You see coin specials everywhere – online, magazines, TV, mail outs and even 40,000 feet in the air through airline catalogs.
More recent coin commercialization has changed the landscape for coin dealers and collectors, making buying decisions more complex. Where should you spend your money?
Making everything more complex, especially for new collectors, are the broadening products containing coins that have undergone "post-mintage" changes.
More coins than ever are being changed after they’re minted by the government
What? In the drive to seek further profits, coins that have already been produced by government mints are commercially painted or layered in different metals. Why? So they standout with a glitzy flash. These colorful coins are then sold at higher premiums.
Let’s cover the general description for each type of altered coin we’re talking about here.
- Colorized. These are coins that have been painted with an enamel finish or a holographic affect. Common coins you’ll see colorized are American Silver Eagles and the 50 State Quarters. No U.S. Mint has ever produced a coin that has been colorized.
- Layered. Many times you’ll see layered coins advertised as "limited edition" coins. Typically, the coins are covered in an extremely thin (nearly worthless) coating of gold or platinum and sold for a premium. A common practice is to offer the 50 State Quarters, which are silver in color, and layer them in gold.
What’s the real value of these altered coins?
For experienced coin collectors or numismatists, a coin that has been artificially altered in any way immediately loses its value. You’ll find it very difficult to sell such coins to numismatists.
They’re typically purest when it comes to collecting and thoughts of altering a coin in such an artificial way just doesn’t "compute". For them, it’d be like spray painting the exterior of a brand new home or a new piece of furniture.
In point of fact, you won’t see colorized or layered coins in reputable coin price guides or coin-only auctions. Yet, there are tons of ads showcasing these altered coins. They must be selling, right?
Yes… the first time. But trying to resell these coins is another story…
Colorized and layered coins as novelty items and gifts
You’ll see many coin dealers, who naturally also collect coins, sell colorized and layered coins. Why, when they likely wouldn’t place them in their own collections? Because they DO sell to many first time buyers and they can make money for those who know how to sell them.
As a novelty item they have their place. Even serious collectors will tell you that colorized or layered coins can generate "a lot of talk". Many coin collectors will have purchased at least one of these coins in their life out of inexperience, curiosity or to use as a conversation piece.
Also, although they’re far from rare or valuable, colorized and layered coins can make an interesting gift. For most, they’re better than a pair of socks…
For experienced collectors, such a gift may not have monetary value. But that doesn’t mean the gift, given by someone special, won’t have great personal value just like any other gift.
For those who have never or are very new to collecting, receiving colorized or layered coins can actually generate interest in a new hobby. That’s another positive.
Well then, are colorized and layered coins worth it?
In the end, you don’t have to be a purest to collect coins. Collect what makes you happy. If you like colorized or layered coins, collect them.
And what makes you happy is likely to make someone else just as happy. You MAY just be able to make some money – above what you paid – by selling your collection later.
HOWEVER, realize it is possible to enjoy coin collecting while also building a collection that’ll be valuable and easier to sell down the road. At least during this day and age, that’s much less likely to happen with colorized or layered coins.
If you have doubts and collect coins like these, try selling a few of them. This will give you a feel for the market. If you’re able to sell them with little effort and you make at least what you paid, great!
Enamel coins are pretty, and some people like them. As you say, most modern coins lose value as a numismatic collectible, but they generally don’t enamel a rare coin!! Old enameled coins ARE highly collectible exonumia, and not overpriced. The process only allowed 1 side to be enameled, since the heating would melt the first side that was completed, but there are some, and how they did it beats me, although there are some guesses.
I don’t know that imatters on certified grading affecting price, but I have a Silver Isle of Man where the cat is colorized and it is slabbed and graded by NGC a MS69 proof dcam. Any ideas if that would make a difference?
I completely disagree with that argument that colorized/enameled coins are only a novelty, and should not be taken seriously as a numismatic coin. Todays” colorized and enameled coins if done properly (and Germany Does) adds a new artistic dimension to the coin that only until recently has never before been obtainable. Weather the coin has been enhanced/altered by enamel, colorized, or antiqued process; one must admit that the results on some (not all) have been astonishing. For example the “Queen”s Beast” and the “Cleopatra” antique. In addition, “The Perth Mint” with it”s Lunar Series colorized coins. “The Chinese Panda” gilded… Read more »
I don’t think this is the future of coin collecting… I see limited mintage only 500 and some how feel like 500 people are getting ripped off. The color is not worth twice the coin. I would welcome a mint issued coloring limited edition but do NOT try to fool me after I spend all this money on the regular. Just look at all those red white and blue painted as no one and I mean No one wants those things.
Don’t know if they are worth anything or not – don’t really care. Bought 6 sets of colored coins in a wooden display case in 2006, 20th anniversary Silver Eagle.
Set includes: hologram; hologram with colorized background; 24 karat plated; golden hologram and colorized 20th anniversary. Plan to give to my children in 2026. Might not be worth anything, but they are beautiful.
Can the coins be spent as regular quarters. Found five boxes in a thrift store for 20 dollars for all five, uncirculated (P/D) mint. Layered in gold and platinum.