PCGS 'Price Guide'

MetroD

The utility of the PCGS 'Price Guide' was recently discussed in another thread. This made me curious about how other forum members view this resource. So, I created this poll.

What do YOU think about the PCGS 'Price Guide'?

PLEASE, try to keep all of the comments constructive.

RiveraFamilyCollect

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

It has utility as a guide, gives you a general idea as opposed to a real market value.
I think we would all like for it to be more accurate but that seems like a tough task

MetroD

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Since I created the poll, I'll start. (@RiveraFamilyCollect was faster than I was. )

PCGS is good at a lot of things. But, they cannot be good at everything. So, I think that they should at least consider outsourcing the pricing task to a specialist (e.g., CDN).

I could be wrong, but I think that this is what CAC does for their 'price report'.

Edited to acknowledge RiveraFamilyCollect's speed.

MFeld

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

@MetroD said:
Since I created the poll, I'll start.

PCGS is good at a lot of things. But, they cannot be good at everything. So, I think that they should at least consider outsourcing the pricing task to a specialist (e.g., CDN).

I could be wrong, but I think that this is what CAC does for their 'price report'.

Much of the pricing that looks unrealistically high to me is for generic coins which trade frequently. So in these cases, at least, I don't think it's a matter of not being able to be good at it and needing assistance form specialists.

Here's are just two examples of many I could have chosen: MS65 and MS66 common date $20 Saints listed at $3250 and $4250 respectively. For anyone who's interested, check out typical sales and let us know what your own Price Guide would list them at.

Copperindian

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

The PCGS PG is a utility & merely an indicator of prices relevant for average or better coins designated by the respective numerical grade & color sought. They are not absolute & never have been. In some cases, particularly for uncommon rarities & varieties, latest auction prices determine the price in the guide. Not always, unfortunately.
The guide, if interpreted correctly, is pretty good, imo. As always, though, coins that are special fall outside the listed guide pricing.

MetroD

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

@MFeld said:

[...]

Here's are just two examples of many I could have chosen: MS65 and MS66 common date $20 Saints listed at $3250 and $4250 respectively. For anyone who's interested, check out typical sales and let us know what your own Price Guide would list them at.

I just did a QUICK look at the 1927. Used the last five auction results posted here for each grade.

Based on this 'limited/small' sample size, one of the complications appears to be CAC stickers.

65: average of four non-CAC results = $2,550 < PG = $3,250 < single CAC result = $3,600
66: average of four non-CAC results = $3,360 < PG = $4,250 < single CAC result = $4,400

In this sample, the lots with CAC sticker yielded a higher price. Obviously, needs more analysis. But, at least preliminarily, it appears that the CAC sticker might be significant.

Mr_Spud

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I voted fine as-is, because I just use it as a relative reference and realize that it isn’t always accurate, especially with coins where there simply isn’t enough data available to be truly accurate. It’s better to have an imperfect price guide rather than not have a guide at all.

MFeld

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

@MetroD said:

@MFeld said:

[...]

Here's are just two examples of many I could have chosen: MS65 and MS66 common date $20 Saints listed at $3250 and $4250 respectively. For anyone who's interested, check out typical sales and let us know what your own Price Guide would list them at.

I just did a QUICK look at the 1927. Used the last five auction results posted here for each grade.

Based on this 'limited/small' sample size, one of the complications appears to be CAC stickers.

65: average of four non-CAC results = $2,550 < PG = $3,250 < single CAC result = $3,600
66: average of four non-CAC results = $3,360 < PG = $4,250 < single CAC result = $4,400

In this sample, the lots with CAC sticker yielded a higher price. Obviously, needs more analysis. But, at least preliminarily, it appears that the CAC sticker might be significant.

There's no doubt that the CAC sticker is significant, as there are sight-unseen CAC bids for MS65 and MS66 Saints that are noticeably higher than the large majority of non-CAC examples bring.

jesbroken

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Can't imagine that in these times of computer programs that are used by most corporate entities in the world, that a software program that takes the last 12 months of all accessible coins sales by date, grade and attributions and prepare pricing data that is accurate and updated monthly. If truly prepared recent enough it should be the most representative sales assistance available other than your own sales market analysis for your customer base. JMO
Jim

joeykoins

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Yep, I too chose "needs improvement".
Love their guides, I check frequently to just get a rough estimate!
Knowing, the prices are high.
Maybe, our host can go by "Greysheet" and/or "Ebay" sales without getting in copyright laws trouble.
Just post prices, within the same ballpark figures?
My 2 Cents

johnny9434

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I don't expect it to be perfect just give me an close $ amount. Have fun 👍

M4Madness

It seems like every slabbed coin I'm after online is priced at PCGS Price Guide. I seldom see them below that. In fact, on my last GC auction, I had to pay 10% over plus the buyer's fee. Lol!

ShaunBC5

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

It appears to me to be as accurate and useful as any other full retail guide (for anything) has ever been.
I also like it because of the links to auction results. I’ve never bought a coin based solely off of it and haven’t sold a coin, so for my purposes it is fine.

bsshog40

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I'm good with "Fine as is". I look at the guide when I'm just curious as to values of coins I will never be able to afford. Lol
Ebay "sold items" is my Go To for prices of things I want to buy or sell.

coinbuf

PCGS should just drop the 'Price Guide'. If it is not accurate, and cannot be 'fixed' for whatever reason, it is just a waste of resources.

The information available from the GC and Heritage archives is far superior to the guides that NGC and PCGS provide I seldom use either and if I do I consider it as full retail pricing. As CAC uses CDN info it is also more accurate for CAC approved/graded material.

Manifest_Destiny

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

In my collecting area, seated quarters, it seems pretty accurate for the scarce issues, which is most of them.

