Would someone explain the difference between the 'The Offical Red Book' and 'The Official Blue Book ' coin books, please. I am trying to buy my father the newest edition, but am clueless about this kind of stuff. I would really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks so much!
Hi, The Red Book list prices you might expect to pay at a retail store. Blue book is the amount you would hope to get selling wholesale to a coin dealer. All price guides are simply a guide and should not be taken as 100% accurate.
So basically if he is planning to sell off his collection to a dealer, the blue book would be good to have. If he's a collector then having a red book will give him an idea of how much he's probably going to pay for a coin.
HEY just a minute there. If your buying something for your Father, why not buy both? He is your Dad you know. The cost is not that much and Christmas is just around the corner.
Better yet, buy him something potentially more useful (as far as pricing guidance). That would be a subscription to the "Greysheet". http://www.greysheet.com/web_order/subscribe_form.asp If he needs more info about each type, than the Redbook would be helpful. Otherwise, the greysheet will give him the latest info on pricing trends.
Better yet just go to the Whitman Publishing web site and purchase one of each book they sell. Since it is for your Dad, it is a really small investment for what he has probably spent on you. Can you tell I'm a Dad too?
