I have limited my discussions to coins grading no higher than MS-65 (and Proof-65), as beyond this I believe that the market has quite a bit of sorting out to do. Right now the market for MS-66, MS-67, and higher coins of earlier dates seems to be mainly with investors or dealers selling to investors. If I perceive that this situation changes in the future, then some future edition of this guide (if there is one) may recommend such pieces. MS-66, MS-67, and higher grade coins of modern issues are common and can be included, if you wish, in sets of recent coinage, such as commemoratives issued since 1982. High grade Proofs of recent years, especially 1968 to date, are likewise common.

It would be easy, and certainly a shortcut to having to do research, if I were to state that, for example, for Liberty Head $2.50 pieces of the 1840-1907 year span that a goal of MS-65 is the way to go for the listing under the Elite Recommendations category, but I would be wasting your time. Even if you were the Sultan of Brunei, with a limitless bank account, many issues either do not exist or probably will not be available in MS-65 grade within the next 10 years.

In general, the coins listed under Elite Recommendations are those which a buyer will stand a reasonable chance of buying over the next decade. Many of these recommendations would have been put in the Recommendations for the Connoisseur category had this guide been written 15 years ago, before the investment emphasis in MS-65 coins, which had its beginning in a large way in the late 1970s.

Even so, now in the early 1990s the formation of high grade collections of certain early series such as colonials, half cents, large cents, early silver, Liberty Seated coins, etc. may well be an astute thing to do, for investors tend to concern themselves with the commoner later issues in the American series and overlook late 18th and early 19th century issues.

In summary, coins listed under Elite Recommendations are wonderful to own, but in certain instances (particularly in series which are very popular with investors) I believe that pieces included under Recommendations for the Connoisseur represent better values for the money. However, especially among the earlier series, if you can afford the tab, the formation of a high grade collection can be a worthwhile pursuit. And, it could be that value for the money spent might not be a consideration for you, any more than someone staying in a $3,000 per night hotel suite may not be concerned with value. There is something to be said for the satisfaction, value considerations aside, of owning the best (or for staying in the most luxurious hotel accommodations, to continue the analogy). If you are in the multimillionaire category, then perhaps recommendations under this category may be just what you want.