The Business of Numismatics: July 2026 Greysheet Editor's Letter

The America 250 campaign has been embraced across many industries, but ours is particularly special considering the importance of coins and currency to the growth and success of the United States. It goes without saying that the extraordinary history of the nation has motivated and inspired generations of collectors, and this anniversary is a poignant reminder of how fortunate we are to be stewards of this heritage in the form of coins and currency. The seven special circulating coins that the Mint has struck add to this heritage, although unfortunately I have not personally seen any of the coins in actual circulation (and I pay for things in cash so I see a lot of change!)

Here at Whitman, our thoughts have been on America 250 for ten months, as we were able to work with the Mint in advance in order to create special products for the 2026 coins. We have a full line of folders and albums, and they make great starter of gifts sets due to the relatively lower cost of the coins. Much like prior coin programs, the Semiquincentennial coins are an excellent opportunity to engage with the next generation of collectors. Learning about the themes of the coins, their connection to prior U.S. coinage are ways to inspire younger potential collectors.

As for the market itself, there are no signs whatsoever of slowing. While there are some red down arrows simply because of slightly lower spot prices relative to last issue, there are many green up arrows for collector coins. Many types see increases, and there is a legitimate scarcity of supply in certain market segments. I alluded to this in last month’s column, and since then it has only gotten more constrained. In my opinion this will cause dealers to look to weekly and monthly auctions for inventory and thus put continued upward pressure on prices. Many years ago these types of online auctions—especially for world coins—were fertile ground for dealers to stock up on coins at attractive prices. However, as more and more collectors became comfortable with the auction environment realized prices became closer to retail than wholesale. Now, dealers may need to look to these sales as sources of supply once again if they have customer want lists to fill. Another factor is that coins that run through these sales do not always meet the quality standards of some customers. All of this means that collectors who are in possession of thoughtful, well put together portfolios are in an excellent position to capitalize on profits if they so choose. It is also a rare time that private sale might yield even better results than public auction. Of course, every situation is different but dealers who are in tune with the market and have an extensive buyer list can make a strong offer on a collection which is faster and more discreet than an auction. We are in a market that competition for fresh material is higher than ever. I believe this is also why many dealers are choosing to increase the diversity of their business by adding modern coins, world coins, and even paper money to their inventory.

It is a great time to be a collector!

Sincerely,

Patrick Ian Perez, patrickp@whitmanbrands.com