THE 2025 CRYSTAL BALL

With permission, we're republishing Len Augsburger's "The Curious Collector" column titled "The 2025 Crystal Ball Speaks" from the January 2025 issue of the E-Gobrecht from the Liberty Seated Collectors Club. Thanks. -Editor

Our editor, Paul Kluth, asked for a few predictions for the upcoming numismatic year. I conferred with the crystal ball, which issued its top ten predictions. I am only reporting what was conveyed to me, so I take no responsibility for the accuracy of any of this.

Variety Mania Rules. A leading dealer of Liberty Seated coinage will move to an "all variety" format. "Date and mintmark collecting is dead," they related. "Going forward we will include only die varieties of the most popular Seated issues." Collectors hoping to complete their 58-coin set of the 1854-O half dollar die marriages will be pleased with the new sales model. Values of obscure varieties of issues such as the 1853 Arrows & Rays quarter will skyrocket.

Liberty Seated Dies Discovered. The U.S. Mint will discover a long-lost cache of uncancelled coinage dies from the 19th century. Insisting that old dies be reused for the sake of economy, rather than creating new ones, any number of rare-date issues will be restruck, as legal tender, without the customary COPY stamps.

Coin Shows Merge. The major show organizers will realize that cooperation is better than competition and will set up a permanent bourse in Chicago. Collectors will no longer have to schedule a specific time to attend a major show, but will instead be able to attend the never-ending convention at their convenience.

Collecting Specialties Soar (or not). Regardless of what series you collect, values will explode in 2025. That is unless you are trying to sell your collection, in which case market values will plummet.

Bourse Floors Quiet. All grading services, dealers, and collectors will universally agree on the correct price and grade of all coins in the marketplace. With nothing left to disagree about, bourse floors will go completely silent.

Morgan Dollars Outlawed. In an odd interpretation of the counterfeiting law, the Secret Service will pursue anyone who illustrates, advertises, collects, purchases, or sells Morgan dollars. Hoards of genuine pieces will accumulate overseas, confusing the foreign counterfeiters who will be able to no longer sell their product.

TV Advertisers Embrace Seated Coinage. With no Morgan dollars left to sell, coin advertisers on television will move into Seated coinage. The "mistruths per minute" meter will be completely overwhelmed.

Lowball Craze Expands. Coins with numerically low grades are just the starting point – collectors will further demand pieces with harshly cleaned surfaces, post-Mint damage, and poor eye appeal. CAC will introduce a "did not CAC" sticker that will be highly prized.

AI Assistants Go Rogue. Feeding the insatiable demand for auction material, AI assistants will automatically execute consignment agreements on your behalf without your knowledge.

LSCC Continues to Deliver a Valued Collector Experience. This one I actually believe!

I believe in the last one, too. As for the others, stranger things have happened, so why not? Time will tell. -Editor

For more information about the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, see:
https://lsccweb.org/