The disappointing American Liberty $10 Proof Coin launch

By Louis Golino

First day sales of the 2018 American Liberty $10 One-Tenth-Ounce Gold Proof Coin on February 9 were a dismal 9,852, which does not bode well for upcoming sales and secondary market performance.

There has also been relatively little discussion of this new issue in the blogosphere compared to the one-ounce, high-relief version of the coin released last spring — or other higher-profile coins for that matter.  Those who have commented typically either don’t like the coin or do like it but think it is overpriced and will trade close to bullion value eventually.

The lifting of the household limit on the second day of sales is not likely to have a very large impact since the dealers who might have considered large purchases will likely be deterred by the small number of coins sold so far.

Similarly, those collectors who were on the fence about the coin may look at initial sales and decide to pass on it since the early numbers suggest it will never sell out and will be available down the road for substantially under-issue price.

Those who make money of this issue will be dealers selling pre-orders for graded coins, but I have little doubt the price of graded examples will come down with time.

In the run-up to the coin’s release, there did seem to be a decent amount of enthusiasm for it. It is the first tenth-ounce Proof gold coin that was not an American eagle released since 2008 when the Mint issued fractional Buffalo gold pieces. It is also the first modern Liberty gold coin of its size.

Hover to zoom.

However, by the time the 2018 coin was released, much of that interest seemed to have waned.

So, what went wrong?

First, the maximum mintage of 135,000 is too high, especially in the current market, which is rather soft for both modern issues and bullion.

Second, the fact that the other versions of the coin have not sold out of their maximums should have been a clue that a lower mintage level should have been set.

It is hard to determine in advance what max to set, especially for a new issue. The Mint should consider other options such as making an initial batch of around 25,000 coins, seeing how they sell, and not even announcing a maximum mintage in advance. It could do what the Mexican Mint does and not release mintages until sales have ended, which keeps buyers guessing.

Also, the price of $215 was problematic for many buyers, especially since the coin is not struck in high relief.  I see no reason why it should have been priced much higher than the 2018 $5 American Gold Eagle Proof coin, which, based on the new pricing grid, will be $187.50 if gold is between $1,300 and $1,350. It might acquire a few dollars more since the coin requires its own dies and packaging, so $195 would have been about right and would have likely brought in more buyers.

A third issue is that collectors remain divided on the design since it was first selected by the coin design review committees — and this dynamic most likely suppressed sales. As it happens almost every time, the design is discussed by collectors in an online forum. The usual comments appeared to be about how “ugly” the design is, or how the stars in Liberty’s crown are too big on forums like the PCGS message board.

I also saw comments intended as a criticism of the plan to release future coins with Liberty depicted with other ethnicities such as “an Oriental or Persian. . .”

Another poster said: “It is obvious to me that some responding to this thread and other threads with the liberty are based around their un-comfortability with the ethnicity of the profile, masked by their distaste of the design. Such is life.”

Still, others said they had no issue with the ethnicity but simply did not like the design and compared it to the Susan B. Anthony dollar.

As the French say, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Fourth, the African-American Liberty design has now appeared on two gold coins and five silver medals in the past year, which is too much for one design, even if it was intended to be the centerpiece of the Mint’s 225th anniversary program.


Those who could not afford the $100 gold version were able to purchase the silver medals last year, so to make the tenth-ounce version appealing, it needed something else, and that something would probably be a high relief strike.

The mint has never issued a high-relief gold coin of a tenth-ounce, and only three large high-relief gold issues in the modern era — not to mention that no silver coin of this type has ever been issued.

High-relief issues are something buyers want and that they get from other mints.

At the same time, one could make the case that since the U.S. Mint has not yet figured out how to strike high-relief coins without reducing the size of the diameter, as some foreign mints have been able to, a tenth-ounce Liberty high-relief coin would have been rather tiny.

The bottom line lesson is that the Mint needs to do more than recycle the same designs in different metals and sizes. If collectors are going to pay a considerable premium, they want something that is special. As such, those who market collector coins at the Mint would do well to develop a keener sense of what today’s collectors of modern U.S. coins want.

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Comments

  1. GuamPilot says

    I bought one on first day of sales and received it this week. It was expensive, but I love it!

  2. cagcrisp says

    Another Well written article by Louis.

    MNB would do Well to have More articles written by Louis because he writes about thimgs he has a Passion…

  3. Louis says

    Thanks very much, esp. to CC!

