Does anyone know where one can look up the historical values of coins? For example, what was the value of a 1936 proof set in 1965? I supposed you could do that by finding all of the previous Red Books, but I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to look for them. I have a book on US type coins that lists historical values for each type, but it's not very specific as to grade or year, so it's pretty useless.
This is a question that is asked a lot. Sorry to say there is no web site the info. So other than old books and periodicals there is only 1 way I know of - old issues of the Grey Sheet. You can purchase them at the CDN site and download directly to your computer. They go back to 1963 if memory serves.
CoinManage I have software called CoinManage 2007 by Liberty Street software. That has historical data back to 1996. They do cover proof and mint sets as well as commomaratives and a bunch of other stuff. But it does only go back to 1996 At around $40, it might just be cheaper to buy a couple of old red books if you only have a few past years in mind and don't need the software for anything else.
dreamer: Thay is why many of us collect the old Guide Books. A great collection to start. Answer: 1936 Proof set was valued at $600.00 in 1965
You can get the old Grey Sheet issues for $2.75 each. That's pretty reasonable in my opinion for someone wanting information you can get nowhere else
If you can find it, at one point the Graysheet published a book of all the old graysheet values from 1963 to I think it was 1988 or 89. A 25th anniversary thing. Of course that would help you from 1988 to now. Your back to ordering back issues. Something you have to remember too, for Mint State graded coins there is no direct price guide comparison before 1986. Before then there are only two uncirculated grades, and you go back a little further, there is only one. Pretty much the same thing goes for proof coins. A lot of investment touting firms use that to their advantage showing the price increase for a coin by using an old "Unc" price from back then and comparing it to a MS-65 or 67 price today. Apples and Oranges, two completely different things. It would be like trying to show how prices have increses by comparing a 1914 cent from a few years ago with a 14-D cent today.
I have a small mismatch, hodge podge collection of valuation/sale catalogs, but most deal with exonumia. The old ones are very interesting to peruse, although they are typically what a merchant had for sale rather than an all inclusive pricelist. The oldest I have is from 1858.
