I was looking through my 2011 Red Book and I noticed that some values for some coins are higher for no noticeable (to me) reason. For example, the 1983 P Roosevelt Dime as MS-65 is listed as $5.50, while the rest of the dimes (at MS-65) are generally $0.75-2.00. The mintage isn't significantly lower than the rest of the years so it doesn't seem to be a key date or even a semi-key date. This type of thing happens throughout the book. I was wondering why that is. I understand that the values are "retail prices figured from data from the listed contributors approximately two months prior to publication (Red Book)." But I still don't understand how some of these coins are valued at what they are listed. Any insight?
Short answer: High grade mint state 1983-p dimes are rare coins. Same for quarters. For some reason, this year's mintage tended to be of lower grade right out of the mint.
Typically most of the better grade modern coins (70's, 80's, 90's) have come from the mint sets. The mint sets have also been the source of Unc coins for a lot of collectors because other than the last couple years most coin each year go into circulation and become worn. VERY VERY few rolls of Unc moderns get put away by collectors. But in 1982 and 1983 they didn't make mint sets so that reservoir of higher grade Uncs doesn't exist. This makes the Unc 1982 and 1983 coins rather scarce compared to the other dates.
^^ This. All coins from 1982 and 1983, especially denominations not highly collected, (nickels, dimes and quarters), are scarcer relative to dates where mint sets were produced. People underestimated the extent that mint sets were providing uncirculated examples for collectors. It was one of those things I KNEW at the time I should have put more rolls away, but with such little demand for those coins never did. I think I put two rolls of dimes and one roll of quarters away from each mint is all. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.
Yeah, I didn't see anything on ebay except this BIN. The prices on these was going thru the roof and I should have picked up a set of each!! Seems like just last year they were going for $45-$55, shoulda, woulda, coulda! Yup, hindsight is 20/20!! http://cgi.ebay.com/1982-1983-US-MI...48?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5d2b178bdc
So Like Gems would be worth keeping, but anything lower is face value or very little premium? Would choice grades be worth keeping too?
If you are talking about the '82 & '83 coins - yeah, kind of. Choice usually means 63 or 64 - you're not gonna see any premium to speak of for those. 65's have a better chance, but the 66's are gonna draw the attention. 67's you won't find many, but those you do will be expensive.
Thanks for the replies, everybody. Very informative. I'm glad there's a place where i can ask newbie coin questions and not get flak for being stupid.
