The 4 Best Coin & Bullion Gifts For Coin Collectors
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS! Four calling birds, three French hens, and you know the rest. Of course, our favorite part of this traditional Christmas tune is regarding gold. Each
December, we see an increase in the number of people looking to purchase meaningful gifts for their loved ones or for themselves. While coin collecting as a hobby isn’t quite as prevalent as it once was, there are still many numismatists (someone who studies and/or collects coin and medals, ie a coin collector) out there who are anxious to add pieces to their rare coin collection. While the hobby of coin collecting has waned, the number of individuals interested in purchasing precious metals as a hedge and investment has increased dramatically in recent years.
Whether your loved one is a coin collector or is interested in purchasing gold and silver as an investment, the number of potential options may be overwhelming. Rather than spending hours researching various coins and bullion online, we recommend you continue reading for suggestions as to what we believe are the four best coin and bullion options to give as gifts or to add to your personal coin collection. We’ve included both numismatic options for collectors and bullion coin options for investors to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list!
Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins
Known as pre-33 U.S. gold coins, these coins are a great option, as they can be purchased for both coin collectors and investors alike. If you’re purchasing for an investor, we recommend a $20 Liberty Head or St. Gaudens gold coin. These are the largest size pre-33 gold coins available and tend to trade at the lowest premiums. They can be purchased as raw/ungraded or as
graded/certified coins. Raw coins tend to exhibit a bit more wear from circulation and handling and trade at lower rates than certified or professionally graded coins, which may be more suitable for coin collectors.
Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins that have more numismatic or collectible value are St. Gaudens and $20 Liberty Head coins that have been graded and certified (typically in MS60 condition or higher). You can also find the smaller denomination pre-33 gold coins such as the $2.50, $5 and $10 Indian Head and Liberty Head gold coins certified and graded as well. Typically, the smaller the denomination, the higher the premium or price on a per ounce basis. Additionally, when certified, the higher the grade, the more valuable the coin.
If you’d like to get something a little more unique, the $1 Liberty Head and Indian Head gold coins and $3 Indian Princess gold coins are always a hit and are less common than the sizes noted above. More valuable coins exist, including high grade certified coins, key date and low mintage coins struck at the Dahlonega, Charlotte, and Carson City mints. In many of these cases, the gold value is only a small component of the overall value of the coin due to their collectability and demand from coin collectors.
If you decide to go the certified route, we recommend you stick with coins graded by NGC or PCGS. These are the two most popular and recognized third party grading services (TPGS) in the industry and are likely the TPGS that are already represented in your or your loved one’s collection, especially if they’re a serious coin collector.
Morgan & Peace Silver Dollars
Morgan and Peace silver dollars are another great option that appeals to both coin collectors and investors. For those unfamiliar with these coins, Morgan silver dollars were issued by the U.S. Mint from 1878 – 1921 and Peace silver dollars were produced from 1921 – 1935. The coins weigh slightly less than an ounce, but trade for more than their underlying silver value, even in circulated condition.
Both coins are incredibly popular. Investors tend to gravitate toward average condition common date Morgan and Peace silver dollars primarily because of their cost and availability. In fact, most silver dollars that trade in the market fall under this category. The least expensive are Peace silver dollars, followed by 1921 Morgan silver dollars and then 1904 & earlier dollars. This is due their popularity, the age, and the number produced.
Options to consider when purchasing Morgan or Peace Dollars:
Coin collectors are often interested in the same coins as investors, but tend to focus on higher end condition, certified or key date coins. These coins can be raw or certified. One of the most popular series, and typically the highest value Morgan silver dollars to collect are Carson City minted silver dollars. The Carson City Mint was in operation for a relatively short period of time and in general, produced fewer coins than the other mints. These coins were produced from 1878 – 1885 and 1889 – 1893. The most affordable of the Carson City silver dollars were produced from 1882 – 1884. The most valuable Carson City silver dollar was produced in 1889 and can trade for north of $1,000 in high end condition.
Another way to assemble a silver dollar collection is by year or mint mark. A mint mark indicates where the coin was produced.
An entire date set of Peace silver dollars, which can consist of various mint marks, can be acquired at a reasonable price if you’re careful to avoid some of the lower mintage coins, such as the 1928-p and 1934-s. The only coin that will sell for moderately more than the others is the 1921 Peace silver dollar.
A Morgan silver dollar date set can also be assembled at a relatively reasonable price. The only stumbling block will be coins produced in 1893 and 1895, which will likely run a couple of hundred dollars each regardless of the mint that produced them. All other years will include a common date coin.
The 1904 & earlier silver dollars were produced in smaller quantities and tend to show a bit more wear, as they’re older and were circulated for many more years than 1921 Morgans and Peace silver dollars. If you or your loved one is a hybrid investor/coin collector, we recommend that you focus on 1904 & earlier coins and try to acquire a nice variety of dates and mint marks.
Coin collectors are often interested in the same coins as investors, but tend to focus on higher end condition, certified or key date coins. These coins can be raw or certified. One of the most popular series, and typically the highest value Morgan silver dollars to collect are Carson City minted silver dollars. The Carson City Mint was in operation for a relatively short period of time and in general, produced fewer coins than the other mints. These coins were produced from 1878 – 1885 and 1889 – 1893. The most affordable of the Carson City silver dollars were produced from 1882 – 1884. The most valuable Carson City silver dollar was produced in 1889 and can trade for north of $1,000 in high end condition.
