PCGS Price Guide

Both! In short, it depends who you're buying from and what you think it is worth!

Another example: 1939-S Jeffereson Nickel in MS-60: Numismedia dot com - $13.80, August Coin Values - $30.

Probably the most wise advice I ever got about coin prices was NOT which one to use, but rather to make sure you were using at least TWO when pricing coins.

In addition, my dealer uses Coin Values - especially for common date, circulated stuff. So I can pretty much know what to expect before I go into the store.

So, I would say the seoond wisest bit of advice is to know WHICH price guide the seller is looking at.

Just remember that there are no manufacturer's list prices on coins to go by. With a toaster, for example, a manufacturer may say the value is $30. However, most stores will sell it for less and how much less is the same as the price guides your discussing. The difference is I don't think anyone would go over the $30 for that toaster whereas with a coin the sky is the limit. A Dime could sell for $0.01 to a Million or even higher. Any coin is worth only what someone will pay for it. So price guides are all just that, GUIDES.
They are usually based on what someone thinks coins are worth and in many instances these people should be predicting the weather or selling used cars. The Red Book is another joke in pricing coins. Since that book is produced almost a year in advance, the prices are based on Whitman Publishers ability to read the future. The PCGS web site's price list is basically high to possibly incurage people to send in coins for slabbing and grading. They wouldn't do that if the coin is worth only a few dollars so these prices are inflated so you think you've got a winner.

Thanks for the responses everyone. One other follow up question, Where does one get a Graysheet?

Agree, the PGCS guide is just a reference guide which give you a very broad idea of the value of your piece. Actually, some of their prices (Early Bust Half Dollars, etc.) are very low compared to actual purchases seen elsewhere on the net and for key dates their guide 'at times' vary quite a bit...

Ben

PCGS, in my experience, is high on common dates, and low on key dates.

"Meanwhile, the art gallery a block down the street is selling "art" that consists of baby crap on a framed sheet, for thousands of dollars."

too true

biggfred, I've come to appreciate your wit and knowledge. I assume your not the kind of guy to really give a rats bum what others might think of you, all the better. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard.