Valuing Coins

I sometimes ask questions regarding valuing coins, and I am given different options, Heritage, eBay, auctions, and others, but my collection has 451 coins. Trying to find auctions prices for each, and averaging them out, would take quite a while. Isn't there a quicker way?

 

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Only be concerned with the tougher date coins. And the higher grade ones. That should make it easier. You can use the Red Book but it’s just a price guide.

 

I use and highly recommend CoinManage. 40 bucks for US only, 60 bucks for world (mostly US, UK, and Canada, but there are values for some other world coins, notably bullion). 30 day free trial.
https://www.libertystreet.com/Coin-Collecting-Software.htm
It pulls updated pricing each year, and every time you launch the software, it'll get updated spot prices for your bullion coins. And you can override the values for a particular coin if needed.
If you want to easily assign a value to your collection, it's the way to go. In my opinion. And no, I don't work there and I'm not a shareholder. Just a happy customer.

 

I wish I could narrow my collection down to 451 coins!! Coin valuation is such a fluid thing. I am like @Collecting Nut and would only concern myself with the most desirable pieces if you are doing this exercise for your own piece of mind. If you are doing it for an insurance evaluation or something like that, I would settle on Redbook figures.

 

Well...

/1/ WHY?

/2/ Somebody has to do the work, either you or somebody you pay to do the work.

Why is a tricky question, because there isn't just one value.

THere is a value you would receive were you to sell the coin.

There is a value you would pay to purchase the coin.

AND

There is a value for insurance purposes that should be full replacement cost.


Let's say you are talking about, oh, an ordinary common date Morgan say an 1881-S in MS-63. Nice MS-63, but still MS-63.

Replacement is fairly easy, there are 10000s of coins, some of which will be available at any time. PCGS price guide is $96 and they've graded over 77k.

Step that up to MS-69, the population is 2, price guide is $165,000 - do you think the owner of the now only MS-69 coin is going to part with it for that? "This cert is currently in a user's private Set Registry Inventory" and it hasn't been seen at auction since 2009...

 

Wow! Large collections indeed.
My entire collection consists of 66 different silver coins... and 3 Dansco™ books ASE (filled w/ MS), Mexico Type #7220, & Wheat Cents (MS back to 1930).
Keeping it simple in my doatage.
J.T.

 

It is impossible to guess price/value “realized at [future] Auction:”

Personally, I trust PCGS.

Secondly: if a coin is low-mintage, or unique/unusual:
if your coin stands apart from the group:
you have your answer:
It is rare.
It is valuable.
What happens at an auction is a crapshoot.

Choose your rarest, most unique. Submit them to a professional grading service. And submit them to the auction house.
That is all you can do.

I will add to choose your auction carefully: I would think an annual, “online & in-person” auction would realize a better return than a weekly-or-monthly auction.


(Did I understand your question?) Probably not.

 

I'm just a collector. I'd like to know the approximate value of the coins I own.

 

I've got some "valuable" coins, but none over $1000. I try to fill collections with G-4 or better coins (a few are AG3). I'm trying to value the entire collection, not just the most valuable. I used the Red Book but was shocked how much higher they valued a few old large cents than several online price lists, so I've begun revaluing them with NumisMedia.

 

Numista — in my very unofficial opinion — is always, always, always lowballing estimates. That site is great for some things, (estimates not being one of them.)

Other online ideas are: Greysheet; Heritage; NCGS…
Also: an annual ANS membership includes use of their library and research assistance.
Local libraries have coin books.

 

Then you, and only you have to do your homework. There is no short answer or magical solution........down to the trenches dear fellow.

 

I had to laugh at 451 and you know why.

 

What about a gray sheet? Is that what it’s called?

 

Start with the red book. Once you get the hang of it. You could guess the lower value ones and put them aside and then attack the ones that perk your interest. Red book also tells you how to kinda grade them. The grading is in the beginning of each coin series. You can do this. And it will be fun and interesting for us as well. Keep in touch

 

Time to go into one of your shipping containers and start counting

 

Indeed we do..........you're associated with area (4)51, a known secret government installation, that is also known for hiding numerous antiques........

 

[website:]

 

A really hot topic.

 

What's a Grey sheet and why is it Grey?
Really hot topic! Yep!!

 

Consider that your U.S. coins will never be lower than the face value. So....win win.