When hunting for coins for their collections – especially those in lower-than-Mint-State condition – collectors are forced to wade through seemingly countless examples to find “the right one.” The prevailing wisdom is for collectors to collect the highest-graded examples they can afford, and judging by the major sales of recent years, that advice is being heeded. The 2019 sale of the “Cornerstone” and George Cook collections realized more than $7 million altogether; the 2018 sale of the Doug Robins Collection brought more than $1 million; and the 2015 Canadian Legacy Sale II exceeded $4 million. For at least half a decade, collectors’ desires for rare and high-quality coins have remained consistent; however, the market for these rarities – the ones near or at the top of the condition census – is by its very nature sparse. What’s more, unique or solo highest-graded coins are vastly more expensive than their lower-graded counterparts. Continue reading →
A 1905 specimen half-dollar re-certified as Uncirculated Details with an 'altered surfaces' designation sold for $3,360 US as Lot 31299 of last year’s sale of the George Cook Collection. A Calgary collector, Cook paid $50,000 to acquire the coin, and his cleaning of it dropped its value by more than 90 per cent. (Photos by Heritage Auctions)
