How close are Coin Values and Coin Prices to reality?

LanLord · April 17, 2009 10:41AM

I see these pricing magazines all the time in the book store (yes, LanLord knows how to read - or at least I pretend to, I think my lips move whe I read the big words though). I never see the old industry rags anymore (Coinworld, NN etc).

Are these pricing magazines anywhere near reality?

Is this what a dealer would charge? What a dealer would pay (a knowledgeable soul)? Or just pure fantasy?

GRANDAM · April 17, 2009 10:43AM

Pretty much Fantasy,,,,

GrandAm

STONE · April 17, 2009 10:44AM

I see a lot of dealer prices reflecting the Coin Values prices of mostly raw coins, slabbed get kicked up a percentage higher, and if there's significant eye-appeal just toss out the price guide.

They will rarely buy at the prices in Coin Values, although on occasion you might get lucky, but its often just GreySheet to them.

thisnamztaken · April 17, 2009 10:55AM

I'm a Coin Values subscriber, and IMO, I think many of their listed prices for circulated coins are about 25% - 30% over actual marketplace values, and actually way under priced for some of the tougher series, like Bust Quarters, etc.

slinc · April 17, 2009 10:56AM

I did a little homework recently for a swap of pcgs coins valued at about $1050 in the price guide. The same graded coins sold in auctions at roughly $740 so whatever the math is between those two amounts would be the percentage difference between coin values and coin prices in my opinion.

CoinAuctionsHelp · April 17, 2009 11:04AM

I often wonder how the values are figured in Coin Values. I don't think they take into the account of eye appeal, and coins with lesser eye appeal will always sell for less then a coin with superior eye appeal in the same grade. I think the best guide would be one with a price range. It should be noted that Price Guides are just that, Guides.

Steve · April 17, 2009 11:09AM

Realistically, when reviewing ANY price guide you must first know what basis is used by THAT guide to develop their pricing. In most cases, the price guides out there are intended to show retail pricing. That is the price a dealer would expect to receive for a coin sold to a retail buyer. (ie) collector. Therefore, MOST prices shown in these price guides are HIGHER than what you may want to pay for a coin. In many cases, the dealer will sell the coin at a lower price than what is shown in the guide.

A second issue that needs to be taken into consideration when looking at price guides and prices is that in most cases the price guide is showing retail values for RAW coins in a particular grade. Except for the PCGS price guide which specifically states their prices are retail prices for coins GRADED in PCGS holders, most price guide values , while being higher than true RAW coin prices, may be just right if you are buying a slabbed PCGS or NGC coin. So there is NO simple answer. I always say a particular coin is worth what a willing seller and a buyer agree to.
Steve

mrpotatoheadd · April 17, 2009 11:10AM

Every price guide I've ever bothered checking describes how they determine the values they report (Coin Values does).

ziggy29 · April 17, 2009 11:12AM

Coin Values lists the price of XF S-mint Seated Dimes from 1863-67 as ranging from $200-300.

I'll buy all the decent looking, problem-free true XF '63-S to '67-S dimes for $300 that anyone wants to sell me.

How close are Coin Values and Coin Prices to reality?

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