Coin Guides

I only own the 2008 Red Book and would like to have access to a little more information. I need a resource that will provide fairly accurate price trends for when I am buying coins, whether its from other people or dealers. I was thinking about the World Coins Guide,2010 edition but that only apparently covers coins from 1901-Present right? I imagine there is one for 2010 that covers world coins from 1800 to 1900? I would need both books then, but the prices in that guide are only retail prices, unless Im wrong, so I should always discount 30%-40%?

In addition, I need some clarification regarding the Charlton Price Guide for Canadian coins. I understand this years edition covers varieties for Victoria coins? Or is it just one denomination of Victoria coins? I am totally lost with all those, and I thought this would be the perfect place to get some clarification.

Thanks guys

 

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I won't be much help to you on Canadian books but for US I would recommend updating your Red Book, to keep up with mintages, etc. Then learn to search auction sites for values. Any publication will be well behind the times by the time it gets printed and sold. There are several sites that you can join/use for free that can be searched.

My favorites are:
http://coins.ha.com/common/auctions/?ic=Tab-Auctions-041408
http://www.teletrade.com/coins/search.asp?issubmit=1&nodefault=1&wantsid=0&searchid=4930788&aucrange=all&begauction=2729&endauction=&backto=0&s_ispaper=0&s_isnonusa=0&s_yearmin=&s_yearmax=&s_mint=Any&s_overdate=&s_grademin=60+%28UNC%2FMS%29&s_grademax=70+%28UNC%2FMS%29&s_ispcgs=1&s_isngc=1&s_isanacs=1&s_anacshold=All&s_proof=Either&s_keywords=&s_d4=1&search=Search
and of course eBay

 

You make a good point with regards to the lag, but when it comes down to buying graded,high-quality US or Canadian coins I'll be alright with knowing how to spot a good price. I do buy a lot of circulated coinage though and I'd love to know what all that is worth is grades between G-4 and AU. I doubt they offer common dates at auctions in these grades, maybe small local auctions but even then there is no way to track those prices and having attended a few of them myself, prices get driven up way too high.

To be more specific, my question is how useful really are coin guides other than being a medium of varieties, mintage numbers and pictures?
How much should be discounted when trying to go by the prices they shows? 30%-40%?

 

I would say when buying it depends on how much you want the coin,and when selling it would depend on how bad you wanted to get rid of that coin, guides are just that,guides! your 2008 redbook will still put you in the ballpark and the rest is up to you, raw coins will need appraised by you as to their grade,and if they have been cleaned, and that they are not fakes. the redbook will tell you what coins are rare and what coins are easy to find, I use their prices as a very loose starting point, knowing if you are getting a good deal is still up to you and your knowledge on the actual coin in question at that moment, now if you are talking modern current coins I have no clue as I don't deal with them, seen to many "hot"modern coins go for big bucks and loose almost all their value in just a year or two. Also spend some time on ebay looking at what coins are going for how much,watching real sales will tell you more about the current value than any book. compare the ebay prices with your redbook, watch the actual auctions not the crazy buy it now prices.