UK Coin Price Guides

I don't think I'd avoid any exactly. But as I only collect hammered coins then the only 'price guide' that goes into reasonable detail is Spink's Coins of England. For standard milled between 1797 and 1970 then Collectors' Coins GB details all the main varieties and is a lot cheaper than Spink. The last time I looked at The Coin Yearbook I felt it was too basic.

The drawback for all of these will be the listed prices. Collectors' Coins was last published in January, Spink just before Christmas, so both are now due for updated editions. While Spink have generally tried before to get their guide out before Christmas (this years' is theoretically due 10 December) I understand the dealer adverts have only just been submitted, so it's going to be tight meeting that deadline. Coin Yearbook, I'm not sure.

Personally, I don't bother with the things. I have a 2006 Spink because that was when they revised all the catalogue numbers for the series that interests me. A 2014 edition would be welcome enough at Christmas, but I suspect I've a better idea about the prices of coins that interest me than they do, so it would be for leisure reading more than day-to-day reference.

I have a pulse on my favoured area's and roughly know what I will need to pay.
I still consult coin guides but they are nothing more than a guide.
The most widely consulted guide is Spink.Old habits die hard.
There are no useless guides and are all fairly cheap (£5 to £25).
When buying a coin the internet is your friend with other dealers prices and pictures,ebay and auction results.
I find a walk around a coin fair helpful,you see a huge range of coins live.
If you see a coin that takes your eye and the deal seems OK grab it or someone else will.

I use Coincraft's 1998 Standard Catalogue as the basis, and update / modify the value, using the current COIN YEARBOOK.

That way, I can interpolate the values found in the Coincraft's 1998 Catalogue quite accurately, to get current values for pieces not listed the current Coin Yearbook.

If you like and want the coin and the price is not too far above the highest guide or lower, then buy it. None of them have a full grip on market pricing. Do your own research if you don't feel comfortable with the variance of reference book pricing. See what they sell for in auction, or look at dealers' lists.

Look at past auction results as this is the best indicator.

Compile your own database.In the past couple of years, anything with a problem has often not sold. Anything better than VF is flying. Lower grade coins in the Fine to VF range will sell if attractive enough.

A huge gulf has opened up at the VF and higher level, so the price you pay really depends on what grade you want your coins to be. None of the guides do anything other than list a reasonable price for a common variety.

DNW? What is that?

DNW is Dix Noonan Webb, an auction house in London. http://www.dnw.co.uk/ Other London salerooms include Spink, Baldwin, St. James's, Morton & Eden & Bonhams. Most have websites with realised prices and archived catalogues. Alternatively, some can be found on mcsearch.

From the comments above, I suspect some may be on a steep learning curve. The better items tend to be sold through auction houses and the lower grade bits on ebay, which has a virtual monopoly due to the huge numbers of low grade coins in existence coupled with the desire of the individual to realise something from what they have. The main salerooms will usually only accept a few lower grade items and these only as a bulk lot.

If someone could link the above site it would help those in the dark.

Those auction houses seem only to deal in quite high value items and I don't like entering bidding wars for expensive stuff. I prefer to just consider a given price.