    I do like the coin but am in no hurry and will get when they are cheaper.

  4. Dustyroads says

    Always enjoy reading your articles Louis. Never pass them up.

    This coin was an easy add to my collection, so no complaints about the cost from me. My only thought on the subject is what a shame it must be to for a black collector to have to read through all the ill feelings and comments this design has brought on. Maybe this was a sign that coin collecting did need a big reset…

  5. mccam36525 says

    If they were gonna use this design again it should have been a 1oz coin the size of a 1/2 oz coin and made high relief. This coin should have been a 1/10 oz Buffalo, where are the brains in the mint?

    If they really want to make some money, give us a full range of 95% copper eagles. From the 1/20oz to a 5oz they would sell like hotcakes as long as they didn’t get greedy with the price.

    Thank you Louis for the article!

  6. bob arsenault says

    I will never buy these pieces or anything similar. the mintage amounts are ridiculous. I think they should curtail their mintage amounts down to 5000 or lower.

  7. Louis says

    Thanks, brother Dusty. You are right. But perhaps over the long haul this coin and its big brother and silver sisters will have a positive impact.

  8. Marc says

    Instead of the 1 oz, I really wish that the mint would make a 1/4 oz high relief that would be more easier to save for for bugdet conscious collectors like me. Especially with the possibility of the price of gold going higher, would probably switch to another hobby.

  9. Chuck says

    I bought two on the first day and am pleased with the coins themselves but thought the price was too high. What I would really like the mint to do is make more 1/10 oz gold buffalos. I missed out the first time and can’t buy 1 oz coins

  10. Jerry Diekmann says

    Louis addressed all the reasons I did not consider buying this coin. Excellent analysis, Louis!

  11. earthling says

    Have we finally found our God Coin? Our God Stock? Our God Pizza? Our God Masterpiece Painting? Our ultimate God of Gods?

    I’m speaking about Bitcoin. Originally something used to buy Drugs off the Darkweb so the Cops couldn’t easily track the transaction. Now it’s the ultimate desire of all Money lovin People everywhere. This reminds me of the historical accounts of the scene in 1929 before the Great Stock Market Crash. Shoeshine boys out in the street were singing the praises of Wall Street and the untold Wealth just waiting to be harvested by one and all. Yeah as easy as grabbing it and loading up. Everyone could soon be a Millionaire.

    But no one took any time to try to think about Money for Nothing. How can Money be created from Air? Does Money really grow on trees like Apples or Plums?

    Baaaaa. Baaaaaas. Baaaaaaa. Please shear me Mr Shepard. Pay me with Bitcoin. Go ahead and take it all but give me my Bitcoin.

  12. cagcrisp says

    How much has Changed since the End of the 2009 HR Gold?

    I Like to compare the Market for Today vs. the Hay Day of the Mint 2009 HR Gold

    End of year 2009 30 Day Average Traded $ volume of the SPY = $15.02 Billion
    End of year 2009 30 Day Average Traded $ volume of the GLD = $2.75 Billion
    End of year 2009 30 Day Average Traded $ volume of the SLV = $235.38 Million

    Current 30 Day Average 2018 Traded $ volume of the SPY = $37.28 Billion
    Current 30 Day Average 2018 Traded $ volume of the GLD = $1.21 Billion
    Current 30 Day Average 2018 Traded $ volume of the SLV = $152.35 Million

    From 2009 to 2018:

    SPY Up $ Volume 148%
    GLD Down $ Volume 56%
    SLV Down $ Volume 35%

    (Please Don’t say the Spike in Volatility for the past 30 days has distorted the Volume of the SPY. Volume is actually Less the past 30 Days vs. The Average Volume since the end of 2009 for the SPY)…

  13. jhawk92 says

    From the previous thread, thanks for the info about HHL of 1 for the upcoming Au proof coins. I’m ok with the “mintage limits” but HHL of 1??? I normally buy 2 of the 1/10 oz coins for my kids, so this could crimp that plan unless they remove the limit in a day or two. What is going on at the mint (note the small “m”)?

  14. Barry says

    OT- For those looking for the next coin in line to the Australian Swan issued last year APMEX has some “limited mintage ( 30 K ) “Emu ” coins for sale. The Swan coins are rather pricy now.

  15. jhawk92 says

    Been offline for a bit and this post got lost several threads ago. Has anybody else used the Coin World Premier Coin slabs?

