Which Price Guide

I think coin values prices are a little high. I try not to rely on them.

For a quick look up on lower end coins, most definitely Coin Dealer Newsletter aka "Gray Sheet". I'm a subscriber. For me it's been the best guide for what I (can) get my coins for.

But closed auction prices are the A1 method IMO.

Has anyone done a comparison of the Greysheet to other price guides? I'd like to know which one would qualify as the "poor man's Greysheet." I think the $100/year subscription price is why many collector's don't use it, but I'd sure love to know which of the lower priced guides comes closest.

(To address the original question, I do think Coin Values is high. It seemed much more accurate back in the old "Trends" days. But I sure do love the illustrated Grading Guides with each monthly Coin Values!)

If you get the monthly Coin Values magazine, you get a somewhat condensed version of the online price guide, some kinda interesting articles, and each month they have an illustrated grading guide for a particular coin series. This month they had Seated Liberty dollars with descriptions (virtually identical to ANA Grading Standards) and large color photos of the various grades. The dollars were covered from AG-3 through MS-65.

It does cost extra, and comes with the first CoinWorld of the month. If you didn't get it with your Oct 1 issue, I don't think it's part of your subscription package.

(They've been doing these for around 4 years, no series have been repeated, yet. They have not yet had the 'Draped Bust Dimes' issue. You can buy back issues from Amos Advantage.)

The only time I bought the grey sheet, I bought the online version. But it doesn't contain prices for each and every year. Is this correct? From what I'm reading here it sounds like the grey sheet gives prices for every year and type.

I suggest making friends with someone who subscribes to CDN (grey sheets). Ask them to give you their old issues. A dealer local to me gives me all his old stuff, which is still pretty accurate....close enough for my purposes anyway.

nothing will beat experience, the greysheet for example is fine for a common coin like a morgan 1882-s which trades quite often, but any rare coin with few trades and most likely the price is not going to be correct.... this is where active dealers and collectors who follow the market will have an edge!