New 2020 Official Red Book reports dramatic market changes

[jeff of pa]

(Pelham, AL) — The newest edition of the coin hobby’s annual Guide Book of United States Coins(popularly known as the “Red Book”) will debut on April 9, 2019, two weeks before National Coin Week. The 73rd edition (with a cover date of 2020) features extensively updated pricing and auction data reflecting the current market for collectible coins, which has seen dramatic ups and downs in the past year. The Red Book can be pre-ordered online in several formats and will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide.

 

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[Nitric]

I always had a feeling that the Red Book may manipulate prices too. Too many people go by the book. These are great for a coin dealer to sell to people that buy from them. Because most of the time you can sell for way less than what that book says. But it sucks trying to buy from people that think their coins are worth what that book says. I guess it's the same with any price guide. I like the "grey sheets" for coins but I haven't had any in years they are a little pricey.

 

[jeff of pa]

I always had a feeling that the Red Book may manipulate prices too. Too many people go by the book. These are great for a coin dealer to sell to people that buy from them. Because most of the time you can sell for way less than what that book says. But it sucks trying to buy from people that think their coins are worth what that book says. I guess it's the same with any price guide. I like the "grey sheets" for coins but I haven't had any in years they are a little pricey.

Yea Pricey Because Dealers Use them. & dealers got $$$$

Add to that the Less the Public Knows about Gray Sheet Priceing
The better odds Dealers can get more. so I think it was sort of
Frowned upon to Sell it to the Public.

I Used to Like Coin World Weekly

When I was a Kid, One of My Neighbors used to Subscribe to it.
I used to Deliver Newspapers. So when I would stop in to
Collect once a Month, He'd also give me the Months back Issues he had on hand.

After I gave up the Paper Route I Subscribed for Several Years, Then sort of
Drifted away from It. But was an Interesting Weekly for Pricing,
Both Sell & Buy

 

[Nitric]

I think I might still have a couple of coin worlds around from when I was a kid. I use to get them at the grocery store back when they use to have the magazine racks in them. I remember getting the treasure magazines too.

 

[jeff of pa]

I think I might still have a couple of coin worlds around from when I was a kid. I use to get them at the grocery store back when they use to have the magazine racks in them. I remember getting the treasure magazines too.

yep

Treasure Search, Treasure Found, Treasure were 3 , I Used to Watch for..

Them & Flying Saucer Mags.
There was always a New one with a new title, But Rarely a Second Issue of them.

 

[Nitric]

I never saw the flying saucer mags. That I remember. I'll bet they are collectable now!

 

[jeff of pa]

yea I do wish i had them yet.

There was an ad I think in the Back of Coin world once,
Of a Guy advertising that he was Buying UFO Mags.
I Ended up Selling them to Him at a Stupid Low Price

Should have at Least held out for a Profit Instead of Loss

 

[A2coins]

Hope the new coin book helps us coin collecters a little

 

[cyberdan]

I just bought the 2019, I thought it was going to be good for almost a year and now they have the 2020? I guess like cars, the 2020 models will be out in a few months. I kind of go by what the average sell price was on feeBay. A lot less than the red book.

 

[jeff of pa]

I just bought the 2019, I thought it was going to be good for almost a year and now they have the 2020? I guess like cars, the 2020 models will be out in a few months. I kind of go by what the average sell price was on feeBay. A lot less than the red book.

Yep ! EBay's the Best Coin Price Guide around.
You can even Compare actual Pics of Conditions

 

[smokeythecat]

Dramatic market changes? Like 1955DDO MS coins down 25% in value. Or lack of new folks coming into the hobby? That kind of thing?

 

[Davers]

I always had a feeling that the Red Book may manipulate prices too. Too many people go by the book. These are great for a coin dealer to sell to people that buy from them. Because most of the time you can sell for way less than what that book says. But it sucks trying to buy from people that think their coins are worth what that book says. I guess it's the same with any price guide. I like the "grey sheets" for coins but I haven't had any in years they are a little pricey.

I believe the 'Grey Sheet' format has changed over the past year or 2 , I like to buy Coins by it's prices or even 'The Blue Book ' .

 

[Davers]

I never saw the flying saucer mags. That I remember. I'll bet they are collectable now!

The National Enquirer was my UFO Mag/paper + There was the UFO mag from the dude from 'The UFO Hunters TV show' around 15 years ago.

 

[jeff of pa]

I believe the 'Grey Sheet' format has changed over the past year or 2 , I like to buy Coins by it's prices or even 'The Blue Book ' .

I'd only Buy Silver Coins.
and than, only at 10% Below Melt Value.

& Feel that's a Bit High !

Free out of The Ground is Much More Satisfying

 

[Megalodon]

When I started buying the red book, it was hardcover and cost about 2.95. The hardcovers were easier to shelve than the new spiral-bound, but for a reference book, I much prefer the lay-flat utility of the spiral bound construction.

 

[xr7ator]

My newest red book is 1987.

 

[Megalodon]

My newest red book is 1987.

I replaced my 1982 edition with a 2019 last summer. It is much improved, has far more content and this cheapskate recommends it.

 

[kingskid1611]

I go from the blue book....red book is for the retail price.

 

[GB1]

i have a blue book and a red book

 

[Immy]

I think the Red Book is passé. Its necessity as a reference has waned with the advent of specialized websites geared to specific coin series. Values, as has already been mentioned, are much more accurately gauged from eBay and other auction sites. It's now a novelty purchased mostly for nostalgia and supposed collectibilty than any actual usefulness. And I've never understood the 8-month window between the cover date and the actual year it depicts. It always struck me as exploitive. Even 2020 cars won't be available until Sept.

One thing I've learned after 40+ years of collecting is that pricey reference books are the bread and butter of hobby giants like Whitman, Krause and others. As the internet's influence grew and book sales dropped, they had to find a way to repackage things, hence you get the giant Mega Red editions with heavy pricetags yet offering little extra that can't be found online.

The last Red Book I bought was in 2012. I keep it handy for quick mintage references now and then, but I haven't used it for pricing in decades.