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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,119 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
We all have our methods for assigning 'values' to coins. This question is addressed to those of us who use price guides (Greysheet, Coin Values, Coin Prices, NumisMedia, whatever). Those who use auction results to assign values already have this issue covered.
What value do you assign to F-15, VF-30, EF-45 coins? The guides typically only cover F-12, VF-20, EF-40, AU-50.
For example, a guide I'm looking at assigns the following values to a coin:
F-12 ... $110
VF-20 ... $150
EF-40 ... $385
AU-50 ... $775
What values would you assign to a F-15, VF-30 and EF-45 coin in this example?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1231 Posts |
I would go with the following based on the numbers above
F-15 $125-135
VF-30 $250-$275
EF-45 $575-600
Edited by onejinx
02/03/2008 2:39 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
In reality your asking difficult question. You must remember that any price guide is just that. A guide. That is why they are called guides. There is no manufacturer's list price on a coin. You could call a coin any grade you want but that is irrilivant as to the value or price. If you have a coin say graded by anyone as F-15 it is still worth whatever someone will pay for it, not what may or may not be on a list somewhere. Note the many coins for many different prices at a coin show, coin store, ebay, other on line web sites. As I said your asking a really tuff question. Try to remember that a guide is a guide and not an actual value of anything. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
812 Posts |
That's one of the things I really like about this Forum. It's a place to bring my tough questions! I have an inventory spreadsheet where I list the coins in my collection, with a space to list the estimated retail value. With the guides I choose to 'believe' I can fill in that space for F-12, VF-20, and EF-40 coins with no difficulty. I'm curious how others who also estimate values of coins assign a value for an F-15 coin, based on the 'known' values for F-12 and VF-20. You are 100% correct that I may be able to sell my common date F-15 Indian Head cent to a newbie for $25, or I may be offered $25 from a dealer for my VF-30 bust quarter; but I wouldn't care to assign a 'value' of $25 to either coin. So, does anyone else assign estimated values from price guides (including Greysheet)? If so, how do you come up with the number for these 'in-between' grades? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
Bilbo,
Extrapolation! For example ... if a certain coin is $100 in XF40 and $400 in AU50, an XF45 would fall half way in between or $250. I find this is acceptable for my inventory needs when the difference between the grades is not too great. On the other hand, if in the previous example the XF40 was still $100 and the AU50 was $1500, I would look for current auction results in XF45 and use those figures.
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Valued Member
United States
82 Posts |
I keep a spreadsheet of my coins. I assign grades to them and then assign a price from the most current RedBook I have. Maybe not a "real" number but I would think that would be fine for most collectors. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
914 Posts |
> if a certain coin is $100 in XF40 and $400 in AU50, an XF45 would fall half way in between or $250.
Interpolation is what you are looking for. Extrapolation means that you are looking for approximate values of something outside of the range of your data.
Linear interpolation is also incorrect. Don't try to average your values for an estimate, instead use a more exponential interpolation method.
Therefore, if a certain coin is $100 in XF40 and $400 in AU50,
an XF45 would fall about 33% in between or $200.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
Vaslin ... oh my head!  Yes I meant interpolation ... but your non-linear "exponential" method is making my head hurt and probably will do the same for others.  I retract my earlier offering and would now advise Bilbo to simply check auction results on those 'tweeners'. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
Actually, the 33% rule is what I've been leaning toward, because it seemed to "look right."
The fact it's based on exponential interpolation seals the deal!
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Valued Member
United States
82 Posts |
Ohhhh. OK I see. We are trying to get at the value of an XF-45 when you have a price for the XF-40 and the AU-50 for example. I like that rule of 33%. That seems to take into account the increased jump that you take with each grade. So I would use the $200 mark for that previous example!
I would imagine most dealers probably do that same kind of ballpark estimating in their head all the time.
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Forum Mom
 United States
5877 Posts |
This is a very difficult question to answer. I have found that a lot depends upon the coin itself. For example, a "tweener" grade for a common date Morgan dollar will not effect the value very much at all (a dollar or two at the most). A "tweener" grade for a nice Bust Half that is a desirable variety could fall halfway between grade values. There is no hard and fast rule. It also matters if the coin is slabbed in a "tweener" grade. One of these grades assigned based on opinion to a raw coin will generally not have an effect on the value if being sold unless the dealer has a reputation for accurate grading. A "tweener" grade in a PCGS slab will be considered to be more valuable than the same grade in another slab. My best suggestion would be to take this on a case-by-case basis. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2797 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
So we have a new Numismatic Term now. Tweeners. Now how long will it be before you see that used in the Red Book? Basically as Susanlynn9 said though, it all depends on the coin. If your talking about a 1914D Lincoln Cent that is popular and desirable or a 2004 Jefferson nickel beat up and dented. One lots of people want, the other would be thrown in wishing well. Actually the value depends so much on popularity and not so much the grade. A 1914D in EF-40, -41, -42 makes little difference. If you want it you'll pay what someone is willing to let you have it for. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,119 |
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Posted 02/05/2008 08:41 am
