Generic_Lad said:
I simply can't see any Cu-Ni circulation coins being worth anything substantial above face value in our lifetimes. Look at the 1950-D nickel, a very low mintage, a coin you can't hardly find "in the wild" but yet can be bought for cheap in uncirculated condition, despite the coin being 60+ years old. Of course, it doesn't hurt to put aside a few examples but I think that modern base metal coins have oversaturated the market to the point where they won't be worth much except for face value (or scrap value). Unless a major error comes up or die variety, I cannot see any circulation base metal coinage with a high (greater than 3 million) mintage being worth much at all.
Generic_Lad, I respect you for your knowledge in coin collecting, but in this case you couldn't be more wrong. The 1950-D is a unique example. Collectors at the time, knew about the low mintage and hoarded examples fueling the hype when others couldn't find an example in the wild. They were forced to buy an example inflating the price in the short term. Since then, these hoards and individual rolls have met the supply chain providing for a large supply of mint state examples - consequently keeping the price in check.
Your overall premise that CuNi clad coins will never be worth much at all is wrong. The Roosevelt series is asleep. Collectors haven't shown enough interest to awaken the clad issues (except as you mentioned varieties/errors). The Quarter on the other hand is a perfect example. Studying price guides before the state qtr series, you would draw the conclusion that you mentioned as the CuNi issues were asleep up until that time. The State qtr series was a resounding success for the Mint and the coin collecting community. It introduced a large population to coin collecting that never did so prior to the introduction of the series. With the conclusion of the series, these same collectors have turned their eyes toward earlier issues in the series. Studying price guides today of the in-between years, you will notice some upward movement of the issues with certain years skyrocketing in price. The best example is the '83 qtr. Pick your mint, it doesn't matter. In MS65 and above, the price has mushroomed. A person who set aside rolls at the time have had that investment pay off handsomely.
Unfortunately, it does take time for the prices to move. The newer ATB series hasn't shown the same interest as the state qtr series which is due in part to collector fatigue. Collectors worked hard to complete the state qtr series, and just haven't taken up the new series with the same zeal. This attitude will benefit the ATB series in the long run especially the newer issues as there won't be a large enough supply in a couple of years of the mint state coins to satisfy collector demand. Setting aside examples won't hurt. You can't turn back time.
for us CRH'ers). In other cases, they will consign the remainder at auction where they will sell for a little over face. I have networked with a local estate purchaser who only buys the gold/silver. The rest goes to auction (a division of their company). I picked up 3 key date buffalo nickels that were just tossed in a bag with transit tokens and other junk. It is out there as Riley was known to say. In our case as hunters, we just have to look. Sometimes that means in areas that we wouldn't normally look.