Another way to assemble a silver dollar collection is by year or mint mark. A mint mark indicates where the coin was produced.
An entire date set of Peace silver dollars, which can consist of various mint marks, can be acquired at a reasonable price if you’re careful to avoid some of the lower mintage coins, such as the 1928-p and 1934-s. The only coin that will sell for moderately more than the others is the 1921 Peace silver dollar.
A Morgan silver dollar date set can also be assembled at a relatively reasonable price. The only stumbling block will be coins produced in 1893 and 1895, which will likely run a couple of hundred dollars each regardless of the mint that produced them. All other years will include a common date coin.
American Silver Eagles
American silver eagles are the most popular 1 oz silver coin in the United States and are likely present in most, if not all, serious coin collections. Hundreds of millions of American silver eagles have been produced since their inaugural year of 1986. American silver eagles issued in 1999 and earlier, and more specifically, those produced in 1986, 1994 and 1996, tend to trade at the highest prices.
American silver eagles are issued by the U.S. Mint and come packaged 20 coins to a tube. The tubes are opaque and have a green US Treasury lid or cap. It’s preferable to purchase these coins by the tube, especially if common date coins, as this is how they’re most frequently traded. Additionally, the tube keeps the coins well protected, so they’re likely to hold up better over the long term than purchasing individual coins. Current year silver eagles, especially at the beginning of the year, tend to trade for slightly more than those issued in prior years, except for 1999 and earlier, as there’s relatively high demand for the most recently issued coin.
Coin collectors enjoy American silver eagles equally as much as investors. Their focus is just slightly different. For example, a collector may want one coin from each year, certified silver eagles, proofs, special-issue, or silver eagle anniversary sets. Proof silver eagles have been issued every year by the U.S. Mint since 1986, except for 2009. Anniversary sets are also popular, such as the 10 year, 20 year, and 25th year anniversary sets, just to name a few.
Special issue American silver eagles, such as the 2019-s enhanced reverse proof silver eagle are also highly popular and quite rare. In fact, the 2019-s enhanced reverse proof silver eagle, along with the 1995 proof silver eagle issued by the West Point Mint are the rarest silver eagles, with mintages of only 30,000 coins each.
If assembling a date set collection, it’s nice to have the coins certified by a third-party grading service. The two major TPGS sell attractive coin holders that house 20 coins each, which are a great way to preserve the coins and present them as a gift. Most collectors prefer NGC-certified silver eagles over PCGS for date sets – especially those that feature brown labels. If assembling a proof silver eagle set, we recommend that you purchase those in the original government packaging with the case, COA and box as opposed to certified proof silver eagles, as these coins are more marketable, IRA-eligible, and in higher demand.
American Gold Eagles
Much like their silver counterparts, American gold eagles are the most popular modern-issued gold coins. These coins, first produced in 1986, come in bullion and proof versions and are available in 1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz and 1/10 oz sizes. The 1 oz American gold eagle is the most popular and cost-effective way to invest in these coins, but with the price of gold near multi-year highs, this option isn’t available to everyone.
As with the pre-1933 gold coins, premiums are higher on fractional gold eagles, with the 1/10 oz gold eagle selling at the highest price on a per ounce basis. Most bullion gold eagles trade as raw coins, but certified versions do exist, with an MS70 grade commanding the highest premium. Unlike silver eagles, they tend to trade on an individual basis versus by the tube; although, tubes of these coins do exist and are available for folks with higher budgets.
Proof American gold eagles are popular collector coins and command a premium above the price of standard bullion gold coins. They’re available in all the sizes noted above, as well as four-coin sets. Like the proof silver eagle, they include a case, COA and outer box. One nice feature is that these coins are also IRA-eligible, but only when they include the original government packaging. While certified versions are attractive, they tend to trade at lower rates and can’t be used as a retirement vehicle.
With respect to pricing, we’ve seen wide ranges in the premium of the proof coins, and only once have seen them trade on par with standard bullion gold eagles, so chances are when you read this piece, they’ll be trading at above standard gold eagle rates.
Summary
In conclusion, while many different coin and bullion options exist, we have identified what we believe to be the four best choices for your personal collection or to give as gifts during the Christmas and holiday season.
- Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins offer a bit of history, collectability and numismatic value. You can purchase common date average condition St. Gaudens and $20 gold coins at closer to bullion values but expect to pay more for fractional sizes and certified coins.
- Morgan and Peace dollars are a great option for collectors who prefer silver coins. Options range from common date average condition coins to rare, low mintage, key date coins, and certified coins. The nice thing about these coins is that there an option for almost every budget.
- No coin collection is complete without American silver eagles. As bullion coins, they typically trade by the tube of 20. You can also purchase certified versions, assemble a set, choose an anniversary set and/or acquire proof versions. Remember, special edition or proof silver eagles tend to trade at higher rates than standard bullion silver eagles.
- Last but not least, the American gold eagle is the most popular modern gold bullion coin. These coins are available in multiple sizes, as proof versions, and as limited edition or anniversary sets. If purchasing a proof gold eagle, we recommend that you acquire one with the original government package as opposed to a certified version, as they’re more marketable.
The coin and bullion experts at Atlanta Gold & Coin offer all the above options and more.
Whether you’re interested in purchasing coins and bullion as a gift or as an investment for yourself, we can help. We have years of experience in the industry and can help to identify the coins that best suit your needs and circumstances. We look forward to hearing from you and earning your business.
Happy Treasure Hunting!
