The market value of rarity

Abstract

Most theories of demand assume that consumers value the characteristics of products but are unconcerned with how many other consumers also consume the product. However, several theories of demand argue that consumers can value the exclusivity of possessing a rare object. We test this implication on a particular collectible, rare coins. Our paper examines the case of coins of a given type and identical quality that have mintages in different quantities. This allows us to exclude the common case in which rarity (or price itself) is an indicator of quality. For our sample, rarer coins command higher prices; rarity in the form of original mintage more strongly influences the market price than does collectibility as represented by the rarest coins of each mint mark or year. We also point out that here may be other goods such as automobiles, for which rarity may influence market demand.