Topic: 1987 God of Longevity 3.3 oz PF69UC on Auction!

[Grip]

I know everyone is probably watching this, but if not, this is a great looking piece. I have noticed that two of these have popped up for sale since I bought one last week. These are supposed to be fairly rare, so maybe the new high prices are inspiring sellers. Gotta ask your self one question, what will the price be in another year or two. I'm watching this one very close. Of all the early silver medals, this has great eye (and Chinese cultural) appeal. In the long run, rarity and eye appeal are up there as far as desirability goes. The medals are still the ugly stepchild, get em before they get love.

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200582846414&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

[Grip]

Full disclosure-I'm bidding this Auction...

[badon]

Actually, I've been following the market on these closely. There is a large hoard of these that are coming to market, which is increasing awareness of them, and counter-intuitively also driving prices up.

[badon]

By the way, this is the perfect example of how slowdowns are actually a matter of supply, not demand. The market for these coins has been slow because there was no supply. Now that there's supply, the market for them is speeding up. This is an ideal sign of an incredibly strong market.

[badon]

Oh, whoops, I meant to say this about the god of war and wealth. I guess I've been looking at coins too long today. But, interestingly, the same thing is still true. The god of war and wealth coin is part of the same series as the god of longevity, so the abundance of those is driving awareness and prices up on the god of longevity coins.

[pandamonium]

1987 PF 69 UC 3.3 oz silver Shou Xing God of Longevity     $2,425    No Longer Available/Actual selling price?    Ebay 283834203282

Rare to see any 3.3 oz God on ebay especially a PF 69.    Last year a OMP sold for $400....

[pandamonium]

My fellow collector asked to post this for sale.     $1,500   OMP    Mr Ge 1,800 Plan mint   3.3 oz silver.    Buyer to pay shipping as he has no insurance and does not want responsibility.    I have no idea what they are worth and he is in no hurry to sell.....

[baron88]

I got one in my collection bought at the Long Beach show in 87, sent to NGC  a few years ago and graded PF68 UC. Never really know what the market price is.

[bonke]

If I remember correctly, several years ago, there was a discussion about two varieties of this silver God of Longevity medal.  Pandamonium's pictures show one variety (frosted) and Baron88's pictures show the other variety (polished).  Look at the area in the field to the left of the head of God of Longevity and look above the deer's head. 

Is one rare and the other common or are they both common?

Baron88.  Do you remember the seller of your medal at the Long Beach show?

Was this medal a product created or ordered by a USA dealer for distribution to USA customers?

Mark Bonke

[pandamonium]

There is a variety, the difference is obvious.     NGC has about 146 graded pop and 1 PF 70.     Same old story, what happens when hundreds, if not a lot more, collectors want one of these beauties.     We will see a huge price increase.    Chinese love Gods and this big one has 1,800 plan mint.     I should tell my buddy to cancel this sale......

[bonke]

I am surprised one of these medals warranted a 70 grade.  So many of the silver God of Longevity silver medals have problems with production, handling or storage which are obvious with a mere glance and require a grade of 69 and below.  As an example, the mint placed them in hard plastic holders which, over time, result in a purple or black hue around the outer edge of one side of the medal and a dark black discoloration on the rim.  Often, the purple may be removed by NCS conservation efforts and the black may not.  Also, the head of the God of Longevity will display rub marks due to movement within the hard plastic.  A PF70UC, imagine!  I would be pleased with a 68 or 69.

Mark Bonke

[baron88]

I remember the God of longevity gold and silver medals as a set is the beginning the so called religious series. China mint gave the sole distributorship to a USA dealer who apparently had very good relation with them. Almost bought a gold medal but he had already put a high premium on it so I didn’t.  And now I regret it. These medals are considered good luck and fortune so most Chinese people would not sell them.

[baron88]

Mine had developed black hue in the hard plastic holder as described by Mark. NCS conservation took care of it. The medal has been in the NGC holder for years and stays good. Well worth the money.

[PandaCollector]

I remember the God of longevity gold and silver medals as a set is the beginning the so called religious series. China mint gave the sole distributorship to a USA dealer who apparently had very good relation with them. Almost bought a gold medal but he had already put a high premium on it so I didn’t.  And now I regret it. These medals are considered good luck and fortune so most Chinese people would not sell them.

I was told that the China Mint made the medals at the specific request of the dealer. 

Best wishes,
Peter Anthony
NGC Consultant
China Pricepedia — Chinese Coin Prices and More
The Gold & Silver Panda Coin Buyer’s Guide
Home of the 2020 Valentine Panda
www.pandacollector.com

[KeyDate1/2ozPandas]

I wonder if Mish was the dealer, in 2010 I bought 20x 1987 god of longevity and 80x 1989 god of wealth coins at an average price of $120 from him, I think he charged the same price for either coin.  A few months later a Florida dealer offered $220/piece and I sold the entire lot as is.  The coins were pristine and the plastic looked like it was made yesterday. 

2010 was the best year to buy modern china cultural silver, it was dirt cheap and you could buy 100 pieces without much effort.  Chinese dealer got me 200 1995 Maritime silver sets for $130/set, another dealer got me 200 I&D silver sets for $150/set including box, coa and toy, another dealer found 30 I&D silver piefort sets at $1100/set.  These days you are lucky to buy a handful of these coins.