I found another old price guide, this one's from 1934!!

keets

I pick up old price guides whenever I find them for their historic perspective on coin prices, especially the "Rare" dates/issues. This one didn't dissappoint!!

The copyright is 1933 but the inside jacket dates it as 1934 and calls it The National Catalog Of United States Coins edited by Edward T. Wallis and published by the California Stamp Company, 805 West Seventh Street, Los Angeles, California. It says it's published annually with this being the First Edition.

I flipped through it and the (original) owner noted what coins he had by circling the issues with red pencil and noting the grade next to that in uncolored pencil. There are also some notations by a later owner with price updates. One of the first bits of humor I came upon were date additions extrapolated for the Buffalo Nickel issues which had stopped with 1931-S. The dates run through 1939-PSD with a seperate 1938-D and then 1938-PSD. It reminded me of my early collecting days when I bought a Whitman Lincoln Cent folder with the date 1965-D included and I looked through my dad's coffee can of about $25 in pennies!!

Some mid 1930 bargains:

1856 Flying Eagle Cent---Proof, $17.50
1909-S IHC---Unc., 60 cents.
1909-S VDB---Unc., 20 cents.
1885 Lib Nickel---Unc., 25 cents.
1912-S Lib Nickel---Unc., $1.75.
1916-D Merc Dime---Unc., 75 cents.
1853 Quarter---Unc., $1.50.
1916 SLQ---Unc., $2.50

I'll stop there and leave you to consider this thought-----What could you buy with $25 today?? Maybe that's why they're called the good old days!!

Al H.

DHeath

1916 SLQ---Unc., $2.50

That 18 year old modern sure was pricey.

pharmer

That's pretty interesting, thanks for sharing.

GAT

The year I was born but the majority of people had things on their minds other then coins, like earning a living during the depression. If you think coins were cheap, look at the share prices of AT&T, GM and other big name Corporations on the stock exchanges.

keets

good point, GAT, and part of the reason why i liked this guide/catalog when i found it. i also have a Wayte Raymond from 1946 which gives the perspective of coin prices in post WWII America. moving back in time it's harder to find guides and this little hard cover gem cost $2.50 new and $2 today, but $2.50 was quite a bit during the depression. my dad tells me that a beer at the tavern was only a nickel yet his father couldn't afford to squander that paltry amount, sending him to live with relatives who had a farm and fared much better than urbanites. these history books always set me straight as to how well off we are today.

i'm hoping to find one from the "Roaring '20's" and possibly an Elder Catolog or something from Faran Zerbe that dates to the first part of the 1900's. good stuff.

GAT

The nickel at the tavern for a glass of beer would also get you a free lunch!

coynclecter

That was also during the deprssion and I don't think "collecting" money was a priority. But frankly rather than 18 bucks on 1916 SLQ, maybe a couple of rolls of 1931 SLQs would have been a good bet.

streeter

I don't really feel like an aulde fart at 51 but in the early 60's the show was 10 cents and a snickers bar cost a nic at the counter. 11-s cents in XF were in the cash register waiting to be found.

Things have changed.