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Coin collecting is a popular and growing hobby. But the ways people collect coins are changing. From where people buy and sell coins, to what types of numismatics they are interested in, a lot is shifting in the rare coin market.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the key coin collecting trends to be aware of in 2025 and beyond.
The coin collecting market is projected to grow at a rate of approximately 8.08% per year between 2024 and 2032. In 2023, the market was worth around $30.43 billion USD, and is projected to more than double to $61.20 billion by 2032.
The primary reasons cited for this industry growth are:
We’ll dive into some of these reasons in more depth below!
It may seem that the era of coin collecting has peaked – but the data shows otherwise. Overall, around 38% of U.S. adults have experience collecting coins (either currently or in the past). Interest is growing steadily, and trade organizations like the American Numismatic Association are doing a great job of drawing new people into the hobby.
Seasonal events like National Coin Week help draw in new audiences. For instance, the 2025 National Coin Week will showcase how pop culture has been represented in numismatics throughout the years.
Coin collecting is primarily seen as a hobby – but these days, many people are turning to numismatics as a way to diversify their investment portfolio. Investors have long favored gold, silver and other bullion products as an investment class, but increasingly, collectible coins have also been in the mix.
Performance data on rare coins is quite compelling. A report from Blanchard showed that Coins (all types – MS65) had an average annual return of 11.0% between 1979 and 2016 – outperforming gold, treasury bonds and more, and coming close to the performance of stocks (12.6%).
High-end rare coins are often sold at auction. Recent years have seen some of the most expensive coins ever sold come to market, including a 1933 Double Eagle which sold for more than $18.8 million!
While modern coins have held much of the spotlight in recent years, a 1652 Massachusetts threepence coin shattered records recently by selling for $2.52 million. Previously, the record for a pre-American Revolution coin was just $646,250.
The market for precious metals has been robust lately, particularly as gold has continually set new all-time highs. There is a substantial cross-over between buyers of physical gold and silver and those interested in coin collecting. As market trends shift and more people are buying physical precious metals, it’s likely that some of that demand will spill over into numismatics.
Recent releases from the U.S. Mint have helped to create “instant modern rarities” because of their low release mintages. For instance, the 2024-W Proof $25 1oz Palladium American Eagle released with a mintage of just 7,500, an ultra-low mintage for a modern US bullion release.
Coin collectors have more options than ever before, with online retailers, auction platforms, coin clubs, and more. But one source remains crucial to the industry: the humble local coin shop!
Coin shops like Bellevue Rare Coins serve their local communities and provide an opportunity for in-person browsing and friendly conversation with coin experts. Coin shops are also critical to help newer coin collectors understand what they have, and get a fair price if they’d like to sell coins.
If you are in the greater Seattle area, we hope you’ll trust Bellevue Rare Coins for all your coin and bullion needs. We have locations in Bellevue, Tacoma, Issaquah and Lynnwood, and are always happy to meet fellow coin enthusiasts in our community!
If you’re not local to Seattle, search around for well rated coin shops in your area. You may be surprised at what you find!
