Additional Thoughts from Mark Salzberg, Chairman of Numismatic Guaranty Corporation
We have now lived more than half a year amid a global pandemic that has changed how we interact with each other, do business and think about the future.
Today, I am elated to say that the collectibles markets have not merely survived the COVID-19 crisis — they have thrived. The early indicators of strength and stability, including extraordinary demand for bullion, proved accurate. Prices and participation have risen rapidly since the beginning of the pandemic.
For years, I have said that collectibles are an emerging asset class. A broad range of collectibles has become highly liquid and fungible.
I believe that as much as the pandemic acted as a reset button for our society, it also served as a gas pedal, accelerating a change in priorities that would have been a much longer time coming.
Third-party certification has made buying collectibles far safer and more transparent. NGC has given buyers everywhere in the world confidence that collectibles are genuine, accurately graded, properly described, securely protected by state-of-theart holders, and backed by comprehensive guarantees.
Collectibles now regularly make headlines in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, and other storied publications. People talk about collectibles alongside stocks, bonds and other traditional investments, but there is a key difference: They love their collections.
The rapidly growing popularity of online registry set collecting is another factor that increases demand.
Easy access to information is a good thing, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. New collectors will benefit immensely from an experienced dealer’s knowledge and guidance, and dealers can inspire the passion that makes a true collector.
Now is truly an exciting time to be part of the collectibles community.