    I’ve been using them to store my individual Canadian SML bullion coins, and I bought them because they are touted as “completely inert and PVC free.” I don’t put labels on the inside of the holders. I was taking inventory of them this weekend and I noticed that every coin now has light brown toning around the rim. Color me really mad because I’ve taken a lot of time and effort to collect this set, and used these holders as they are the same size as a PCGS holder, so I have my own set of slabs.

    I’ve been keeping all the holders in green PCGS boxes inside a climate/humidity-controlled safe. In searching online, I found this…

    https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=106252

    So, I guess these slabs aren’t as good as I thought they were? I really like the idea of having them in holders like this, as it matches my set of PCGS slabbed Silver Eagles. But now I’m thinking I need another option. The H38 Air-Tite holders could work, but the info there says ” H38 is 3.17mm deep, cap may not close completely but fit is acceptable” and the SML is 3.29mm thick, so I’m thinking those won’t be air tight either? Guardhouse and Marcus don’t carry products for the SML, so I’m wondering what other folks here might be doing with their “Northern Silver” coins?

    I’m not trying for a “registry set” here, just wanting to keep them nice for my kids down the road, and having a different design of silver to look at. Is it worth trying to clean the coins, maybe even sending off to one of the grading services to have them cleaned/slabbed in something better? Or should I just let it be and put them into something better? Thanks in advance for your input.

  16. cagcrisp says

    @jhawk92, “I normally buy 2 of the 1/10 oz coins for my kids, so this could crimp that plan unless they remove the limit in a day or two. What is going on at the mint (note the small “m”)?”

    The Mint has been lifting the HHL after 24 hours. They had to put a HHL on these Gold Proof offerings because of the Slight Possibility of someone gaming the system since they have now put a product limit on each Gold Proof offering.

    Normally no product limit and Normally no HHL

    For this offering I have No problem with a HHL of 1.

    It will make No matter one way or the other…

  17. joe#2 says

    The thing that matters is, You buy what you love. I purchased the 2016 gold .9999 walking liberty half, And i love the coin. Since it does have a “value of 50 cents” , It should be considered a coin. A lot of folks knocked that piece as well because it has a mintage of 70,000, But i love the piece. If it comes down in value, Who cares, As long as you love it.

  18. Hidalgo says

    Do disappointing sales numbers mean higher demand and $$ in the future? Does not appear to be the case with commemorative coins.

    However, time will tell (smile)

  19. Qui Transtulit Sustinet says

    That’s what the doctor said.

    Please consider making a guess as to the identity of the anonymous (billionaire?) owner of the Tyrant Collection over on the World Mint News Blog.

    It is the most expensive private numismatic collection that currently exists, first mentioned on Coin Update in November, 2017.

  20. David says

    Personally I am not too keen on the obverse. If I considered to buy this that would be a big factor…I’d have to like it.

  21. VA Bob says

    Spot on analysis Louis. For me, too expensive for what you get. I’m already in on one expensive gold series, the proof buffalo’s, and that price is making me sick to the point the ride may be over soon. And, that with the buffalo IMO being more representative of Americana, the Mint is killing the golden goose with all the over priced options. Collecting is one thing, throwing good money after bad is another. It’s no longer an option for most to chase everything they put in the catalog. I’ve cut way back myself.

  22. Peter says

    Viewed the Tyrant collection at Long Beach, very impressive. Never seen anything quite like it. The show was a little better than last year. The Mint display was beyond poor. Sorry.

  23. KML in KY says

    Great article. Please post more of Louis’ articles on MNB.

    I didn’t buy because most modern Mint products are like new cars – they depreciate as soon as they leave the Mint.

    I’m already sitting on a sh*t load of coins that would sell for less than I payed for them. I just hope PM’s go way up sometime before I die

  24. Felson says

    I am not sure why they decided to mint his coin. It is obvious there was no pent up demand for it.

  25. cagcrisp says

    40 Days and 40 Nights…

    2017 Boys Town Uncirculated Gold Update.

    On January 16th, 2018, Louis Golino posted on Coin Update an article “Top 10 modern coins of 2017”

    That’s 40 Days and 40 Nights ago.

    In his article pertaining to the 2017 Boys Town Uncirculated Gold here is a quote “In percentage terms, this makes the coin by far the best short-term performer of 2017 U.S. Mint coins.”

    What was Louis’s basis for this statement ?

