By Harry Miller, Coins Magazine March 01, 2010

Last year will undoubtedly be known as one of the most dramatic financial years. The coin market was affected mostly in a positive way. There were some negative aspects.

Key and semi-key Morgan and Peace dollars were promoted by speculators and mass marketers and tripled in price. The same is true for Lincoln cents and a handful of late 19th- and early 20th-century key items. The dollars have lost about 20 percent of those massive gains and so have those key items, but the Lincolns with two or three exceptions just slowed down in sales with some discounting on the order of 5-10 percent. Considering the ruthless deflation in housing, fine art, etc., numismatics had a banner year.

Gold began 2009 at $874.90, silver at $11.08 and platinum at $926; they were $1,121.50, $16.75 and $1,499, respectively, at the close. These were gains of 28 percent, 51 percent and 62 percent, respectively. Here is a chart of price action most commonly traded bullion-related U.S. gold.

A 144-piece traditional commemorative set went from $37,500 to $43,500, an increase of 16 percent. Many better-date type coins were off the charts where prices were recordable and many more would have been if there were any recordable transactions.

The 1862 and 1863 Indian Head cents have increased 12 percent in Good-4. Common-date large cents have increased as well along with most older pre-1900 type coins.

Indications are that 2010 will be another banner year with the America the Beautiful quarter series starting with 56 issues over 12 years. This is our financial stimulus package from the Mint.



More Resources:

• Subscribe to our Coin Price Guide, buy Coin Books & Coin Folders and join the NumisMaster VIP Program

• 2010 U.S. Coin Digest, The Complete Guide to Current Market Values, 8th ed.

• State Quarters Deluxe Folder By Warmans

• Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money, 1928 to Date

• Strike It Rich with Pocket Change, 2nd Edition