Expert: Joe Hylas - 10/13/2005

Question
What is your opinion about the colorized coins that are out there? In particular, what about the colorized state quarters. They come in those nice cardboard plaques, with information. There is one quarter from the Philadelphia mint, the other from the Denver mint. Are they holding their value, not worth what is being charged for them (I think about $30), or are they a good investment? Thank you.

Answer
Hello David,

The colorized coins you refer to are NOT US Mint products, they are everyday coins that have been lacquered by a private marketing company.  Granted, they look nice, but they are not rare by any means.  You could probably do the same thing with magic markers if you tried.
What are they worth?  That's a tough call because they are only worth what someone will pay for them.  As a professional dealer, I do not deal in items like this simply because they sho no potential of appreciation for my clients.  If you were to bring them to me for sale, I would not pay anything over face value and I believe that 99.9% of the dealers out there feel the same way.
In a few words, saty away from them unless you have money to burn.  For $30 you can have a nice uncirculated silver dollar!

Regards,
Joe Hylas