What do the prices on the PCGS price guide really mean?

[Kiros32]

I have a slabbed 1923 MS67 Peace Dollar. The current PCGS price guide has it listed at $4,800 in this condition, however, they only go for around $400 at auction and one sold for only $40.00 on ebay. So is the coin I have really worth that much and is it ever possible to get that amount for it? Just curious.

Thanks,
J

 

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[jglunt]

Quoting the PCGS website:

" PCGS does offer the PCGS Price Guide, a compiled price list of the average dealer asking prices for all significant, properly graded US rare coins."

These "asking prices" are set by a tight little consortium of "PCGS approved" coin dealers and are not very realistic.

So, unfortunately, the answer to your questions is no & no.

Jim

 

[snake35]

As in most price guides, P.C.G.S. is very unrealistic with their prices. Remember you are buying the coin and not the plastic. Good luck.

 

[gregl01]

As with anything, its only worth what someone is willing to pay. I find the PCGS pricing is abnormally high. The best "actual" price is Ebay.... at least you can see what they're being sold for.
Greg

 

[WheatbackDigger]

My guess is that your MS67 Peace dollar was slabbed in someone's garage (NNC, SGS, NTC pick your poison) and at best is a MS62/63. So you have a coin worth about 20 bucks. Now if it is a true PCGS (or NGC) slab, it will go for moon money on Ebay.

 

[djui5]

PCGS prices are always high, but not that much higher than the prices. You need to make sure your comparing the right coins with the right coins. What is the mint mark? Who "slabbed" it? A coin slabbed by PCGS fetches much more $$ than a coin slabbed by "PSLFKLG Coin slabbing in BFE, Arkansas", if you know what I mean.

The mint mark is the biggest thing, make sure the prices you check are for the same mint. Also, e-bay can be a bad place to get prices from too as there are a lot of scams/etc on there. I always figure about 50%-80% of the PCGS prices for a good coin slabbed by one of the top companies. Anything else is what you can get out of it.

 

[teverly]

Mint marks are not really the biggest thing.Even some coins with cc mint mark sell for less than some s mint mark coins.
The quanity minted,the grade of the coin,age,who graded it and what people are buying determine the selling price.I would check with several dealers and see what they are selling for.In my humble opinion people are putting to much faith in ebay pricing.
Coin collectors/collecting has been around a lot longer and a lot of things that are bought on ebay may be bought by people who have no idea what they are buying but buy it because it is old.
I find that most all price guides tend to put values a little higher than what things are selling for in reality.
And be really carefull buying any coins off of those tv coin shows.Their "bargin" prices are usually higher than book or list prices from a dealer.

 

[diggummup]

For real information concerning coin prices go where the dealers go-http://www.greysheet.com/.If your really into coins it's well worth the subscription price.They will send you one for free the first time,scroll down to "order now" on the left side and click "free sample".

 

[jglunt]

Notwithstanding all other factors affecting a coin's value, I don't think many serious collectors would purchase an expensive coin by mail based on photos and written descriptions only without the use of an escrow service and an ironclad, full return, no questions asked guarantee.

Jim

 

[j2fun4u]

Notwithstanding all other factors affecting a coin's value, I don't think many serious collectors would purchase an expensive coin by mail based on photos and written descriptions only without the use of an escrow service and an ironclad, full return, no questions asked guarantee.

Jim

Actually many people do buy this way, I have seen coins go for hundreds of thousands of dollars on heritage....A picture can say 1000 words...
I have my coins listed there and they should fetch that much...haha jk i wish i could get that much.
Jason

 

[ivan salis]

its great for telling you what you "wish" you could get for them ---in real life --it worth what folks will pay and not one penny more. ---these prices tend to be "bloated" to say the least sadly. a big part is "who" slabbed it and their rep --there a two big names if either of them them did it it will hold some value---if not then price drops like crazy to very very little----even if selling an item from the top two slabbers ---remember your not going to get 100% of value--folks need to "make" something on the deal (flipping it) or feel thay got a bargin to buy (for their own collections) in most cases about 50 % to maybe 60% of value depending on who wants it and how badly---sorry thats just the way the market tends to work---Ivan

 

[jglunt]

Notwithstanding all other factors affecting a coin's value, I don't think many serious collectors would purchase an expensive coin by mail based on photos and written descriptions only without the use of an escrow service and an ironclad, full return, no questions asked guarantee.

Jim

Actually many people do buy this way, I have seen coins go for hundreds of thousands of dollars on heritage....A picture can say 1000 words...
I have my coins listed there and they should fetch that much...haha jk i wish i could get that much.
Jason

I'm sure a few people do buy that way, but I would bet the vast majority of higher priced coins are sold subject to approval and personal inspection. Remember two things. Any amateur with a computer can alter a photo and......a fool and his money are soon parted.

I'm sure you wouldn't send an internet seller that you don't know from Adam several thousand dollars for a coin based on a photo or even several photos.

Jim