Royal Canadian Mint Selling 1912-1914 Gold Coins

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  Hi Members
Just heard on the radio that the Royal Canadian Mint is selling some rare gold coins 1912-1914 $5 and $10 coins to mark the 100 anniversary.

Has anyone else heard any info on it and are they really worth it to buy?

cheers

Polarbear

I just saw it on the mint's website.

I think it's DISGUSTING that the mint sells those coins because all the MS-63 and up coins from 1914 that were on the market until today just lost 50%-75% of their value.

They should have been melted, they have no respect for collectors, they just think about profit. I was planning to buy MS $10 gold coins in 2013, thank god I didn't buy them in 2012. I guess the value of the rare sovereigns will also collapse because they might offer the rare sovereigns next year who knows !

They are melting down 200,000 of them, so they're flooding the higher grade market and not the low grade market.

http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/844790--royal-canadian-mint-to-sell-rare-gold-coins

Call me a fool, but I ordered a 1914 $5 as it has the lowest reported mintage.  I've never owned a $5 gold piece before and the last one I handled (1912) sold for $510.   

It's only 30,000 for all three years of production, so hopefully that won't have to big of an effect on market prices.  Sadly there is a no return policy and no mention of how they are going to be packaged.

I do Wonder why they held on to them for so long and what else is lurking in the vaults waiting to liquidated. Earlier this year the RCM was flogging average condition commemorative silver dollars for ridiculous prices as a subscription.  No collector in their right mind would pay that kind of money they were asking when you can get a much nicer condition coin from a local dealer at a fraction of the price.

This is a huge money maker for the Mint particularly with the 'premium hand selected pieces' going for 12G per set.  There is a nice markup on the individual pieces plus taxes.

http://www.mint.ca/store/product/1912.jsp?campaignName=war1912&pId=1200004&lang=en_CA

http://www.mint.ca/store/news/a-national-treasure-resurfaces-as-the-royal-canadian-mint-offers-rare-opportunity-to-own-canadas-first-gold-coins-crafted-with-pride-from-19121914-17400003?cat=News+releases&nId=700002&parentnId=600004&nodeGroup=About+the+Mint

Since I was a kid and saw some of these coins at a meetings of the long-gone Bay of Quinte Numismatic Association, I wanted a set. I think they are very attractive, especially as a set.
Never did get around to it.
I have been almost an exclusively paper collector for a long time but I bought a 1912 $5 a few years ago and still have it. It will fit nicely with the other five coins of the series I just bought from this offer.
The "premium hand-selected" examples were sold out but hopefully "hand-selected" will do, although I would rather they selected them with their eyes.
Nevertheless, the prices seem to be reasonable, even taking into consideration that the numismatic-market value will probably decline a bit with this mint offering.
The price really isn't exhorbitant consider the gold value. Many gold players predict a rise to over $2,000 in 2013. If that happens, the price of these coins will be covered in theory.
I have even gone as far as recommending as a long-term investment this offering to a couple friends with young children.

Interesting article... It was always thought that the Finance Department of Canada had held on to the coins.

http://www.canadiancoin.com/coin_articles.asp?name=documents/archive/arron_aug2002.txt&title=+Restrikes+of+Canadian+%245+and+%2410+sold+out!!!

However, since a lot of coins will be destroyed and melted down, the number of coins being released especially for the 1912-1914 $5 gold pieces is still a fairly small quantity (in total about 5,300 pieces for all three years), won't hugely impact the prices, especially considering they now all sold out of them.  Interest amongst collectors from around the world to collect these coins is very strong.  Many collectors interested in the $5 gold coin and wanting one for their collection, found out to late and were disappointed to learn that they missed out on this once in a lifetime opportunity from the Mint.

At the time I ordered I could have had 3 1914 gold $5 coins and almost ordered a 1912 $10 coin but money being tight and the future uncertain, the cost of the investment was too high. 

Feeling better about the purchase as it did seem too good to be ture at first and I based my decision on the 2002 restrike set valued at about $1350 in the 2013 Charlton Guide.    Coin World states that the Canadian Government stands to reap $30,183,750.00 if all coins are sold, minus the Mint fees.

Worried at first that the coin would come unpackaged since no mention was made that I saw.  Kind of neat that they'll arrive encapsulated with a holographic seal.  Hopefully that applies to both types.

