Price Guides vs. EBay sales price

WACoinGuy

I've noticed that some series tend to have discrepencies between the price quoted in price guides (specifically the PCGS and Numismedia on-line guides) and the sales prices those items get on E-Bay, while other series tend to be more in line. For example, if you look at sales of completed Bust Halves on E-Bay, you'll see that they tend to sell for a fraction of the prices quoted in price guides (about half the price), while if you look at Liberty Nickels, they tend to sell for about the same price as listed in the price guides.

Any thoughts on what this means?

CarlWohlforth

It sounds like a business opportunity. Buy Bust halves on eBay and sell them on TeleTrade or Heritage. Or maybe the price guide is wrong?

mdwoods

The price guides are way off on certain coins. I don't know how they can miss so badly on some, and then be right on the mark for many coins. The PCGS price guide is the most accurate, but you can only use it for a general guide. A choice 66 is going to sell for a lot more than a so-so 66. Lots of research is the best way to find out the real value.

Heritage also posts there value of a coin when they auction them. It is pretty good too. Usually closer to reality.

CLASSICS

i see many diffrent coins on ebay, and have you noticed, many sellers say..trends for 300.00 dollars, and then they have a buy it now price for 90.00...or you see them say...price guides say it trends for 500.00 but my reserve is much lower than than, 75.00 dollars..... price guides are just that a guide, they are to low on some items, and much to high on others.

darktone

I think the price guides are just that a guide. Also they refer to accurately graded no problem coins so that eliminates most of the raw coins that are on ebay. mike

Lakesammman

If I have a nice IHC/FE to sell and the dealer has to reach for the price guide, I know I'm at the wrong table.

DHeath

Well......the guide says all coins in the same grade are worth the same thing too. LOL

Try these two PCGS coins of the same grade, same service, sold one week apart, and I assume photographed by the same photographer in the same lighting. BTW - Neither coin is very nice for the grade IMO, but they make a good example. The first coin is light cam with spotting on the reverse (particularly around the rim at 8:00 and 2:00), and the second one has field frost, weak mirrors, and a few marks. Notice the difference in price realized.


65 Half on Teletrade - Coin #1
65 Half on Teletrade - Coin #2

crito

I've seen the same type coin, from the same seller, using the same auction format (no picture, "generic" PCGS material), sell for 100% more one day than the next. Problem with eBay is you don't have the luxury of sitting on common stuff for a month, you've got 7 days (10 if you want to spend an extra dime). Key dates and hard-to-find die varieties do quite well, and consistently sell for over retail price guides. The generic stuff, not so well, unless you get lucky and the right person "browses" across it by accident. That's been my experience so far, anyways.