question about coin values

uniship

what is the best source for real-world values of coins? Is there a magazine that is recognized as the clear leader?

Any advice is appreciated. thx

renomedphys

At the dealer - Greysheet +/- 20% depending on quality

At auction - Average of last two years hammer price +/- 300% depending on quality

To a specialist - Sky's the limit!!!

To an average collector - 10% back of PCGS sheet

Does that about cover it?

Steve

<< <i>At the dealer - Greysheet +/- 20% depending on quality

At auction - Average of last two years hammer price +/- 300% depending on quality

To a specialist - Sky's the limit!!!

To an average collector - 10% back of PCGS sheet

Does that about cover it? >>




Bottom line to above comment:

A coin's value is worth what a willing seller and a willing buyer agree to FOR THAT PARTICULAR COIN.

Steve

LindeDad

To answer your question no there is not a single place that is right on all the time.
You really have to look at the coin and the series for each one.
Some it is the Heritage past auctions, some it is eBay past auctions. And some are just a WAG depending on who might want or not want it.
PCGS price guide, and gray sheet are just a starting point.
At least that is what I think.

scottgardener

The uncertainty and variability of prices is one of the hair-pulling things about numismatics. Price guides are estimates, and even two coins with the same grade by the same company can differ--toning will hike up a price, for instance. The rarer coins are even more subject to variability and opinion differences, because individual auctions will impact overall price estimates that much more. But, even coins with a population in the tens of thousands, prices vary from one guide to the next.

I find the PCGS guide, which tends to run a little high, a good predictor of retail prices--that is, if you can find a coin for sale at a shop, this is about what you should expect to pay. The Numismedia guide has two prices--"retail" and "wholesale," both of which tend to run a bit lower. The Numismedia "retail" tends to match what you can find if you shop around and compare prices online, or if you're at a coin show, where prices run a little lower. Their "wholesale" matches about what you should be able to get in trade. The caveat being that you only get that much if you can find a buyer. Some coins will elicit spontaneous bids even if you insist it can only be had by prying it from your cold, dead hands. Others might get enough rejected offers that you'll think they're my novel manuscript.