Only question I have is whether the coins from this hoard will be treated differently from those previously in the market place.  Should prove to be some interesting discussion material in the coming months.

Anyone have pictures of what the shipped coins look like?
I missed out on the $5 but this seems like an amazing opportunity.

I ordered all six different, hand-selected gold coins, and was fortunate to have ordered before all the $5 gold coins and the 1912 $10 gold coin sold-out.  I've always wanted these coins ever since I was in high school.

I would have loved to get the six coin premium set, but the price is just too hefty.  There is too much risk with site unseen and if it turns out to be a dud, no refunds. Most staff at the Mint are not educated enough at coin grading, that anything shiny looks new to them, although there could be lots of wear. Also, most staff aren't serious collectors of coins, besides picking up a modern set here and there. So the least amount of risk is the hand selected gold pieces which has a 20% premium to current gold prices. It is a small premium to pay considering the history and the beauty of these coins.

I don't think these coins will be treated any differently than the current coins in collector's hands.  Someone could just pop the coin out of the plastic capsule, and you won't be able to distinguish where the coin came from.  The Charlton catalogue will most likely make a mention of the special sale.

The hand-selected coins come in a lower cost leatherette, clamshell case.  No wooden Case.  But all coins will receive an unserialized certificate from the Mint.

Do you think the better long term purchase is the 'Premium Hand Selected' coins or the 'Hand Selected' coins? There are only $10 coins left and I am wondering which one to purchase. Do the premium ones command a 75% premium?....the staff on the 800 number was useless when I called in with questions.
Disappointed that I missed out on the $5 coins.
Thanks for any input you experienced coin collectors can provide. I figure I havea couple days to make a decision.

Personally, I would not buy a $10 premium-selected coin at $1,750.  There is too much risk with that price, since the quality is not guaranteed.  As well, all sales are final, with no refunds and no exchanges.  For the $5 premium-selected coins at $875, given the limited amounts, I would have taken a chance on those, but for the $10 premium selected, I would go for the hand-selected and save the $750 difference plus taxes.

The following coins are being made available to the public:

Premium Hand-Selected 6-Coin Set (140 sets - $12,000 each)
Premium Hand-Selected 1912, 1913 and 1914 $5 single gold coins (291 coins - $875 each)
Premium Hand-Selected 1913 and 1914 $10 single gold coins (4,869 coins - $1,750 each)
Hand-Selected 1912, 1913 and 1914 $5 single gold coins (5,050 coins - $500 each)
Hand-Selected 1912, 1913 and 1914 $10 single gold coins (18,950 coins - $1,000 each)

Personally, I would not buy a $10 premium-selected coin at $1,750.  There is too much risk with that price, since the quality is not guaranteed.  As well, all sales are final, with no refunds and no exchanges.  For the $5 premium-selected coins at $875, given the limited amounts, I would have taken a chance on those, but for the $10 premium selected, I would go for the hand-selected and save the $750 difference plus taxes.

I'm inclined to agree with the above in its entirety.  The RCM itself put up the following disclaimer regarding these coins:

As the Royal Canadian Mint does not grade any of its products, the use of the expression "Hand-Selected" and/or "Premium Hand-Selected" as used herein does not imply any form of coin grade, or suggestion thereof, derived from current numismatic grading standards, or other form of grading systems.

I ordered the 1914 $10 "hand-selected" coin myself, since I believe 1914 is the most valuable date for both the $5 and $10 coins.  Since it won't ship until December 28th, I probably won't actually receive it until after New Year's.

Thanks for your insight. I primarily collect bank notes and do not know much about coins (although I have a price guide), but the uniqueness of these coins is very intriguing. The fact that they have been held at the BoC for 75 years really makes these a piece of Canadian coin history IMHO.
I am leaning towards a 1914 $10 coin.

Only 4 selections left plus the six piece set.  1913 and 1914 $10 coins in both handpicked and premium handpicked.  No big rush to get them by the looks of it given their numbers.

Should have got the set of three $5 coins when I had the opportunity rather than debating on whether to add a 1914 $10 to my selection.

Should have got the set of three $5 coins when I had the opportunity rather than debating on whether to add a 1914 $10 to my selection.

Amen to that, though if I could do it over again, I would have ordered 3 of the 1914 $5 coins.