BY R.W. JULIAN
The 1804 cent is one of the most sought after dates by collectors.
Photo courtesy Goldber
THERE ARE THOSE TODAY WHO BUY GOLD AND SILVER BULLION AS AN INVESTMENT EVEN THOUGH THE OUTLOOK IS SOMETIMES VOLATILE. Rare collector coins, on the other hand, are another matter. The demand for early American coins, especially the lowly cent, has driven up prices far exceeding inflation. As but one example out of many, in 1990, the 1804 Draped Bust cent in Extremely Fine condition was worth about $4,500, while in January 2019, the estimated cost to the collector is $17,000.