    “Recent sales on eBay have been between $800 and $900 for raw coins, and between $1,000 and $1,200 for MS-70 First Strike and First Strike-eligible boxed coins.”

    That’s 40 Days and 40 Nights ago.

    “and between $1,000 and $1,200 for MS-70 First Strike and First Strike-eligible boxed coins.”

    The Last MS70 Sold on the bay on February 20th, 2018, for Best Offer $869.99. That’s Considerably less than between $1,000 and $1200.

    “Recent sales on eBay have been between $800 and $900 for raw coins”

    There is 1 bay seller that has had 6 2017 Boys Town Uncirculated Gold for sale on the bay.

    Still has 2 being offered at $739.00. That’s Considerably less than between $800 and $900.

    He Sold 2 on 02/06/18 for $779.00 each
    He Sold 1 on 02/12/18 for $765.00
    He Sold 1 on 02/22/18 for $739.00

    …SO…In 16 days he has dropped his prices $40/coin.

    …And…He still has 2 for sale at the $739.00 Level.

    That is what has happened in 40 Days and 40 Nights.

    …SO…Taking Louis’s numbers for $900 high side on raw coins and $1,200 high side on MS70 coins.

    …Someone…has already taking a beating on his Bay purchase.

    When will People learn that Low Mintage Wonders Without Demand are Long Term Losers…

  26. Louis says

    Thanks again for the kind feedback .

    @Barry- The Emu coin is nice, esp. if you look at the real coin in a video the distributor made. I was fortunate to learn about it Monday am by checking some sites and managed to get some from APMEX for $28 before many people knew about them. They bumped the price very quickly to $37, and each time they list a batch, they sell out, and on eBay several have sold for twice what I paid. May not do quite as well as the swan, but definitely a good buy if you got in early.

  27. Mintman says

    @ Cagcrisp – it’s hard to tell if your presence here is as a collector or as a “hater” of moderns and the hobby in general
    But one thing you say is true—all of us collectors must be very careful, demand is vaporizing as every year goes by, the collecting population is aging quickly and we will soon find ourselves sellers with no buyers.
    One thing to add….boys town gold selling at greater than 65% return in less than 3 months after closing of sales isn’t bad. Find your stock that equals that over the last 90 days.

  28. Louis says

    Another interesting new bullion coin in Mermaid Rising, made by Scottsdale Mint for Fiji. Mintage is 15K and design is very unusual and artistic. APMEX sold out, but the Coin Shoppe in Canada still has them for about $5 over spot.

  29. art says

    The First Spouse gold coins are infinitely more appealing to me than the Boys Town golds, And with considerably lower FS mintages, it’s a no-brainer. It’s very puzzling why the BT coins should be attracting such a premium after they were for sale at the mint for so long with very little interest. The lowest modern commemorative mintages, but that didn’t do it for me as I purchased zero and continue to have zero interest..

  30. cagcrisp says

    @ art, “The First Spouse gold coins are infinitely more appealing to me than the Boys Town golds” .100 % Agreement.

    “And with considerably lower FS mintages” 100% Agreement.

    ” It’s very puzzling why the BT coins should be attracting such a premium after they were for sale at the mint for so long with very little interest. I understand why Some would Chase these. A Very Few Some.

    “the lowest modern commemorative mintages, but that didn’t do it for me as I purchased zero and continue to have zero interest..” 100% Agreement…

  31. cagcrisp says

    I have NEVER been a fan of First Spouse Gold coins, HOWEVER, between a Low Mintage Wonder FS and a Low Mintage Wonder Gold Uncirculated Boys Town…

    …100 times out of 100 times I would opt for a Low Mintage Wonder FS IF you are in in for Long Term vs. being a short term Flipper…

  32. cagcrisp says

    @Mintman, ” it’s hard to tell if your presence here is as a collector or as a “hater” of moderns and the hobby in general”

    I am NOT a collector. I am an Investor.

    I’m here because there will be a BOATLOAD of money to be made in the next 20 years with coins as we are moving to a cashless society ( As I have stated many times).

    Buffett said yesterday in a letter to stockholders that he had $116 Billion to spend and nothing looked Cheap enough.

    It’s going to get a LOT cheaper before it goes a lot higher in the coin business.

