Jim Bisognani: Early Numismatic Holiday Gift Ideas

The first thing I noticed on Tuesday was a definite lull — a holding pattern within the metals sector as the powers-that-be attempted to interpret, digest and spin what the results of the presidential election mean. Then, on Wednesday morning, things were much more active as I opened my work station. After the presidential election had a victor, gold spot dipped by nearly 3% and silver by 4%, in just a day. I fielded several anxious calls and emails asking what I thought about the dip, while others told me their thoughts.

A well-known trader said, "Jim, all I can say is that he will make inflation great again! Which will send the metals soaring; patience is the key."

What do I think? Well, who really knows? The sun will come up tomorrow, per usual. One thing is for certain: Any activity up or down in the metals market results in more trading, both on the buying or selling side. Of course, coins that are more bullion-related will rise or fall with the prevailing tides of the market, whereas those endowed with a true numismatic component are not at the total whim of spot pricing.

For us honed and focused folks, or those just curious about our numismatic future, little has changed since my last report. Thankfully, all the campaigning, door knocking, TV ads, texts, emails and phone calls will finally cease. Now that the calendar has flipped over to November, the salvo of advertising will be playing to our must-have seasonal needs for the fast-approaching holiday season. Will this madness ever end?

As if 2024 wasn't moving fast enough, the more insatiable advertisers are bulldozing right over Thanksgiving and retailers are making a big play for all your Ho-Ho-Ho dough before Turkey Day arrives.

B'FINOs

Black Friday sales are popping up all over, too. It wasn't that long ago that Black Friday came only after Thanksgiving. Yes, these B'FINOs (Black Friday in Name Only sales) are out there in force everywhere. While collector coins make appearances on cable networks, the advertising and billboarding is limited. I think that my fellow coindexters know where to look for fresh coins and real value.

Coins and online auction sales continue to make themselves available 24/7, seven days a week. In my youth, when I was just knee-high to a true coindexter, if you had told me that someday I wouldn't have to subscribe to a mailing list or have my dad haul me to a local (or not so local) coin show to view and buy coins, well, you could have knocked me over with a proverbial feather, I would have been so shocked.

Back to reality, it's not too early to make plans for that coindexter on your holiday shopping list. Below are numerous options which offer diversity, history and romance — all on a budget, to boot!

Opportunities Still Abound

Why today, even the typical dealer castoffs of just a few years ago have emerged with a new and exciting paying audience. Coins like the popular classic US silver commemorative series (1982-1954) have been courting renewed enthusiasm — especially in MS 66 and better, with an accent on acquiring original and attractively toned specimens. These coins are bringing anywhere between 15% and 25% above value for the same coins that were on the "pre-Pandemic" market just a few years back. As I've mentioned before, this attractive and historical series is chock full of low-mintage coins. Many of them with mintages under 25,000 — and several with mintages well under 5,000 — can still be acquired in full MS 65 or better for around $350 or less.

My favorite classic silver commemorative — the Oregon Trail — is on this spectrum. This 1938-S graded NGC MS 65 is available for $350, and it has a mintage of just 6,006 examples!

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Seated Type Rises

I also noticed that there are, on average, well over 25% advances for most Liberty Seated Half Dime to Half Dollar types. These advances are targeting average circ to XF-grade examples. Conversely, only about a 15% advance has been noted for Mint State type in the series graded MS 63 and MS 64.

Overall, Seated Liberty coinage offers very affordable options in the Half Dime through Half Dollar denominations. Real bargains still exist. A host of varying dates and mintmarks can be found in VF-AU condition for well under $100, with many coins in the gift-friendly $25-$50 range. Take a look at the NGC Price Guide for clarification. Of course, Seated Liberty Dollars are also an exceptional option for those who can stretch the budget to around $450 or more for a single nice circulated example.

The CC Rider

Of course, coins brandishing the CC mintmark of Carson City are still the stuff dreams are made of. Whether you are thinking about gifting to a young coindexter or an old-timer, the romance of the Old West surfaces with the CC mintmark on a coin now in their possession. For those on a limited budget who can't acquire a gold coin struck in Carson City, there are numerous other opportunities to grab a Carson City coin within the aforementioned Liberty Sealed Dime, Quarter and Half Dollar series. Of course, Morgan Dollars are also a great option.

Many collectors enjoy the hunt for problem-free, moderately circulated coins. More than one coindexter has told me that they want a coin that has "traveled and logged some miles."

Other collectors enjoy variety, and there are a host of Liberty Seated Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars bearing the CC mark. These coins can be obtained in circulated condition within most budgets. The 1875-CC, 1876-CC and 1877-CC Liberty Seated Dimes in Fine-VF condition can still be found in the $100 price range, and this well-traveled 1876-CC Quarter graded NGC VF 25 recently sold for $180!

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However, for those coindexters wanting a full Mint State coin from Carson City, the most inexpensive way to fill that void would be to acquire one of the Morgan Dollars displaying the CC mintmark. Morgan Dollars brandishing the CC mintmark remain hot and in-demand property with collectors.

A Morgan Dollar specialist confirmed the sentiment. He reported that he had substantially more demand for sales for better-dated Carson City coins at a recent show. "Mostly 1880, 1881 and 1885 Carson City coins," he said, "and I sold a few 1879-CC coins graded NGC MS 63 at the last show. Even the 'common' Carson City contingent was in demand."

"The 1882 and 1884 coins are going out of stock quickly. The main reason is that there is virtually no price distinction between MS 60 and MS 63 coins. My cost is basically the same in those grades, so collectors are scooping up the better-looking MS 62 and MS 63 coins for the same amount of money as what I've priced the MS 60 and MS 61 coins!"

I agree — why, just today I noticed several 1882-1884 Carson City Morgan Dollars from the GSA Hoard graded NGC MS 63 priced between $315 and $345!

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Truly a treasure trove of history can be gained by collecting our country's coinage. If you are an advanced numismatist, share your passion with an aspiring collector, or any member of the younger generations. After all, coins have been minted and circulating in our country since the infancy of the republic!

Perhaps try assembling a type set featuring Ms. Liberty: It could include a Copper Half Cent and Large Cents — why, even the Indian Cent counts, because it has Ms. Liberty donning a feathered headdress! For this project, I would suggest starting with a Draped or Classic Head copper, which should be affordable to nearly everyone in VG-F.

Keeping it on a modest budget for silver, my favorites are the Capped Bust Half Dime (1829-1837) or the Capped Bust Half Dollar (1807-1836). These popular coins can each be had with a little patience and less than $100, if you're looking for a nice F-VF range.

My fellow coindexters who are on a mission, if you should choose to accept a bit of sage advice: If you acquire some truly scarce and rare coins, I have always strongly advocated that, for the best returns, hold onto them for 15 years or more before contemplating their release back into the marketplace.

I realize, for some, that this may be difficult to accomplish. But for hardline coindexters, I'm sure that they, like me, will probably have coins that they've had nearly all their lives. They'll keep them until it's time to sell them, pass them down to a family member, or otherwise disperse them.

There are so many great opportunities for collecting. I am just so thrilled to impart my numismatic ramblings to you on this forum — I am truly very lucky. As Mark Twain said: "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

Until next time, be safe and happy collecting!

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