Editors Message (CPG Market Review January 2022)

It goes without saying that as pricing analyst here at CDN much of my time is spent looking at data and numbers, and when combined with the other information technology projects we are working on it can begin to feel a little scientific. However, we deal in the field of collectibles, and historically numismatics has been more art than science. As such it is always nice—whether planned or not—to get a reminder that such endeavors as collecting coins is at its core driven by passion. This happened to me this past August at the World’s Fair of Money when I visited the expansive display of the Tyrant Collection. This collection spans multiple eras and regions and while I have been present at shows in the past where there were other displays from this collection, I had never taken the time to view them. This time at WFOM the coins on display were all U.S. coins, so I made some time to take a look and I came away inspired. I have had the good fortune to view most of the important U.S. coin collections that have come to market over the past ten years, and the Tyrant display was incredibly impressive. On display were denominations from half cents through double eagles all in superb condition, including very scarce types and dates. Despite looking at coins (online) week after week, I was reminded of the potential for great beauty and fascination that rare coins possess. But this does not only apply to very scarce and expensive pieces. Yes, the Tyrant collection took very substantial financial resources to build, but the same appeal can be felt with a wide variety of coins at all price points. Indeed, some of the greatest collectors started small with modest budgets, but through constant learning and upgrading, combined with success in their chosen careers, they were able to build something special. We are in fortunate times in which a universe of content about numismatics is available online and free of charge. Our own Greysheet.com website has pages upon pages of articles from which to glean information and read interesting stories. A tremendously underrated resource if one is a subscriber to the Monthly Greysheet is that we have Greysheet Weekly and Monthly cover articles going back to 1963 archived on our website. The level of education that can be gained just by reading all of those would outdo some full-time coin dealers.

While this is a price guide, and most collectors are sensitive to what they pay for coins and what their collections are worth, the underlying drive stems from an innate passion to collect. Yes, this passion will ebb and flow like all things in life, but like my experience with viewing the Tyrant Collection, things will spark it to life from time to time and the joy of the hobby will be renewed. Sometimes many years pass before an individual returns to collecting. There has been enough written about the psychology of why people collect things to fill multiple bookshelves, but this also brings great comfort. Because while the rare coin market may rise and fall over time, this passion that drives us numismatists ensures the future of the hobby, that these historical items will always be cared for and preserved for many, many years to come.

Sincerely,
Patrick Ian Perez,
CDN Editor