    A BOATLOAD of money to be made in the next 20 years…

  33. Tom says

    @cagcrisp
    I’m with you on the Boatload of money to be made. I collect and always will. But….when one can prepare it usually pays off.
    Outside of what the mint releases , the late 70’s early 80’s, Y2K if you were on the selling end and the last nice spike we had in precious metals a few years ago.
    My personal favorite was as a young collector in the 60’s being fascinated with some proof coins from the 50’s that were ” different”. I was picked on for hoarding, buying all I found, never selling any until there was a market for cameos.
    As a kid, I didn’t care about selling my purty coins.

  34. Mintman says

    @cagcrisp – one of the reasons why we have the pump and dump is from so called “investors” that are most time just mere flippers
    The real issue with the coin market is the continual decrease in demand
    I ve seen this steady decrease for at least the last 12 or so years
    Briefly the state quarter program and the huge swell of disposable income in the early 2000’s fueled the market but it was short lived
    Look hard—there aren’t many true collectors left
    You should know best—-a seller always needs a buyer
    I think your boat is already springing leaks

  35. says

    A crappy design has poor sales, who didn’t see that coming? Maybe we should get rid of the clowns in the ccac along with their pc agenda and make coins that appeal to the collectors.

  36. Larry says

    @ cagcrisp, sometimes it is hard to tell if you are pulling our leg. I doubt if there will be a boat load of money to make on coins. There will always be some, but I don’t think a boat load. Unless you are HSN. Dealers will always make money, as they are business men. For everyone else else, buying at retail and selling at wholesale makes it hard to make any money.
    Coins are more of a speculation than an investment. Real estate, stocks, and bonds are investments.
    Most of the younger generation I see only know that a credit card is money. I doubt many of them will be collectors. With few collectors, who will you sell to? On the other hand, if PM’s go way up, which is possible, you may make out OK anyway.

  37. Buzz Killington says

    *Eventually* there will be a run up on PM prices again, and we will see this Bitcoin-like enthusiasm for a commodity whose price only seems to go up.

    If you can buy at the right time in this declining market, there is money to be made. I’m not smart enough to even consider trying to time the market. So I remain a collector, who can do so because I have been a moderately successful investor.

    If I can’t buy trinkety junk every now and again, I wouldn’t feel rich. But I have most of my money locked up in American business (in the words of John Bogle, investing in a cheap index fund based on the Dow is like “buying American business, and holding it forever”) which I hope to die with.

  38. cagcrisp says

    @Larry, Nope. Not pulling anyone’s leg. I’ve been saying the same thing that I’ve said on here for years.

    A BOATLOAD in the next 20 years.

    You have 10,000 baby boomers that hit 65 each and every day for the next 12 years. A LOT of liquidation.

    “Most of the younger generation I see only know that a credit card is money.” 100% in Agreement. It will only get worse as we get closer and closer to a cashless society.

    “I doubt many of them will be collectors”. 100% Agreement. I’m NOT interested in collectors. Collectors are a Dying breed. I’m interested in Investors.

    “With few collectors, who will you sell to? “The Rich get richer and the Poor get poorer.

    “On the other hand, if PM’s go way up, which is possible, you may make out OK anyway.” I’m NOT counting on PMs doing anything out of what Normal economic cycles would dictate.

    I am NOT one that believes Gold will ever see $5000/ oz. in my lifetime nor Silver ever hitting $50/oz. in my lifetime.

    None of my BOATLOAD of money is predicated on PM prices getting anywhere out of hand nor the collapse of the USD because of Trillions of $ of US Debt…

  39. Buzz Killington says

    @cag —

    You have my attention. I’m interested to hear your take on what happens next.

  40. cagcrisp says

    @Buzz Killington ,”You have my attention. I’m interested to hear your take on what happens next.”

    Normal market Tops and Bottoms, you have a Blow off. We have yet to see a Blow off( capitulation) in Purchasing of either Numismatic or Bullion coins.

    I Want to see the Lows set in the stock market Retested Before I think we can get an Appreciable Leg Up in the stock market.

    I Want to see the Lows set in Numismatic and Bullion coins. Sales are DISMAL but they are Still Declining and No where Near capitulation.

    I don’t see we are anywhere near the bottom with the Demographics of the Baby Boomers retirement and the redistribution of wealth that is and will be occurring in the next 20 years…

  41. Mintman says

    The end consumer of numismatics is the collector
    No collectors and we have big problems with the numismatic market

  42. gatortreke says

    @Louis: nice article as per the norm. I like the 2017/2018 Liberty design and have purchased the silver proof coin and the 4 medal set. I would normally purchase the 1 oz gold but have so far passed on it based on the price compared to the plethora of pre-1933 MS-63 level gold available out there today for substantially less. I can’t justify purchasing the 2017 1 oz or this 1/10 oz option at these prices. I’ll monitor it and if the price comes into a decent range, then I’ll reconsider but not at this time.

