Buying best coins you can afford is key

We appear to be experiencing a slow but steady increase in coin valuations. There haven’t been any great shifts in values this past week, but this isn’t a bad thing considering the continuing volatility of the commodity markets coupled with the anticipation surrounding what the new administration in Washington will be able to deliver versus what it would like to deliver.

The other factor to watch is the exchange rate of the dollar on world markets, particularly versus the euro. With gold and silver continuing to trade within a tight range, the bullion-related coins are following suit.

Copper continues to appreciate as a commodity, but this is unlikely to impact coins of this metal content. Interest in wheat cents is surprisingly strong at the moment, but dealers are overstocked.

For this reason, cents shouldn’t be expected to increase in price. Better-date and better-condition coins have achieved a plateau, at least momentarily, but with realistic expectations of more upward motion at some time into the future.

The question appears to be “when” rather than “if.” The time to buy, for this reason, is now. The key is to buy the best or the scarcest you can afford. If the coin is a financial reach for you, it likely is for other collectors as well.

This is a time for optimism in the market for coins. There will always be downside potential as well, but considering where this bottom was only a short time ago, it is doubtful we will be seeing this type of value depreciation in the current economic atmosphere.

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• The 1800s were a time of change for many, including in coin production. See how coin designs grew during the time period in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900 .