Goldbully

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Criteria for the PCGS Price Guide taken from the Website.

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IMPORTANT

The PCGS Price Guide prices apply only to PCGS-graded coins. The PCGS Price Guide is a guide to assist the coin buying public in determining values for all important United States rare coins. Before you use the Price Guide, you should read the following information very carefully.

WHAT DO PCGS PRICES MEAN?

The prices listed in the PCGS Price Guide are average dealer asking prices for PCGS-graded coins. The prices are compiled from various sources including dealer ads in trade papers, dealer fixed price lists and website offerings, significant auctions, and activity at major coin shows. Dealer specialists and expert collectors provide pricing input. Remember that the prices are just a guide, a starting point for asserting value. Some PCGS coins sell for less than the prices listed and some PCGS coins sell for more than the prices listed.

COINS UNDER $10

For coins valued at under $10, even when graded by PCGS, the price listed is the value of non-graded (i.e., “raw”) coins. The reason is that PCGS grading fees are more than the value of the coins, so these low value coins are seldom submitted to PCGS for grading,

YOUR INPUT IS WELCOMED

We welcome pricing input from all PCGS dealers and all serious coin collectors. If you have pricing suggestions, email them to coinprices@collectors.com. Be sure to include relevant information such as

Auction records
Private offerings
Public sales

…as opposed to just saying, “I think this price is too low (or high).”

We will not be able to personally respond to your emails but we will review your suggestions.

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PCGS Price Guide Link

Cougar1978

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

It works great for me. It’s one column in a spreadsheet along with CDN CPG, cost plus, and perhaps ebay seller asking price.

Am a big picture, analytical kind of guy.

Catbert

I do NOT care, because I do not use it.

The PCGS price guide is about as useful to me as the pricing in the Redbook.

Desert Moon

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

It is what it is, everything needs improvement and it appears they don't update as much as they should and within a single grade they can be a huge range of quality. So it is a 'guide', take it for what it is IMO.

hummingbird_coins

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Something I think PCGS could do, at least for more common coins, and not varieties or monster toners, is average out recent auction prices to get a better estimate of retail value. I have heard PCGS auction prices don't show on the coinfacts page until some time after they have ended, and the market could have changed a bit since then. Therefore, I think it would be crucial to add those immediately in order for my idea to work, maybe by using a script or program of some sort to automatically collect price data from auction companies. Then, PCGS price guide managers could go through to weed out the outliers.

anablep

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Maybe it feels like PCGS prices reflect ideal auction prices for premium quality material rather than the everyday coins in a collection. A range of prices at specific grades could be more useful, like you could expect a typical coin to price between $300-$500, but a quick look at auction prices in CoinFacts can help with that too.

asheland

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I have no problem with it, I just consider it to be high retail. It does give you an estimate of a possible value in the best of circumstances.

scotty4449

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I agree with @asheland after 6 years on this forum my taste in coins has become much more refined. In many cases I will use PCGS guide as the starting point, then consider how much higher I would be willing to go. I almost never win those auctions, good stuff does not go cheap!

Goldminers

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

The price guide is nearly worthless on many modern coins.

For example, a 1999 silver eagle in MS70 is shown at $16,000.
There are now 147 graded in MS70 so these are no longer very low populations deserving anywhere near that valuation. Great collections sell these coins nearly every week or two for around $6,000, but PCGS currently only seems to track Heritage, and a few on eBay or DLRC for their price guide. They stopped getting GC data around 2013.

For most coins, both Heritage and Great Collections have the best free pricing information available in their auction archives.

DisneyFan

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I was told early on that the PCGS price guide was useful for pricing premium quality coins. And of course, all the coins I bought were "premium quality."

oldabeintx

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

Although I voted “as is”, it’s very rare to find a process that cannot be improved. I use price guides as starting points only, including PCGS, which does well enough for what it is.

Barbercoin

Needs improvement, because the price data is not accurate enough. (If you select this option, please consider making a specific suggestion for improvement, if appropriate.)

Removed due to a stupid post. I never even looked to see if there were grades other than “most active”.

Thanks DisneyFan.

DisneyFan

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

@Barbercoin said:

I believe they could add some more grades, like VF and AU. Extrapolating can be a bugger.

I believe you are looking at MOST ACTIVE. There are three subgrade categories - Grades 1-20, Grades 25-60 & Grades 61-70. Enjoy

ProofCollection

They are price guides and not price rules. They are a starting point and the PCGS one serves its purpose. From the starting point in the price guide you combine with market data and adjust if it is an A, B, C, or CAC coin, and how recent the sales are that they have listed that they are using. For the most part, PCGS prices cannot be very easily applied to NGC or CAC coins.

Coinscratch

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I use the price guide to determine whether or not a coin will cover the grading fees at what I think will be the lowest grade received. Then cut that in half because I almost never get PG.

Walkerfan

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

To build the kind of set that you want, you have to pay up. Was told that by a collector friend and also learned this firsthand long ago. A lot of dealers price their better material at retail (PCGS price guide) and sometimes even higher. I have no reservations in paying that much for quality material.

DisneyFan

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

@Barbercoin said:
Removed due to a stupid post. I never even looked to see if there were grades other than “most active”.

Thanks DisneyFan.

Now if they would only include the letters along with the numbers such as AG3 or VF30.

Dave99B

Fine 'as is', because the price data is accurate enough, 'and/or' it is useful to me.

I use it for the various series I collect. If the guide says a coin is worth approximately $200, I’ll multiple the value by .75 to arrive at $150. That’s generally more of a realistic number that I will shoot for. I review other sites as well … eBay, Heritage, etc.

Dave