subject: the Hot and Cold Countries for coins collecting tastes [print this page] the Hot and Cold Countries for coins collecting tastes
Collecting tastes for world coins run hot and cold depending on factors such as the strength of the home country's collecting base (the number of collectors within a country and how active they are), currency exchange rates, import/export restrictions, and the types of coins issued by the country. The following is our take on some of the most visible (although not necessarily the most popular) countries:
Africa: Yes, Africa is a continent and not a country, but none of the African countries stands out as having a particularly strong collecting base. Nevertheless, the coins of Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa get an honorable mention for collectors outside the countries themselves. And colonial coins from Africa have always had a strong base in European countries who previously owned these areas.
Australia: Because of the British affiliation, Australian coins started out with lots of fans back in England and have now developed a large following of their own "down under." As Australia's economy and population grow, expect to see even greater collecting activity in this country's coins.
Canada: Both Canadian and American collectors love coins from this country. Canadian coins from the 19th century are both rare and valuable in high grades. And in recent years, Canada has minted a lot of interesting commemorative coins that have created thousands of new collectors.
China: A huge population, a growing economy, and an emerging middle class all point to a powerhouse market as the Chinese become increasingly aware of and interested in their numismatic history. Owning personal property was recently legalized in China, which should have some impact on coin collecting there.
France: French coins are slow and steady. You won't see any big swings up or down in France's low-key coin market.
Germany: Blistering hot for over a decade, German coins have cooled down in recent years. Nevertheless, this country is a perennial favorite in the United States, and a strong market for German coins exists in Germany, too.
Great Britain: England, Scotland, and Ireland have been making coins for so many centuries that you have lots of great pieces from which to choose. Great Britain is famous for its well-made coins.
Japan: Prices for Japanese coins have followed their economy from dizzying heights to anemic levels and back again. The Japanese love their coins, so look for prices to rise sharply as Japan gets its economy back on track.
Mexico: As a colonial Spanish power, Mexico was a prolific producer of silver coins, the most important of which were the Eight Reales or Pieces of Eight, the coins commonly found on shipwrecks. Any coins struck by Spain for Mexico are in great demand after 1900, the use of silver dropped and interest wanes.
Netherlands: Catalog values remain high but coins from this country are usually hard to resell.
Russia: Russian coins are hot, hot, hot especially older coins from the 18th and 19th centuries. Because many Russians have gotten their hands on extra spending money in recent years, Russian coin prices have exploded!
Spain: Demand for coins later than 1900 is weak, but the demand for older Spanish coins is huge, especially for coins from the Spanish colonies in the Americas (Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, and so on).
Switzerland: Like Germany, the weakening of the Swiss franc relative to the U.S. dollar recently resulted in lower prices, which is good news if you've been waiting to pick up some bargains from this country.
Collecting tastes are fickle. Coins from your favorite country may be hot today and cold tomorrow. Be ready to adjust your collecting strategies: If prices for coins from your favorite country jump up, shift your attention to a country that's out of favor. If prices begin to drop, buy while the getting's good.
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