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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,375 |
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Hi all, I'm a new member to the Coin Community Forum, although I've been lurking for a while. I very much enjoy reading the postings and feel like there's something to learn each and every day! While I inherited a large amount of "junk" silver, the hobby of coin collecting from a numismatic perspective is still very new to me. One of the things I'm noticing is what is sometimes a large variance between what PCGS and NGC post as coin values, versus what coins may be selling for on ebay. As an example, PCGS Cert #24819708 (1998 Wide AM MS64 RD)is valued at $75 on PCGS. It sold yesterday on Teletrade for $33. However, I looked at similar coins on ebay and a similar coin (ANACS certified) sold for < $20. I understand that on any given day a coin can be sold well under or well above its valued price, but that's my question. Was the 1998 Wide AM MS64 RD sold yesterday a good buy, or not a good buy (based on valuation, not the buyers 'desire')? This is just one example of many coins I've been tracking on Teletrade that seem to go for far less than what PCGS/NGC report as their value. Makes me very tentative to place bids. Thanking you in advance for any feedback! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
The guides are just that....guides. They are nothing more than approximations of what coins sell for.
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Valued Member
United States
310 Posts |
Price guides are just that "Guides" I'd say the $33 is the market value. The difference in price is because of the grader. ANACS is reputable, but the market has it's favorites.
PCGS will be most expensive
NGC will be second
ANACS will be next
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1302 Posts |
prices undulate on coins that are always entering in the market. This is the nature of supply and demand. I find that PCGS prices are most accurate in instances where you have a regularly collected series and when supplies are slightly less than demand. I was the underbidder yesterday of a toned Washington quarter. It was a 1956-D in MS-66. PCGS price guide was under $100 but it sold for $550. The coin had 28 bids. Likewise, one of my colleagues is offering a collector a significant amount over published price guide for a population 1 coin that is half a point better than his coin. They can't agree on price because the owner feels PCGS' price is too low. The other thing you have to keep in my mind is for certain listings, PCGS is slower to adjust prices. A 2012 Sacagawea dollar in PR-70 will sell for $150 to $200 now- but once there are two hundred or so on the market, expect that price to drop to $100. PCGS may list the price at where it's selling now and not revise it down for a while. For rarer coins, the published price is what the coin sold for last time- not what it would sell for now. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As already stated there are numerous price guides and many do not agree at all. For example the famous Red Book is usually way over priced on coins and no one really knows why. On the PCGS forum there is a price guide that too is way over reality. But there is a reason there. If you looked up a coin there and saw it was worth a lot, you might consider sending it to them for grading and slabbing. Some price guides are published Monthly, some Weekly, some annually. If prices jump during the year, most price guides just don't keep up. At coin sho .s are bought and sold all the time for more or less than all the price guides on Earth. |
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New Member
 United States
13 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I fully understand that a guide is nothing more than a 'guide'. Seems like the auctions (including current ebay auctions)are the best way to gauge value at a given point in time. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19949 Posts |
You really can't rely on auction prices either. All it takes is two bidders going crazy and the sky is the limit.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1659 Posts |
 Conversely, sometimes a coin will sell for way under its fair market value if the auction is poorly listed. |
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback all. Makes it a little difficult for a newbie like me to know what's a good value or not. I supposed, buy what you like and pay what you're comfortable paying.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Susannyny thats a good way to look at it. I would just use listed figures like numismedia as a ball park for about what its worth. If its a really nice coin itll probably go over, not so nice probably under. If youre near spitting distance of the listed value you did fine. PCGS values seem to be high on modern coins or be the height of the market prices. ebay listings are good, but like said can be all over the place. It helps to see a lot of them and get an average of them |
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
I agree with you basebal21 and that's what I'll be doing moving forward. At the end of the day, I'm not looking to buy to re-sell and it's very likely that I'll never end up parting with any of my purchases. Now, I just need to settle on "what" I'm collecting. I'm somewhat all over the place (love Lincoln Cent Errors, Mercury dimes, Buffalo nickels). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
 And glad to see that you are posting and asking questions. The best way to learn is to ask and get involved. And the thing with varieties, is that the price can really fluctuate, since the mintage and availability isn't always known. Plus after the new find wears off, the prices come down. And then there is the newby factor. Some people don't know the value of a variety and will bid it way over its true value, since they just want one. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,375 |
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Posted 06/18/2012 08:46 am
