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 Replies: 24 / Views: 3,384 |
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Valued Member
United States
285 Posts |
Why do collectors recommend the Red Book? It seems to me the Red Book is outdated by the time it prints and the values are not necessarily typical of what you could purchase online. For example, the 2001 S Sacagawea shows 2011 Red Book value of $80. Would someone really expect to pay or sell their 2001 S for that amount at that grade? Am I not using the Red Book correctly? Thanks for any clarification. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
1943 Posts |
The RedBook has a lot of other important information in it other than prices. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
It helps me with Type coins that I don't necessarily collect. What I mean is if I see a Classic Head large cent (say I need it for my 7070) - would use the Red Book to get a rough idea of grade/value. :ow else would I know that since LIBERTY is readable It is at least VG8? That said the prices are inflated for the most part. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
I use the Red Book for grade information, mintage, proof mintage, coin composition, weight, size, etc... I can pretty much find any of that information within seconds since I have been looking at the same format for years. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
The ease of use, and I can always have a copy handy in my glove box  ... It can also help grade, and find a rough estimate on price(coin prices are never set in stone). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the Red Book can help the beholder a bit |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
Quote:the Red Book is outdated by the time it prints I don't know if I would call it outdated. They come out way before the years does that they're printed for. I've had my 2011 for months! I mostly use it like most here, for everything but the prices. Lots of great info. If I happen to see a spike in their price that's not in line with the typical type price, then at least it tells you it's a coin of interest. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
Quote:
If I happen to see a spike in their price that's not in line with the typical type price, then at least it tells you it's a coin of interest. I couldn't think of a good way to put it but Scooby nailed it. |
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Valued Member
 United States
285 Posts |
Thanks for all the responses. Its clearer now.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Funny this topic should come up..... because the 20 12 RedBook comes out for sale in just a few weeks ! ... And yeah.... most numismatists NEVER use the RedBook for "values"...(or I should say that it's ignored, anyway).it's only used for all of the "other" information contained therein. And for that....it's quite valuable and handy ! ...  I think the "greysheet" and several other "price guides" are more often used for coin "values". Edited by eaglefoot
03/27/2011 11:15 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1031 Posts |
Susan said that she has some of the 2012 Red Books ordered and is going to put some up for sale on the forum when they come in. I hope I get one before they are gone!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
LOL! That's funny.
I just PM'd her and asked her if she was going to do that again this year!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
I love my "Large print edition"
Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
I was at ANACS one day and noticed their RB. I think it was 1985 edition. Then it dawned on me that they didn't need current prices.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:And yeah.... most numismatists NEVER use the RedBook for "values"...(or I should say that it's ignored, anyway).it's only used for all of the "other" information contained therein. And for that....it's quite valuable and handy ! ... Not completely true. I always recommend for approximate values to purchase a Red Book a few years old. Not exactly accurate but the Red Book prices are usually about 20+% over so a few year old version becomes fairly accurate. And for values if you have a coin show near you, might find them cheaper than anywhere else. So far I've been able to get any of them for $10 each. Regardless of hard cover, ringed version, etc. Not sure about the large lettered one. Quote: It seems to me the Red Book is outdated by the time it prints and the values are not necessarily typical of what you could purchase online. Not really except for prices. The basic information about all ocins is probably the most accurate anywhere. There is a large staff varifying all info at Whitman for that book. And if you find errors in that book and send to them, sometimes you get a free something or other for you efforts. I did. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
They come in large print? I'd love to read any book again without my bifocals. Looks like I'm going on line again!
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Valued Member
United States
163 Posts |
The way I understand it is that the Red Book is what you (the coin buyer) will pay for. The Blue Book is what the dealer will pay if you try to sell a coin to them. Whenever I'm trying to figure out prices on what a coin is worth, I usually divide the value listed in the Red Book by two or three. |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 3,384 |
Posted 03/27/2011 9:39 pm
