The Value Of A Coin Collection

You sure seem more worried about how to sell them than not.

No, a dealer is the worst place to go. No disrespect to them, but they have lots of overhead, inventory and other things that need to price into the coin for it to be profitable to them, which doesn't work out so well for you.

And to answer your other thread, I would imagine selling any key or semi-key dates or other high value coins individually, then sell the balance as a lot would be best.

Thanks.

No, I'm not eager to sell, but I am not a rich person and there is always the possibility the collection will have to be sold someday.

Well I have found selling to a fellow collector in my past experiences isn't much better. Everyone wants a good deal. Especially if they know your in a pinch financially. You get more than what you would selling to a dealer. To get the price you want you had better hope someone really wants what you have.

It really depends on what you have. A full collection of key dates will sell for close to Red Book prices. A full collection of common date coins will sell at blue book prices or less.

Of all publications I find Graysheet the closest to reality (on average). But mid-high range coins always - always - always check closed auction prices on places like ebay, Herritage and David Lawrence. When doing so remember that not all coins of the same grade are equal. You can usually see the pricing difference between coins with inferior and superior eye appeal.

I love it when I pull out my phone with internet and SHOW the dealers that are asking an arm and a leg that I can get EXACTLY what they are selling for a huge discount from their price. It's pretty funny when their automatic fallback excuse is that it just HAS to be fake.

When it comes to buying or selling coins almost any price guide you look at will just not be accurate. Even the grey sheet, that so many dealers use, is also only a guide. buying and selling coins or anything is really dependant on the market for them, the location your in, the media you use to either buy or sell and many other items. Another really big factor is popularity. For example a 1955 Double Die Lincoln Cent is exessively overpriced since almost every coin collector or dealer mentions them. Mamy Album companies add a slot for them in their Albums but not all the rest of the Double Dies. That is popularity.
To buy you just can't beat a coin show. To sell, the most you will get is on ebay. As to some coins seeling for way more than even Red Book prices, that too is pending on the coin and the demand for that coin and really it's popularity.
Popularity is very important in almsot every type of sale. This is one of the reasons manufacturers spend so much time advertising.
Take old cars for another example. A 57 Chevy Convertable is really expensive but a 58 is relatively much less. Again, pupularity.