Coins, cards, or both?

dast1983 · 03-06-2024, 02:26 PM

So, I've been thinking about starting a coin collection. Already have a card collection. Curious on which appreciates more in value over the long term (decades). Am I better off sinking money into coins, cards, or a little of both?

Interested in data-driven answers.

Thanks,

Dan

Kefka891 · 03-06-2024, 08:15 PM

This is an impossible question to answer because not all coins and cards appreciate or depreciate exactly the same rate.

In other words, it depends which coins and which cards you’re buying.

If I were to venture a guess, coins across the board are safer, but don’t have as high of an upside. 99.9% of sports cards completely tank in value over time. The same can’t be said for coins.

That said, extreme home runs can be hit with cards. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady buyers, etc.

The truth is you’re better off sinking money into an index fund over either option.

dast1983 · 03-06-2024, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kefka891

This is an impossible question to answer because not all coins and cards appreciate or depreciate exactly the same rate.

In other words, it depends which coins and which cards you’re buying.

If I were to venture a guess, coins across the board are safer, but don’t have as high of an upside. 99.9% of sports cards completely tank in value over time. The same can’t be said for coins.

That said, extreme home runs can be hit with cards. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady buyers, etc.

The truth is you’re better off sinking money into an index fund over either option.

So stocks return better when average out over time? That was gonna be my question. I have a portfolio that does well. Just didn't know how it compared to coins and cards.

Promethius88 · 03-07-2024, 12:41 PM

If you are also going to collect coins, do it because you enjoy it. You can either focus on a certain series or just pick up stuff that you like.

My suggestion, and what I am trying to do is just get key date stuff in the best condition I can afford at the time stuff comes available.
Key dates for all series always seem do be in demand and while the values may not increase drastically, they seem slowing go up over time.

Working at a coin shop for years, you find that everyone seems to have a coin collector in the family. Unfortunately 95% of them collected junk. It was that small percentage of collections that would come in that were exciting.
1909 S-VDB Lincolns, 1877 Indian cents, 1916-D Mercs, Carson City Morgans... the list goes on and on. Those were the coins that you were always looking for.

Good luck on whatever you do and make sure you get some enjoyment out of it.

Just as a ps, there are a lot of great people on the PCGS forum. US Coin forum is a wealth of knowledge and some really cool stuff gets posted.

03-06-2024, 02:26 PM	#1
dast1983 Member Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 8	Coins, cards, or both? So, I've been thinking about starting a coin collection. Already have a card collection. Curious on which appreciates more in value over the long term (decades). Am I better off sinking money into coins, cards, or a little of both? Interested in data-driven answers. Thanks, Dan

03-06-2024, 08:15 PM	#2
Kefka891 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 951	This is an impossible question to answer because not all coins and cards appreciate or depreciate exactly the same rate. In other words, it depends which coins and which cards you’re buying. If I were to venture a guess, coins across the board are safer, but don’t have as high of an upside. 99.9% of sports cards completely tank in value over time. The same can’t be said for coins. That said, extreme home runs can be hit with cards. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady buyers, etc. The truth is you’re better off sinking money into an index fund over either option.

03-07-2024, 12:41 PM	#4
Promethius88 Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 1,498	If you are also going to collect coins, do it because you enjoy it. You can either focus on a certain series or just pick up stuff that you like. My suggestion, and what I am trying to do is just get key date stuff in the best condition I can afford at the time stuff comes available. Key dates for all series always seem do be in demand and while the values may not increase drastically, they seem slowing go up over time. Working at a coin shop for years, you find that everyone seems to have a coin collector in the family. Unfortunately 95% of them collected junk. It was that small percentage of collections that would come in that were exciting. 1909 S-VDB Lincolns, 1877 Indian cents, 1916-D Mercs, Carson City Morgans... the list goes on and on. Those were the coins that you were always looking for. Good luck on whatever you do and make sure you get some enjoyment out of it. Just as a ps, there are a lot of great people on the PCGS forum. US Coin forum is a wealth of knowledge and some really cool stuff gets posted.