    I purchased two of the 2015 HR Liberty design, one in original Mint packaging and one MS-70 coin. I’ve debated swapping one of these for the 2017 Liberty but to date I haven’t done so.

    @cagcrisp: your boatloads of money scenario requires plenty of patience because it is not a short or medium term plan. You must feel confident you will be around ~20 years from now to implement or you are educating someone in the family to the future opportunity. I enjoy reading your comments, especially when you give more background and detail as in your response to Buzz, thanks for your input.

  43. Sith says

    @Louis – Another excellent article. In my case you hit the nail on the head. I would have overlooked the whole star issue, had it been high relief.

  44. just another dave in pa says

    It seems like there are many shills on the MNB. I’d say 80% shills.

    Ethnic marketing (Liberty and the ethnic dancer on the NPS coin) will not help the mint. The cancer coin is Cause Marketing and will likely not succeed although some (most likely shills) are apparently fascinated by the novelty of pink gold.

  45. datadave says

    OT – @cagcrisp – Can we revisit the Truman RP dollar? It seems to be holding value pretty well. I am wondering if that is because the flippers/slabbers didn’t get a good hold on this issue when it came out. Do the slabbed numbers indicate that Truman has a lower population still?

  46. earthling says

    “Just another Dave in PA ”
    “It seems like there are many shills on the MNB. I’d say 80% shills.”

    Oh Lord. There you’ve gone and said it out loud. I know where you’re coming from, I’ve often felt the same way.

    Hey I recently found some Video site that has Plane Crashes, Ship Crashes Tsunamis , and Dams releashing huge amounts of Water. All really strange things to watch. Can’t really find the words for it but this Tsunami of Coins from the World Mints just seems to be of the same theme. Something almost hypnotic in its enormity.

  47. John Q. Coinage says

    Louis- You said it so right, I said before IF you can’t sell 100k gold Walkers how do you sell 135k of a so so design that has no following, YOU DON`T!

  48. Louis says

    FYI re: the coin market as a whole. I had a conversation earlier with one of the key players in the market whose auction house is one of the very top ones and who knows the market better than almost anyone. He said that while there are weak pockets like certain modern issues, the market as a whole is very strong right now. He is someone I have known for years who is very candid with me, and was not trying to sell anything to me. My point is things are not as bleak as if often suggested by some posters on this blog.

  49. cagcrisp says

    The Much Maligned (By Me) 2017-S Congratulation Set is being offered in a One Hour Flash Sale by MCM in PCGS PR70 DCAM for …

    …$193.17 eCheck or Wire…

  50. cagcrisp says

    On 04/29/17 I said I will Short an 2017 “S” ASE in OGP that sold 04/28/17 at auction for $156.50

    Yesterday an OGP Sold on the bay for $97.00 with Free Shipping

    Not Bad. A 46% Annual ROI

    Keep in Mind that the 2017 Congratulations Set was one of Louis’s “Top 10 modern coins of 2017″…

  51. joe says

    Wow…is there anyone that did NOT see this coming? Not the most attractive coin and it seems to be too expensive. At least it’s politically correct and that’s gotta count for something, right? From a PC standpoint I have to admit I do like the 2015/2016 American High Relief Liberty Gold and Silver medal though, which both seem to have done okay.

  52. Mike the Greek says

    Totally OT but the new Queens Beast bulls just came out. I’m collecting the 1oz proofs, and bullions.

    I love that series!

  53. John Q. Coinage says

    A medal the MINT luvs & we could give a rats arse..the generic collecting WE majority….will NEVER sell out & bullion in 2 years…..but look @ the goo $2k gold mean you can sell w/just a $15 lo$$…..

  54. Buzz Killington says

    @cag —

    I appreciate your comments, and I agree that the bottom of the rare coin market has much farther to fall, just like other collectible markets where the number of collectors decreased by a lot.

    Your opinion about there being BOATLOADS of money based on this soft market was not premised on big gains in bullion, and was not premised on a lot of new collectors. In that case, I’m afraid I still don’t understand where the “boatloads” come from.

