I was watching HSN's "Coin Collector" show the other night with Mike Mezack and he was talking about the rarity of the National Parks Quarters. He mentioned that the Satin Finish Quarters are more rare than the proof coins. What do I need to know about Satin finish coins and their value? Do collectors really like or prefer Satin finish coins over BU or Proof coins? Thanks.
what you need to know is quite simple actually. 1) Anything with a mintage of over a million coins is far from rare. Mezack talks in relative terms if you listen carefully. The Satin Finish Coins are indeed rarer than the proof coins, but neither are rare or even scarce. 2) Rarity does not equal value. Demand is what generally determines value. Unfortunately, the Mint Sets (which contain the satin finish coins) are made to demand and are still available through the US Mint at less than anywhere else. If you're talking about the ANACS graded quarters, the fact that they're graded means really nothing as far as value is concerned unless they are graded MS-70 by either PCGS or NGC and only because they have registry sets. ANACS graded coins will garner no premium, so as a benefit to the collector, it is nonexistent. 3) Value is a very personal thing. My collection may be more valuable to me than to you. What I think you mean by value is resale value and in that case, it is highly doubtful that these coins will ever be worth what HSN is charging for them, so resale value for these coins will be less than you have to pay. 4) NEVER buy any coins from a TV show. You will always pay more if you purchase them from TV simply because air time is expensive. Almost every coin that you see on HSN, ShopNBC, etc., is available through a reputable dealer for far less (usually about half) and the advice is usually more straight forward, easier to understand, and generally aimed at gaining your long-term business, so they are more likely to give you a fair price. If you like collecting the State Parks Quarters (and many do) then collect them and enjoy the hobby. If you are looking at them as a potential investment, save your money. On the whole coins are a really bad investment except in rare cases. You can generally get a better return from a basic savings account. There are lots of rare coins to collect, but the satin finish coins of the past 5 years' US Mint Sets are not included in that group. They never will be rare and if you listen closely Mr. Mezack says that they are "rarer than..." he never says that they are rare. Instead of buying the parks quarters from HSN, I suggest that you read more on coins and their mintages and how few surviving coins it takes for something to be rare, then start to purchase based on knowledge rather than what some guy on TV says. He has no vested interest in your satisfaction, he generally preys on the uninformed. Don't fall into the category of "uninformed", read and become "informed". Then these TV guys won't be able to reel you in with their claims of value.
What you are hearing on HSN, dollarcoins, is sales pitch plain and simple. Whatever they are selling in the coin world is either rare, in demand, a super value, a great investment, or sure to be a collector's item. Or it is a combination of these one-liners. The truth is, they have to pay for the television time somehow, so don't bet on getting something for less than it's worth. I was at my local coin dealer a while back, and listened in on an elderly gentleman trying to cash in on some slabbed ASEs ha had purchased a few years earlier. In the end he took $2 over spot, a huge loss from what he had payed originally on whatever cable sales show he got them from.
Satin finish coins HSN Thanks mikenoodle for explaining. I'll have to admit that it was TV that brought to my attention some of the exciting new things that were happening in the U.S. Coin World. I believe it was 2007 when I saw an infomercial about the Presidential Dollar Coins. I got sucked into it. I remember coming to this board and asking about these "gold" dipped coins from the Franklin Mint. Everyone on the board said: "Save your money". Once they do that to it they lose their value. From then on I've been buying direct from the U.S. Mint's website. I know that Mezack was saying their price was equal to if not better than the U.S. Mint's, but I truly agree with you that you should buy locally first and foremost before singing up for any kind of 'auto ship' program. That's why I came here first before buying elsewhere.... Thanks again for all the GREAT advice!
I would only believe a quarter of what that guy talks about: just watch what they are selling compared to any values guide. It makes me sick: they are killing our hobby. To this day he still tells veiwers that there are no 2001 SAC dollars in circulation: but you as a shopper should buy the same dollar at a premium. BE CAREFULL!!!! They also sell allot of coins graded by one grading company in perticular and those graded coins you can "only get through HSN". How can they get those coins before anyone else can: furthemore, graded perfect? It makes a collector wonder how it can happen without some creative adjustments.
