their pursuit of collecting.

Dealers declared the ANA show a success, with robust sales being assisted by the recent run-up in the spot price of gold and silver, most of this being at the expense of equity markets. Fourth-party certified coins have been commanding significant premiums for some time. Sales of scarce to rare coins performed well, as might be expected, but the spread between more common date or common condition lesser collectibles continued to flatline.

Particularly noticeable is the continuing diminutive price difference for common $10 eagles and $20 double eagles, where the price differential between Mint State 62 to 64 has been barely noticeable despite the strength of the overall coin market. There is likewise little to differentiate semi-numismatic from bullion coins. The demand among collectors and speculators for silver coins continues, while recent U.S. Mint products continue their usual scenario of dropping in value once they enter the secondary markets. Interest in Indian and Lincoln cents remain strong, while interest in such areas as Buffalo nickels, all but the best Mercury dimes, Walking Liberty half dollars, and Morgan silver dollars has room for significant improvement.