Year-end market observations for 2020, the year of covid

Jeff Shevlin · January 1, 2021

Surprisingly the so-called dollar market just had one of its hottest years ever, in the middle of a fairly weak coin market. While most coin values have been soft or declined moderately the so-called dollar market was solid in almost all sectors.

The entry level market, which was weak for several years, took off in 2020, in the middle of Covid. Hundreds of collectors are staying home and spending more time on the computer. With a low entry cost almost all affordable so-called dollars in AU or better grades had strong sales. This bodes well for the future of so-called dollars as many of those new collectors will become more serious collectors.

The middle market, so-called dollars selling for a few hundred dollars up to $1000, of which there are hundreds of different types that seldom come on the market, remains strong and has always been strong. Collectors can search for years looking for a particular medal and when it comes on the market they snap it up before it is gone. A gold-plated 1876 Large Washington Bust HK 44 engraved by Soley in NGC 63 DPL sold for $1,250, one of only 7 certified.

The high-end market, those so-called dollars selling for a thousand dollars or more is the only area of the market that has been impacted by covid. Great rarities still command strong prices, but some high-end collectors have been financially impacted due to covid restrictions and are being more selective on their purchases. Nonetheless having said that, last year there were more records set for high-end rarities than ever before. A silver 1876 Declaration of Independence medal HK 75A in PCGS 64 sold for over $7,000 in November. It was the only one known certified in silver.

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Auction Results / Market Analysis