    I have noticed that high end items of collapsed markets still tend to hold their value. (Honus Wagner cards have value, Mark McGwire cards do not. Truly rare early US postage stamps have value, Mint Sheets full of 1950’s postage stamps can’t be sold for face value.) Even when collectors stop wanting the 2017-S Proof ASE, some will still want an 1804 dollar, etc.

    I don’t see how to take advantage of the loss of value of common collected items., after these items are no longer collected.

  55. cagcrisp says

    @Buzz Killington, I never said the Modern stuff would be worth anything. I’m not buying the Modern stuff. I’m buying the Old Gold at a newly Dicounted prices.

    Just like the Fed has Leveraged it’s balance sheet and at some point it has to unwind.

    In the next few years there will be more Supply vs. Demand and after that all this artificial supply will dry up and then Investors will have the strong hand…

  56. Mintman says

    @ Louis – want more proof of demished demand
    How about the weak prices for very popular classics at FUN this year
    I couldn’t believe the softness in the market
    But just walk around mid sized shows that used to be very well attended and a flush with $$$ — it just is t there anymore

  57. Shawn says

    way to beat around the bush. let’s be frank. its racism. old white men coin collectors don’t want a black lady on the coin. they see it as another example of being PC and an intrusion into their privileged space. I love the coin. I hope they do release future versions with Asians and Latinos. The mint offerings should reflect and celebrate one of America’s most valuable assets, – its diversity.

  58. The RCB says

    @Mike the Greek – I haven’t bought any of them but I was looking at them yesterday and might have to join in. I like the 2 ounce versions.

  59. Sturgeon says

    Shawn, calling people Racists and old white men is improper and very offensive to many people . It certainly has no place on this Blog — Of it’s own you are being a Racialist and very hurtful—-Please stop it

  60. John Q. Coinage says

    She’s real purdy & heck Jed & I melted her down & made us a new pipe tapper, real shiny…..

  61. John Q. Coinage says

    Shawn I like the coin/medal in PERSON but come on enough is enough shoving this thing @ us like it’s a new Morgan get real, collectors like variety & old giuys like old designs….duh…you want USM to make mone make somehting that will get teh $$ out of thehands of collectors, who arepo’d @ USM already, is this the end of the 2016 HR design, god I hope so silver, 4 coin medal, gold coin, 1/1oth gold coin… ooooh Cag & Buzz (& ALL!) the old saying is very much in play 2day everytihg under $1 and over $100,000 sells the rest is tought & getting tuffer.. IMHO

    Still waiting for 20k sales of the new 1/10th!!! I said 18,900 may make it when concluded!!

  62. joe says

    Shawn – I am as indifferent to this coin as you seem to love it, and will not waste my hard-earned money on an overpriced PC coin. The disappointing sales launch described in the article seems to validate this perspective as well. Insulting those who do not like this coin will not change their mind either. I’m saying this as someone who’s favorite coin is the American Gold Buffalo. Now I’m starting to wonder if it makes me a racist to like AGB’s more than other coins? I guess I need to start going to the PC crowd to determine what I can like and what I can’t like as a collector.

  63. Fred C. Dobbs says

    ebay NOW –How low can you go $5 Lib Modern Gold ’70’

    2012-W $5 Gold Star Spangled Banner Early Rel Comm Coin – NGC PF70 Ultra Cameo

    $344.99 –start $$$$$$$

  64. Mike the Greek says

    Xena and The RCB,

    Yes the QBeasts are awesome! I do love the heft of the 2 oz bullion but the proof 1oz are lovely and really low mintage too (6k/coin).

  65. SKM says

    I purchased one 1/10 coin for my wife. She’ll wear it with a gold chain. In the early 90’s when the mint offered gold jewelry, I bought a 1/10 gold G.E. necklace. I did buy 2 silver liberty medals as gifts.

  66. rob bert says

    “way to beat around the bush. let’s be frank. its racism. old white men coin collectors don’t want a black lady on the coin. they see it as another example of being PC and an intrusion into their privileged space. I love the coin. I hope they do release future versions with Asians and Latinos. The mint offerings should reflect and celebrate one of America’s most valuable assets, – its diversity.”
    WoW, its racist for old white folks to not buy a coin with an image of a black person on it. Next your gonna tell me young white folk are racist for not eating cereal that has a black person image on the cereal box. Opps, my bad, no such cereal exists….

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