Is it better to get the Greysheet or the Bluesheet (Certified CDN)?

Longacre

If all you collect are coins in slabs, what is the better pricing guide to get-- the Greysheet or the Bluesheet (the Bluesheet deals with certified coins). I just assumed that everyone uses the Greysheet, so I am not sure of the purpose of the Bluesheet.

Smittys

Blue sheet is for sight unseen transactions
Buyer gets what the plastic says
Sight seen is a whole new ballgame

RYK

For your (and my) purposes, I would (and do) ignore Bluesheet.

dragon

Just do what some dealers do.......

If you're buying, use the Bluesheet

If you're selling, use the Greysheet

ebaytrader

The only purpose the bluesheet serves is to indicate an underlying weakness in particular issues.

BillJones

If you are only getting one bid sheet, make the Gray Sheet.

The Blue Sheet is a sight unseen bid, and the numbers are usually much too low for properly graded material.

Coinhusker1

Greysheet is a better indicator of fair market value for properly graded coins (aka "sight seen").

Elcontador

You really need both of them. It's always good to know the greysheet and bluesheet for a particular coin. Ie., the larger the spread, the more careful you need to be when buying a particular coin.

Ie., I was offered an original, IMO attractive NGC Capped Bust Half in MS 65 at $800 back of greysheet bid. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate it a 6.5 to a 7.0. Greysheet was $6,000 to $6,500. However, bluesheet was something like $3,200 to $3,500. This told me there were many Capped Bust Halves in 5 holders that are considered to be subpar, and I passed on this particular coin. When the gap between blue and greysheet is huge, as it is here, I'll only buy one of them from someone who is an expert plus one that I can feel comfortable is at least an 8 on a 10 point scale.

CarlWohlforth

The Bluesheet is the only one that has values for certain grades (high) for some series. There is a monthly option where you get both Greysheet and Bluesheet once a month. If you don't need weekly updates you might consider that option.

roadrunner

El Contador gives a good example, the MS65 capped bust half. NGC has graded 2X as many 65's and 3X as many 66's as PCGS. So it's no surprise that the PCGS coin brings 50-100% more as a 65 and 100% (double) more as a 66.

The MS65 sight unseen bid in this case is essentially for NGC MS65 bust halves, not the PCGS coin. The CDN bid in 65 is more representative of a very decent MS65 PCGS coin. Your chance of finding a MS65 NGC bustie that's worth $6000-6500 is relatively slim...unless you find it in a 66 holder and pay $6500-7500 for it.
I've yet to see one in a current holder in the past 3 years that qualifies as truly solid or PQ 65.

Like El Contador I've been in search of that elusive REAL MS65 bustie for anything near CDN bid or ask. Frankly, nearly all the 65's don't quite measure up to that price....at least not the ones currently on the market. Another slab conundrum.

The blue sheet comes in handy for pricing the worst case slabbed coins or ones with zero eye appeal. So it doesn't come into play too often unless you are considering flipping such a coin. But for long term value those types of coins are to be avoided as they usually are the next grade down. So why pay a 30-50% premium for an overgraded coin that down the road you'll find very hard to unload??

roadrunner

PerryHall

<< <i>For your (and my) purposes, I would (and do) ignore Bluesheet. >>



The "Bluesheet" reminds me of the "Blue Book". Both have rediculously low ball prices.